Make email marketing efficient with templates

Part 5 of “6 steps to start email marketing for your Shopify store”

While email marketing could be time-consuming, it doesn’t have to be! The key is using templates, which can save you tons of time and mental energy. 

Templates provide a launching pad. With a few clicks to add products, and a little effort toward writing related copy, you’re ready for take-off. 

In Seguno, there are options to: 

• Grab a professionally designed, fully decked-out template from the Template Store
• Use our free, pre-built starter templates for beginning layouts
• Create templates to fit your needs/flow

The idea is to regularly use a template for creating newsletters, rather than starting with an empty slate each time. Reuse and recycle. Email is very green — we’re not wasting paper or time!

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Task: Pick a place to start

Let’s take a closer look at each of the three template options in Seguno. 
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Professionally designed templates from the Template Store

Easy. For when you’re in a hurry. Just merchandise and no further customization required.     

Much of what you’ll find in the Template Store focuses on big ecommerce holidays and other events important to subscribers. Most templates, built by professional designers, are included with a paid Seguno Email Marketing account. 

While no customization is required and these templates are ready to go, you always have the option to tailor as you want. It’s simple to swap out any imagery that does not align with your brand and replace it with something that does. 

Pre-built starter templates 

Quick send. Some customization. Intermediate level of time required. 

Seguno provides a number of evergreen templates for achieving different marketing goals. Based on best practice layouts, they’re an excellent launchpad for creating a brand-enhancing, custom newsletter.

Begin with a pre-built template if a blank canvas makes you nervous and you prefer the guidance of pre-made email blocks. These starter templates are loaded into your account and ready to be used. Just click on the “Create newsletter” button to access them; you’ll see templates for different email marketing angles, such as:  

• Promoting a product or collection
• Highlighting your content
• Announcing a sales or marketing event
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If you intend to regularly use a pre-built template as a jumping-off point, and want to make lasting design or structure changes, click the option to customize the template.

Create your own template

Full customization required. Highest level of time investment.

If you’re feeling ambitious and really want to make a template that’s all your own, start from scratch. You might take this avenue for a specific purpose, such as celebrating your company’s birthday, a change in staff, or other business-related highlights unique to your shop. 

But check the defaults first. There may already be something available that’s close to your vision and needs a few customizations. If you still need to create your own template, have at it! 

The add section button, along with the drag and reorder sections, are going to be your best friends. If you don’t want to apply your regular theme settings because you want to do something extra special, be sure to remove it from the shared theme. 

Add any sections you need to drive your message. The possibilities are endless.

Keep our recommended foolproof layouts in mind if you decide to go this route. You want sections for images and text. And don’t forget to highlight your products or services, or even just your unique selling proposition.

Pro-tip: Save time by using your favorite newsletter as a base. If you recently designed a fire newsletter, like da bomb diggity, just convert that newsletter into a template.
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Work smarter, not harder

I’ve got one more awesome tip when it comes to any template. In Seguno, you can now use templates in automations! Make any newsletter template a part of any automation sequence. 

For example, let’s say you sent a “we just launched” newsletter to your whole subscriber list. You really like how it turned out and want all future subscribers to get it. Add it to your welcome series.  

Sometimes it’s hard to keep up with email marketing, especially if you feel like it takes too much effort. Use templates to free up your time. They’re one of the best ways that email marketing can contribute to you working smarter, not harder.

In the final session, we’ll look at key automations to add to the welcome message for creating a more robust email program.