How to Make and Send a Custom Email

A Step-by-Step Tutorial

The following steps should take about five minutes to go through, and will become even faster with practice.

The anatomy of an email

The email templates allow you to input your company details and website links into predefined sections. This is done via the MailChimp interface.

Product images in the email are preinstalled. The only image you need to update is the “Your Logo Here” region. This is easily accomplished in the Mailchimp interface.

Once your email is setup with your company info you can send professional product emails to your customers.

Step 1 - Download email template

Download the email template zip file. Do not try to open the zip file it needs to be uploaded to Mailchimp as a .zip.

Step 2 - Login to Mailchimp

Step 3 - Go to Templates page

Click the "Templates" link from the top nav bar, then click "Create Template."

Step 4 - Upload zip template

The following page will say "Select a starting point for your template" at the top and give three options below: 1. Layouts, 2. Themes, 3. Code Your Own. Click "Code Your Own." The click the "Import Zip" option, which is the last box in the row.

Step 5 - Give template a title

Add a name for your template in the pop up. Click "Browse" to find the .zip file you downloaded. Then click the "Upload" button.

Step 6 - Template preview

The uploaded email template will load in a new window. A preview of the template will appear on the left, and raw email code will appear on the right. There is no need to make any changes or updates. Click the "Save and Exit" button at the bottom right of the browser window.

Step 7 - Templates page

You will be brought back to the templates page and your new template will be the top option.

Step 8 - Campaigns

Click the "Campaigns" link from the top nav bar, then click "Create Campaign."

Step 9 - Click email

On the following pop up window click "Email."

Step 10 - Name campaign

Stay on the "Regular" email option and name your new campaign and click "Begin."

Step 11 - Add recipients

Now you're in your email campaigns' details. First, click "Add Recipients." Select the email list you want to send the campaign to. Click "Save."

Step 12 - Add subject

Add a subject to your email and preview text. Click "Save."

Writing an Email Subject Line

  • The subject line is what’s going to get your recipient to open the email, so be sure to make it attention grabbing and enticing.
  • Be aware of how long the subject line is. On most desktops, only 65-70 characters will be seen, and only about 25 on mobile devices.
  • Keep in mind who your audience is and use the subject line to portray the product’s value to them.
  • Creating a sense of urgency in the subject line can boost open rates. For example, use words such as “limited time only.”
  • Think of a subject line as a call-to-action by leading with action-oriented verbs such as, “Check out…” or “See how…”

Step 13 - Design email

Click "Design Email."

Step 14 - Select template

You will be brought to the "Select a Template" page.

Step 15 - Saved template

From the selections below the page title select "Saved Templates" and select the template you uploaded. You will now be in the email editor.

Step 16 - Edit preview text

Hover over the teaser text in the top left of the email and click the Edit button. This slides in the editable region WYSIWYG. Select the default text and add your personal preview text for the email. When you're done, click the gray Save & Close button at the bottom left of the editable region. DO NOT hit the blue Save & Close button — this is for when the email is complete.

Step 17 - Email editor

Hover over the top email image and click "Edit."

Step 18 - Edit main image link

In the editable region, click on the image and it will have a blue overlay. It may take two clicks. With the image selected, click the Link button in the first row of the editable region icons. Add your website link in the pop up then click Insert. Click "Insert." When you're done, click the gray Save & Close button at the bottom left of the editable region.

Step 19 - Edit download flyer link

Hover over the Click Here to Download a Flyer button. Select the text in the editable region and click the Link icon. In the pop up window, click the Link To dropdown menu and select "File." The content manager will load into the screen. Select and uplaod the flyer you downloaded from the Keystone MRC. Click on the file and select the blue Insert button at the top right of the screen. When back to the editable region section click the gray Save and Close button at the bottom left of the editable region.

Step 20 - Edit gray bar content

Hover over the copy in the dark gray box below the red button link and click Edit. Select the [Your Company URL] text and change it to your website address. Next, select your website address and click the Link icon. Add your URL into the pop up window and click "Insert." When back to the editable region section click the gray Save & Close button at the bottom left.

Step 21 - Upload your logo

Hover over the "Your logo here" image and click the Edit button. In the image region at the right, select the bottom Replace link. In the following page, upload or select your company logo and click "Insert." When back on the previous page, click the gray Save & Close button at the bottom left of the editable region.

Step 22 - Your URL in footer bar

Hover over the [Your Company URL] in the bottom light gray box. Follow the same steps as before (refer to step 22) to enter your company URL.

Step 23 - Done? Ready to send!!

Double check all of the info and links you added. If satisfied, click the blue Save & Close button at the bottom right of the browser.

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