Your Guide to Zeffy's Email Builder

Zeffy's email builder is designed to make email creation faster, simpler, and more flexible.

This guide covers:

• How to access the email builder

• How to add, move, and edit content blocks

• How to customize the overall design of your email

• How to set recipients and send your email

• How to access, save, and edit templates

Accessing the email builder

To open the email builder:

1. Go to the Communications tab in your Zeffy dashboard

2. Click New Email

   

3. Choose one of the following options:

   • Start from a pre-designed template

   • Start from scratch

Once selected, the email builder opens with a visual editor where all content is added and managed.

Navigating the email builder

The email builder is made up of two main areas:

• Email canvas

  • Displays the layout of your email (toggle between desktop and mobile version)

  • Allows you to add, move, and arrange content blocks

• Side panel

  • Displays editing options based on what you have selected

  • Switches between:

    • Component settings (for individual blocks)

    • Global styles (for the entire email)

Using global styles

Global styles apply changes to the entire email.

From the Global styles panel, you can edit:

• Email color

• Background color

• Canvas color

• Default text color

Notes:

• Changes to the global style apply to all relevant elements in the email

• Global styles are best used for branding and consistency

• Individual blocks can be edited using the component settings (available when the block is clicked)

Adding content blocks

To add a new content block:

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

2. Click the plus (+) icon that appears below the container you wish to add content to

3. Select a block type from the list

   

Available content blocks include:

• Heading

• Text

• Image

• Video

• Button

• Divider

• Spacer

• Social media icons

• Container

• Columns

Moving, duplicating, and deleting blocks

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

You can:

• Move a block up or down using the up and down arrow icons

• Delete a block using the trash icon

• Duplicate a block using the clone icon

These options allow you to reorganize your email without rebuilding content.

Editing text and heading blocks

To edit text or a heading:

1. Click directly on the block

2. Use the component settings in the side panel

From the Components section on the side menu, you can:

• Change the heading/font size

• Select a font family

• Adjust the container's background color

• Modify padding

Text formatting options are available directly in the email canvas when you click on the text you want to edit, allowing you to:

• Bold

• Italicize

• Underline

• Change alignment

• Change text color

• Add links to make text clickable

• Add personalization variables (first name, last name) 

Editing image blocks

To edit an image block:

1. Click on the image block

2. Select Replace image if an image already exists in its place

You can then:

• Choose an image from Zeffy’s image library

• Upload your own image by:

  • Dragging and dropping a file

  • Clicking to upload from your device

Adding columns

Columns allow you to display content side by side.

To add columns:

1. Click the plus (+) icon

2. Select Columns

3. Add content blocks inside each column

Adding and editing social media icons

To add social media icons:

1. Add a Social media icons block (often inside a container)

2. Click the block to open component settings

From the Components menu on the left-hand side 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

Adding and customizing buttons

To add a button:

1. Add a Button block

2. Click the button to open component settings

From the Components menu on the left-hand side you can:

• Link to a Zeffy campaign

• Add a custom link

• Customize:

  • Button color

  • Text color

  • Button shape (rounded or rectangular)

  • Button size

  • Alignment within the block

Using 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

Previewing and saving your email

Before sending, you can preview your email in desktop or mobile view

You can also save the email as a template:

• In the bottom right corner, click Save as Template

• Name the template

• Access it later from your template library

Setting subject line and sender details

To configure sender information under Sending Preferences:

1. Click Next

2. Enter a subject line (required)

3. Edit the sender name if needed

4. Select or update the sender email address

   • Send emails from your custom domains (learn more here)

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

6. Attach a file if needed:

   • One file

   • Maximum size: 20 MB

Selecting recipients

To choose who receives the email, click Next:

1. Select one or more 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, refer to this article.

To learn how to import your contact list from your existing newsletter tool, consult this video.

To learn how to send emails to all or a segment of your contacts, consult this article.

Sending or scheduling the email

To finish:

1. Click Next

2. Choose one of the following options:

   • Send immediately

   • Schedule for a specific date and time

3. (Optional) Send a test email to yourself or another user with access to the account

4. Click Send now or confirm the scheduled send

Apply branding and styling

Use Global styles to update colors and other visual settings across the full email.

This is the fastest way to keep your emails consistent with your organization’s branding.

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 the template you want and customize it for your message.

Save an email as a template

Turn any email design into a reusable template.

1. Design your email in the builder.

2. Click the Template button in the editor toolbar.

3. Choose Save as template.

4. Enter a name for the template and save.

Use a saved template

You can reuse templates you created for consistent messaging.

1. Open the email builder.

2. Click Template.

3. Select Your templates to see your saved designs.

4. Choose a template to apply it to your new email.

Edit a template

Update an existing template by using it, making changes, and saving the update.

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

2. Make your changes to the design.

3. Click Template again and choose Update template.

4. Confirm to save your changes to the template.

Delete a template

Remove templates you no longer need.

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

2. Click Template.

3. Click the red Delete button.

4. Confirm to remove the template.

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.

Preview your email before sending

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

When the design is ready, continue to the send steps in Send emails to contacts.