Designing emails with Zeffy’s email builder and templates

Use the email builder to design, edit, and send professional emails in Zeffy. This guide covers everything from creating your first email to using templates and formatting options.

Open the email builder

1. Go to Communications.

2. Click New Email.

3. Choose a template or start from scratch.

The builder opens with a visual editor where you can create and update your email layout.

Navigate the email builder

The email builder has two main areas:

• Email canvas — Displays the layout of your email. Toggle between desktop and mobile views to check the layout.

• Side panel — Shows editing options based on what you have selected. Switch between component settings (for individual blocks) and global styles (for the entire email).

Apply branding with global styles

Use Global styles to update colors and visual settings across the entire email. This is the fastest way to keep your emails consistent with your organization's branding.

From the Global styles panel, you can edit:

• Email background color

• Canvas color

• Default text color

Changes to global styles apply to all relevant elements in the email. Individual blocks can still be customized using component settings.

Add and arrange content blocks

Use the plus (+) icon to add blocks to your email.

1. Hover over the section where you want to add content.

2. Click the plus (+) icon that appears below the container.

3. Select a block type from the list.

Available content blocks include:

• Heading

• Text

• Image

• Video

• Button

• Divider

• Spacer

• Social media icons

• Container

• Columns

Move, duplicate, and delete blocks

Each content block has controls that appear when you hover over it.

• Move — Drag blocks up or down using the arrow icons

• Delete — Remove blocks with the trash icon

• Duplicate — Copy blocks with the clone icon

Edit text and headings

Click directly on a text or heading block to edit it.

From the component settings panel, you can:

• Change heading or font size

• Select a font family

• Adjust container background color

• Modify padding

Text formatting options appear directly in the canvas when you click on text:

• Bold, italic, underline

• Text alignment

• Text color

• Links (make text clickable)

• Personalization variables (first name, last name)

Edit images

To edit an image block:

1. Click on the image block.

2. Select Replace image if an image already exists.

You can then:

• Choose an image from Zeffy's image library

• Upload your own image by dragging and dropping or clicking to browse

All images in the email include alt text.t This describes the image for screen readers and shows when the image fails to load. You can edit this underneath the image.

Add columns

Columns let you display content side by side.

1. Click the plus (+) icon.

2. Select Columns.

3. Add content blocks inside each column.

Add social media icons

To add social media icons:

1. Add a Social media icons block.

2. Click the block to open component settings.

From the Components menu you can:

• Toggle individual platforms on or off

• Add links to each social media page

• Choose an icon style (black, white, color)

• Set a background color for the container

Add and customize buttons

To add a button:

1. Add a Button block.

2. Click the button to open component settings.

From the Components menu you can:

• Link to a Zeffy campaign or add a custom link

• Customize button color, text color, shape, and size

• Set alignment within the block

Use dividers and spacers

Dividers and spacers help structure your email visually:

• Dividers — Add a horizontal line between sections

• Spacers — Add blank space between content blocks

Add personalization with variables

Use variables to personalize each email with recipient details.

1. Click inside a text block where you want to add personalization.

2. Click Variables to see available options.

3. Choose First name or Last name to insert the variable.

When the email is sent, each recipient sees their own name in place of the variable.

Check mobile optimization

Preview how your email looks on mobile devices before sending.

1. Click the mobile preview icon in the builder.

2. Review the layout on a smaller screen.

3. Adjust text size, image placement, or button sizes if needed.

Zeffy campaign links and automatic personalization

Use templates

Start from a template

When you create a new email, choose Template to browse pre-designed options.

1. Click Template in the email builder.

2. Select Zeffy templates to see built-in designs for newsletters, fundraising appeals, event recaps, invitations, and follow-ups.

3. Choose a template and customize it for your message.

Save an email as a template

Turn any email design into a reusable template. Templates are for bulk emails only—for one-to-one message text on a contact profile, see Bulk email templates vs snippets.

1. Design your email in the builder.

2. Click the Save as template button in the top right hand corner.

3. Choose Save as template.

4. Enter a name for the template and save.

Use a saved template

Reuse templates you created for consistent messaging.

1. Open the email builder and click "New email"

2. In the template library, filter by "My templates" to see your saved designs.

3. Select "Use template" to apply it to your new email.

   

Edit a template

1. Start a new email and apply the template you want to edit.

2. Make your changes to the design.

3. Click Save as template again and choose "Yes, update this one" to overwrite your original template, or "No, create a new one" to create an additional template.

4. Confirm to save your changes to the template.

Delete a template

1. Go to Communications

2. Click "New email"

3. In the template library, filter by "My templates"

4. Click the three dots next to the name of the template and select "Delete" to delete the template from your library

   

Set subject line and sender details

After designing your email, click Next to configure sending preferences:

1. Enter a subject line (required).

2. Edit the sender name if needed.

3. Select or update the sender email address.

   • Send emails from your custom domain (see How to customize your email sender domain)

4. Choose a reply-to address from available account emails.

5. Attach a file if needed (one file, maximum 20 MB).

Select recipients

Click Next to choose who receives the email:

1. Select one or more contacts or contact lists:

   • Zeffy supports up to 5,000 contacts on an email at once

   • Connect a custom domain to email up to 30,000 contacts at once

2. Filter your full contact list if needed.

3. Optionally select lists to exclude from receiving the email.

For more information on contact lists, see Create lists and segments.

Send or schedule your email

After choosing recipients:

1. Click Next.

2. Choose one of the following options:

   • Send immediately — Deliver the email right away

   • Schedule — Set a specific date and time

3. Optionally send a test email to yourself or another user with account access.

4. Click Send now or confirm the scheduled send.

Preview before sending

Click Preview to view the email in desktop and mobile view before you send it.

Pro tips for email design

• Save your custom designs as templates for future use.

• Keep your layout clean and organized.

• Use images thoughtfully to support your message.

• Test all interactive elements before sending.

• Monitor email performance in the Emails section after sending.

What to do next

When your email is ready, see Send emails to contacts to choose recipients and deliver your message.