Email Design

Configuring Global Styles

The Global styles tab in the Email and Landing Page Composer gives you a single place to define design settings that apply across your entire message. Using global styles helps keep your layouts consistent and reduces the need to repeat formatting changes on individual rows or content blocks.General OptionsGeneral options control the overall structure, colors, and typography of your design. The...
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Column Management

Column management in the Email and Landing Page Composer gives you flexible control over how content is laid out within your designs. By working with rows and columns, you can create structured layouts, adjust spacing, and align content to ensure it displays clearly and consistently.How Column Management WorksEach row in the composer is divided into 12 equal column units. You can combine these ...
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Row Properties

Rows are the structural foundation of every design in Act-On’s Email Composer and Landing Page Composer. They serve as containers for Content Blocks and define how your layout adapts across devices.Each Row automatically adjusts to fit the viewer’s screen size, ensuring your email or page remains clean, balanced, and responsive. You can apply styling, spacing, and alignment settings to a Row to...
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Content Block Selection

Selecting and editing individual Content Blocks is one of the most important skills when designing in Act-On’s Email Composer and Landing Page Composer. Every text, image, button, or custom element in your design lives inside a Content Block - and knowing how to select and move them gives you precise control over layout and flow.Each Composer uses the same interaction model, so once you’ve lear...
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Mobile Design Mode

Mobile Design Mode lets you preview, edit, and optimize your design for smaller screens directly inside Act-On’s Email Composer and Landing Page Composer. You can toggle between desktop and mobile views, adjust mobile-only settings, and make sure every element looks great on every device.This feature helps you design responsively without leaving the Composer - you’ll see exactly how your conten...
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Mobile Optimization Options

The importance of mobile-friendly design can't be overstated. In Act-On’s Email Composer and Landing Page Composer, most layouts are automatically optimized for mobile by stacking columns vertically. This ensures that even complex, multi-column designs remain readable and visually consistent on smaller screens. However, you can fine-tune how your content behaves on mobile devices using the opti...
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Background Images

Background images can instantly elevate your design - adding depth, texture, or subtle branding elements behind your content. You can apply them across your entire design using Global Styles or within individual Rows for more localized effects. Important: Older versions of Outlook do not display background images. Always set a fallback background color to maintain contrast and readability (see ...
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Dynamic Content

Take personalization to the next level with Dynamic Content in the Email Composer. This feature lets you control whether a Row appears in your email based on conditions you define - so each contact sees content that’s most relevant to them.Dynamic Content works exclusively in the Email Composer. It’s ideal for targeted promotions, personalized recommendations, or showing alternate messages to d...
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Title Content Block

The Title content block lets you insert structured header tags (H1, H2, and H3) directly into your design. This creates a clear content hierarchy for both readers and assistive technologies - improving web accessibility and SEO without the need for custom HTML.Using proper header tags helps screen readers navigate your message, and on landing pages, it gives search engines a clear outline of yo...
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Paragraph & List Content Blocks

The Paragraph and List content blocks let you format and organize text clearly and consistently across your designs. The Paragraph block is ideal for long-form content and descriptive text, giving you precise control over font styles, colors, and spacing. The List block helps you display ordered (numbered) or unordered (bulleted) lists with customizable indentation and spacing - keeping your me...
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Letter and Paragraph Spacing

Enhance the readability and visual rhythm of your designs with Letter Spacing and Paragraph Spacing. Available in the Email Composer sidebar for text-based content blocks, these settings help you fine-tune the layout and breathing room of your text.Small spacing adjustments can improve balance, mimic branded typography, and increase legibility across devices.Quick Reference (Advanced Users) – C...
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Font Stacks

A font stack is a list of fallback fonts used when a recipient’s device cannot load the first available font. Act-On’s composers use curated font stacks to preserve the look and structure of your design, even when a specific font isn’t supported on a device.Each stack is built with visually compatible fonts - matched by shape and size - ensuring that your layout remains consistent and readable ...
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Button Content Block

The Button content block lets you add clear, visually appealing calls to action to your designs. Buttons can be fully customized and personalized, making them ideal for driving clicks, directing recipients to key pages, and prompting actions such as sign-ups, downloads, or purchases.Quick Reference (Advanced Users) - Click to Expand Insert: Drag the Button block from the Content tab. Edit Tex...
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Image Content Block

Use the Image content block to place images directly into your email or landing page design. Images can reinforce your brand, highlight key content, or add visual interest to your layout.Quick Reference (Advanced Users) - Click to Expand Insert: Drag the Image block into a Row. Add image from: Upload, URL, library, or dynamic image source. Key settings: Auto width, alignment, editing effects...
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Dynamic Images

Use Dynamic Images to personalize your email designs by displaying different images for different contacts. This feature allows you to show targeted offers, personalized graphics, or custom content based on a contact’s profile data, list membership, or segment attributes.When used correctly, each recipient sees a unique image pulled from their record - perfect for customized promotions, product...
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Divider Content Block

