This post is by Roxanne Peterson. Roxanne designs for templatekingdom.com, among other projects. Contact us if you would like to write a post for wpforministry.com and share how you’re using WordPress for ministry.
HTML emails are useful tools used for communications and marketing. If you are in templates designing business then you should have realized that designing HTML email templates is a challenging job. You need to consider a large number of email clients and make sure that the template is compatible with most of them. This is in contrast with designing a website template where you need to consider compatibility with a handful of browsers.
A well designed template can make a significant difference in a campaign promoted by an organization or company. Accessibility and usability rules should be kept in mind for HTML emails templates designing. Here are few crucial lessons that may help you to grow as a successful email template designer.
Make it sleek
Email clients vary considerably in terms of interpreting codes and displaying messages. A message is displayed differently by a BlackBerry Messenger on a 3.2 inch screen as opposed to Yahoo mail on a 23 inch monitor. Evidently, width of the design is a major issue. Email templates designing recommends using somewhere around 500-600 pixels as content width. Narrow designing looks smart and renders perfectly across several devices.
Offer options
Email templates designing aiming to increase sell of templates should offer customers several options. Concepts like – one size and three colors is enough- won’t work. Customers are not just satisfied with strong designing they want value for their money. Value is realized with the number of options available. The email template offering several options of colors and layouts makes the purchase a value buy in terms of long term business scheme. Email templates offering different color schemes and layouts allow customers to explore different options for adding variety and attraction of target users.
Clearly defined parts
Companies or organizations use Email templates for maintaining continual contact with their customers and prospects. They like to put some content in the template as part of their campaign. Businesses plan to use email newsletters to inform their clients about different aspects of business. They like to have separate areas for updates, product promotion, policy changes etc. this helps them in conveying message in a clear way. As such, templates designing should focus on breaking the content area into clearly defined parts for easy identification.
Keep it simple
High selling email templates by and large sport simple design. Templates designing involving use of strong colors, dazzling graphics and innovative themes are accepted and appreciated by a small group. Most users believe that rich designs may distract the users from the message that is intended to be conveyed. Simple designing helps in getting the message straight to users quickly. Minimal designing can also be used by large number of users.
Creating niche
While maintaining a simple format you can induct bits of creative touches that allow your design to stand apart from the generic lot. Templates designing space is highly competitive and designers should explore several methods for drawing attention of customers. When you find that sales are dropping, you need to look back at the templates for adding such touches. Often such touches are aimed at attracting a niche client base. Say for example adding a red ribbon can be useful for companies offering holiday gifts as well as for conveying a festive mood.
Brand friendly design
Templates designing for emails basically involve a generic approach. Usually it is not specific for a business or product range. Companies using email templates have to compromise this aspect while buying HTML email template. They know that the template they are using may be used by other companies or brands. As such, popular templates designing have to focus on provisions for establishing brand identity. This can be done by providing ample space for inserting company name, logo, slogan and offering several schemes for layouts and colors. These simple steps will allow the customers to customize the email template according to their business objectives within
Curling corners
Templates designing for emails are skewed towards drawing attention of customers. A popular trend for email newsletters are to curl up a corner of the content area for creating a paper like illusion. This also helps in creating depth of the design and providing a smart 3D type look. This is a simple trick that has gathered appreciation among end users and customers.
Simple solid background
Simple solid backgrounds are best options for HTML email templates. It not only helps in highlighting content but also cuts down the loading time. Email templates using images as backgrounds often suffer from high loading time in commonly used browsers and bandwidth.
Integrating social media
Integrating social media in templates designing is a popular trend. Many businesses look for such email templates with such integration. Missing out may mean that your design is lacking a latest trend.
Summing up
HTML email templates that offer sleek design and several options are preferred by customers. Use clearly defined areas which helps the users in organizing the content. Targeting a niche client base and helping to establish a brand pays rich dividend in the long run.
