Create Custom Email Headers

  • Updated

Using an email header is a standard best practice in email marketing. To support consistent branding, the Act-On Email Composer includes a built-in Default Email Header that you can use immediately.

To view the Default Email Header:

  1. Go to Content > Email Headers > Default.
  2. Hover over Default and click Preview.

You cannot edit or delete the Default Header.

Quick Reference – Click to Expand
  • Create header: Content → Email Headers → Add Header.
  • Add View in Browser link: Highlight text → Insert View Message in Browser.
  • Text version: Use Generate Text Header from HTML.
  • Make default: Hover over header → Make Default.
  • Header types: Custom HTML + auto-generated text version.
Try it like this: Add a short tagline (e.g., “Insights for Growing Teams”) below your logo to make your emails instantly recognizable.

Instructions

Add a "View in Browser" Link

Many email headers include a View in Browser link so recipients can open your message in a web browser if it does not display correctly in their inbox.

  1. Go to Content > Email Headers.
  2. Hover over the header you want and click Edit.
  3. Enter the text that will act as your "View in Browser" link, and highlight it.
  4. Click the Insert View Message In Browser Link icon:

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  1. To edit the link later, select it and click

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Create a Custom Email Header

  1. Go to Content > Email Headers.
  2. Click Add Header.
  3. Add and style your custom content using the Rich Text Editor.
  4. Below the HTML version, click Generate Text Header from HTML to automatically create a matching text version.

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  1. Click Save.

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Set a Default Header for New Messages

To automatically apply your new header to future email messages:

Go to Content > Email Headers, hover over your custom header, and click Make Default.

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Examples of Effective Email Headers

Create a simple “View in Browser” link:

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Or add a tagline for additional branding:

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You can also highlight your company logo and a website link — a clean and modern approach:

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FAQs & Troubleshooting

Why does the "View in Browser" link get so many clicks?

Causes

Spambots

Some email providers use automated scanners (spambots) that click the first link in an email to check for malicious content. The first link is often your “View in Browser” link.

Human sharing

Sometimes recipients share your email by copying the View in Browser link.

What can I do?

We do not recommend removing the “View in Browser” link.

Instead, you can:

  • Identify and filter out spam click activity by limiting specific IP addresses.
  • Ignore inflated clicks from the “View in Browser” link.

Learn more here: Identifying False Positives in Email Clicks 

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