Email marketing remains one of the most effective digital marketing channels, with a 4,300% ROI according to Campaign Monitor. With email open rates averaging around 20%, crafting emails that engage subscribers is critical for success.
This is where email template builders come in handy. These tools allow you to quickly build professional, personalized email templates that drive more clicks, conversions, and revenue.
In this comprehensive guide, we‘ll cover:
- What are email template builders and why you need one
- Key features to look for when choosing a template builder
- 12 best email template builder platforms for 2023
- Tips for selecting the right tool for your business
- Step-by-step guide to creating high-converting email templates
- Real-world examples and templates from top template builders
Let‘s dive in!
What Are Email Template Builders?
Email template builders are software tools that allow you to easily create HTML email templates for your email campaigns. They provide pre-designed layouts and drag-and-drop editors so anyone can build great-looking emails without coding.
Key features include:
- Hundreds of professionally designed template layouts
- Drag-and-drop editors for easily customizing templates
- Support for images, videos, buttons, content blocks and more
- Collaboration tools for working with team members
- Integration with top email service providers (ESPs) like Mailchimp
- Ability to preview templates across devices
- Tools for personalized, dynamic content
Email builders save time and resources compared to coding emails from scratch or working with designers. They ensure brand consistency across campaigns and allow marketers to optimize templates for engagement.
Key Benefits of Using an Email Template Builder
Here are some of the main reasons businesses are turning to email template builders:
Faster Email Template Creation
Intuitive drag-and-drop editing makes building emails easy. Pre-designed templates provide starting points so you don‘t have to build from scratch.
Better Email Personalization
Features like merge tags connect your email platform data to templates so each subscriber receives personalized content.
Improved Email Deliverability
Templates are optimized for spam filters, with best practices baked in. Collaborate with teammates to perfect every detail.
Enhanced Email Metrics
See how template changes impact open and clickthrough rates. Continuously tweak and test templates to increase conversions.
Greater Brand Consistency
Maintain brand voice, imagery and style across all campaigns thanks to reusable templates and blocks.
Cost and Time Savings
No need to hire coders and designers. Affordable subscription plans fit all budgets.
With the benefits clear, let‘s explore the top email template builders for 2023.
12 Best Email Template Builder Platforms
1. Stripo – Best for Customization
Stripo makes it easy for anyone to build responsive email templates tailored to your brand. Robust personalization and dynamic content features drive engagement.
2. Unlayer – Best Collaborative Features
Unlayer provides powerful collaboration tools for teams to co-create beautiful email templates together in one visual workspace.
3. BeeFree – Best Free Tool
BeeFree‘s drag-and-drop editor lets you craft templates and opt-in pages for free. Upgrade to unlock more features and integrations.
4. ZippyTOM – Best Premade Templates
Choose from 1,000+ expertly designed, branded email templates across 50+ industries with ZippyTOM. Perfect for beginners.
5. MailMunch – Best for Developers
MailMunch provides developers ultimate control and flexibility to build advanced templates using HTML and CSS.
6. Chamaileon – Best Workflows
Chamaileon offers robust workflows, asset management and version controls for painless team collaboration.
7. Email Designer – Best for Shopify
This handy Shopify app syncs your store products to templates and makes client collaboration easy.
8. Pagemodo – Best for Hubspot
Create beautiful landing pages and emails that sync to HubSpot without coding. Tons of pro templates included.
9. Postcards – Most Creative Templates
Make eye-catching designs that wow subscribers using Postcards‘ logo maker, illustrations, and animation builder.
10. Taxi for Emails – Best for Automation
Effortlessly connect templates to your email provider, CRM or marketing automation platform. Send personalized content.
11. SendinBlue – Best Free Plan
SendinBlue‘s generous free plan offers unlimited contacts, 300 emails per day, and basic templates to get started.
12. MailerLite – Best for Small Businesses
An affordable suite including templates, forms, automations and analytics – perfect for small business marketing.
Comparing Email Template Builders
With such a wide range of tools available, how do you determine the best option for your business?
Here are key factors to consider:
- Features – Do you just need basic templates, or advanced functionality like dynamic content and workflows?
- Ease of use – Will less tech-savvy staff need to use the builder? Prioritize drag-and-drop simplicity.
- Design flexibility – How much customization do your emails require? Evaluate available templates, layouts and assets.
- Integrations – Do you use an ESP or CRM? Ensure compatibility.
- Support – Look for responsive technical assistance in case you get stuck.
- Pricing – Watch for hidden fees. Go monthly if initially testing a tool.
I suggest signing up for free trials of your top choices first. See what works best for your use case.
Next let‘s walk through how to use these platforms to build templates that convert.
How to Create High-Converting Email Templates in 4 Steps
While builders simplify template creation, crafting effective emails still requires strategic thought.
Follow these best practices for stunning, high-converting templates:
Step 1: Select a Template Layout
Most builders offer numerous pre-made layouts spanning categories like welcome series, promotions, newsletters, holidays and more. Browse these to find designs matching your campaign goals. Consider layout, imagery, copy length and overall style.
Step 2: Customize the Design
Apply your branding by swapping colors, fonts and images to templates. Ensure visual cohesion with your website through consistent logos, photography and messaging. Use built-in tools to resize, filter and edit visuals.
Step 3: Craft compelling copy
Emails live or die by the written word. Employ concise copywriting focused on subscriber benefits. Sprinkle in specifics like data points and real customer examples to build authority and trust.
Step 4: Place dynamic content
Leverage built-in tools to pull in personalized content from your CRM like subscriber names, behaviors and preferences. Use strategic CTAs, social sharing icons and links back to your site.
Preview across mobile, desktop and web versions. Tweak templates continually based on open and click through rates. With this process, your emails will stand out in crowded inboxes.
Let‘s check out examples of real-world templates from top builders.
Email Template Examples
Here are just a few beautifully-designed email templates created with the builders mentioned above:
Product Launch Template by Chamaileon
This announcement template expertly combines bold colors, exciting language and benefit-focused copy to capture attention.
Black Friday Promotion Template by MailerLite
Discount messaging paired with striking visuals encourages quick action on this holiday template. Easy personalization connects to customer data.
Fitness Newsletter Template by ZippyTom
The vibrant images and motivational copy set an energetic tone for this gym newsletter. Clear CTAs drive conversions.
These are just a snapshot of the beautifully-designed templates email builders offer across dozens of categories and styles.
Let‘s wrap up with some key takeaways.
Summary and Recommendations
- Email template builders streamline creating high-converting, on-brand campaigns that delight subscribers and drive revenue.
- Look for responsive templates, drag-and-drop editors, dynamic content features and ESP integrations when choosing a platform.
- Prioritize your business‘ specific needs like design flexibility, workflows or ease of use during evaluations.
- Follow best practices for writing compelling copy and optimizing templates when building emails.
- Given its balance of affordability, ease of use and customization capabilities, I recommend Stripo as the best email template builder for most small businesses.
The tools covered above should arm any marketer or business owner to unlock the power of templated email marketing. Simply pick the platform aligned to your goals, integrate with your ESP, apply brand assets and watch your open, click and conversion rates climb.
What email template builder will you be trying first? Let me know in the comments!
