Templates

Updated: October 17, 2024

Maildroppa’s Templates feature provides a flexible way to create, customize, and manage HTML email templates for three main use cases: bulk email campaigns, transactional emails, and emails sent as part of the signup flow or subscriber life cycle. You can create your own templates from scratch or use our drag-and-drop editor to customize system templates.

This guide will walk you through the different types of templates, how to create custom templates, and where they can be used within your email marketing strategy.

Creating a New Custom Template

To create a custom email template:

1. Navigate to the Templates section in your dashboard.
2. Click on Create a New Template.
3. You will be taken to the drag-and-drop editor, where you can design your HTML email using a drag-and-drop interface. You can add content blocks like images, text, buttons, videos, spacers, and more.
4. Once your design is ready, click Save. You will be prompted to provide a name for your template and assign it to one of the following categories: Bulk Mail, Transactional, Welcome, Confirmation, or Seasonal.

Custom Template Preview

After saving your custom template, Maildroppa will automatically generate a preview image. Since this process can take a few seconds, a placeholder preview will be displayed in the template overview until the final preview is ready.

System Templates

Maildroppa also provides a variety of system templates that can be customized and used for your email campaigns. These templates are categorized to suit different use cases, but they are flexible and can be used interchangeably, except for confirmation emails due to the special requirements of those emails.

Template Categories

• Bulk Mail Templates: These templates are primarily used for mass email campaigns, such as newsletters or promotions. However, they can also be used for transactional emails or emails in the signup flow if desired.

• Transactional Templates: Meant for emails triggered by automation flows. These are ideal for event-based emails, such as notifications or updates when a subscriber interacts with a form, a tag is added or removed, or a field is updated. Since Maildroppa's automations are not connected to customer systems, order confirmations are not possible, but you can trigger transactional emails based on subscriber actions like joining a form or an annual event like a birthday.

• Welcome Email Templates: Used for sending welcome emails after a subscriber confirms their registration via double opt-in. There is no default welcome email; customers can write one from scratch or use a custom or system template as a starting point.

• Confirmation Email Templates: These templates are specifically for confirming a new subscriber's email address as part of the signup process. They contain the required {{confirmation_url}} variable, which is dynamically replaced with a confirmation link when sent. Only confirmation templates can be used for this purpose, and no other template type can be selected for confirmation emails.

• Seasonal Templates: These templates are designed for specific events or holidays, such as Black Friday, Christmas, or Diwali. Seasonal templates can be used for bulk campaigns or transactional emails triggered by date anniversaries (e.g., sending holiday-specific messages to a segment of subscribers in a particular region). They cannot be used for confirmation emails.

Previewing System Templates

System templates come with pre-generated preview images, allowing you to easily browse and select the one that best fits your needs. You can customize any system template using the drag-and-drop editor to suit your campaign requirements.

Where to Use Templates

Maildroppa templates can be applied in the following contexts:

• Bulk Email Campaigns: You can use both custom and system templates for bulk email campaigns, such as newsletters or announcements. These emails are typically sent to your entire subscriber list or to specific segments.

• Transactional Emails: Templates can also be used for transactional emails triggered by actions in your automation flows, such as when a subscriber joins a form, a tag is added, or a date anniversary is reached. While these emails are not connected to customer systems for order confirmations, they can still be used to send timely, relevant communications based on subscriber actions.

• Signup and Welcome Flow Emails:

  • Signup Confirmation Emails: These emails are sent to new subscribers after they complete a form, asking them to confirm their subscription via double opt-in. Only confirmation templates can be used for these emails, as they include the {{confirmation_url}} variable necessary for subscription confirmation.
  • Welcome Emails: Once a subscriber confirms their email address, you can optionally send a welcome email. This email can be customized using any template (except confirmation templates) and is a great way to introduce your brand or provide valuable resources to new subscribers.

• Seasonal Campaigns: Seasonal templates are perfect for holiday-specific campaigns or event-based promotions. You can send these emails as part of a bulk campaign or as transactional emails triggered by date anniversaries (e.g., birthdays or annual celebrations like Black Friday). Seasonal templates can be used interchangeably with other template types, but they cannot be used for confirmation emails.

Managing Templates

In the Templates section, you can easily manage all your templates:

• Search and Filter Templates: You can search for templates by name or filter them by category (e.g., Bulk Mail, Transactional, Welcome, etc.). Multiple filters can be applied simultaneously to help you find exactly what you need.

• Editing Templates: To modify an existing template, click the three-dot menu next to the template and select Edit. This will open the template in the drag-and-drop editor, allowing you to make changes.

• Deleting Templates: If you no longer need a template, you can delete it from the same menu.

Conclusion

Maildroppa’s template system, powered by Stripo.email, offers you the flexibility to create professional HTML emails for various email marketing purposes. Whether you're running bulk campaigns, sending transactional emails triggered by automation, or managing your subscriber's signup flow, Maildroppa templates help ensure a consistent and engaging experience across your communications.