The Divider content block inserts a horizontal line into your design, helping you visually separate sections and improve readability. Dividers are simple but powerful layout tools that give structure and breathing room to your content.Quick Reference (Advanced Users) - Click to Expand Insert: Drag the Divider block into a Row. Styles: Solid, dotted, dashed, transparent. Controls: Width %, al...
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Table Content Block

The Table content block lets you add structured tabular content to your email or landing page design. Tables are useful for presenting data, pricing, schedules, comparisons, or any content that benefits from clear, column-based layout.Quick Reference (Advanced Users) - Click to Expand Insert: Drag the Table block into your layout (default 3×4 with a header). Layout options: Rows, columns, bor...
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Act-On AI Create in Email

Use Act-On AI Create to draft copy for your emails directly inside the Email Composer. Powered by OpenAI, it generates content based on your prompt, tone, and campaign goals.Quick Reference (Advanced Users) – Click to Expand Where it works: Email Composer (AI Create block) and legacy Rich Text blocks. Inputs: Content type, email summary, length, optional tone, intent, company details. Output...
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HTML Content Block

The HTML Content Block lets you insert your own custom HTML designs. It works like any other content block but is intended for users comfortable writing HTML, as custom code can affect layout, responsiveness, and rendering across devices and clients.Quick Reference (Advanced Users) – Click to Expand Insert: Drag the HTML block into your layout. Edit: Replace placeholder code directly or use t...
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Anchor Links

Anchor links let you guide readers directly to specific sections of a long email. They reduce scrolling, improve navigation, and make long-format content such as newsletters easier to browse.By creating jump-to sections, you can highlight key topics and help readers quickly reach the content that interests them most.Quick Reference (Advanced Users) – Click to Expand Create an anchor: Insert an...
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Menu Content Block

Use the Menu content block to create a text-based navigation menu in your email or landing page design. Menus work well for multi-section layouts such as newsletters, resource hubs, or long-form landing pages.Quick Reference (Advanced Users) - Click to Expand Insert: Drag the Menu block from Additional content. Menu items: Add items → choose link type → optional hover title. Supported links:...
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Icons & Social Content Blocks

The Icons content block lets you combine small images with text for clear, visually engaging elements in your design. Icons can highlight key features, replace traditional bullet points, or add emphasis in a more stylized way.The Social content block provides ready-made icons that link directly to your social media channels.Quick Reference (Advanced Users) – Click to Expand Add: Drag Icons or ...
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Event Content Block

Add details for in-person or online events directly into your design using the Event Content Block.Quick Reference (Advanced Users) – Click to Expand Add: Drag the Event block into your layout. Set format: Choose In person or Online. Required: Event name + date/time + timezone. Online: Select event type, enter link & passcode. In person: Choose or enter address; optional map & room details...
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Video Content Block

Adding video content to your designs can be an effective way to engage your audience.Because many email clients have limited support for embedded video and to avoid data-heavy playback on mobile devices the Video content block is designed to display a thumbnail with a play icon that links to your video instead of embedding it directly. This ensures consistent rendering and avoids common email p...
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Poll

Send a single-question poll in your email design using the Poll Content Block.Quick Reference (Advanced Users) - Click to Expand Add: Drag the Poll block into your email. Configure: Add prompt → choices → optional image → optional comment field. Choice settings: Reorder, remove, or allow multi-select. Visibility: Hide on mobile/desktop via Block options. Review results: Sent Messages → Rep...
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Undo, Redo, & History

The Undo, Redo, and History features help you edit confidently in the composer. These tools let you step backward or forward through your recent changes, or jump directly to a specific edit in your timeline.Quick Reference (Advanced Users) - Click to ExpandUndo: Step back one edit.Redo: Reapply the last undone edit.History: View up to 15 recent actions from the current session.Jump: Click any t...
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Create & Use Signatures

Create reusable signature templates in Act-On for consistent branding across your messages. Signatures can be personalized to the individual sender or made available across the full account.Quick Reference (Advanced Users) – Click to Expand Create: Content → Signatures → My Signatures / Account Signatures → Add. Personalize: Add sender fields, account fields, and Salesforce Owner fields. Def...
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Inserting Hyperlinks in Emails

Hyperlinks are one of the most effective ways to drive engagement in your emails. Links help guide recipients to take action, visit key resources, and interact with your website or content.Quick Reference - Click to Expand Add links: Highlight text → Insert link (popup formatting). Supported blocks: Title, Paragraph, List, Button, Table, and AI Create. Image links: Select image → Action → Op...
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Create Custom Email Headers

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: Go to Content > Email Headers > Default. Hover over Default and click Preview. You cannot edit or delete the Default Header.Quick Reference – Click to Expand Create...
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Create Custom Email Footers

Act-On includes a built-in Default Email Footer to help ensure every message meets basic legal and compliance requirements. Most marketers, however, will create a custom footer to align with their branding.Quick Reference - Click to Expand Create footer: Content → Email Footers → Add Footer Required items: Opt-out link + company name + physical address Text version: Use Generate Text Footer ...
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