Introduction to MailerLite Newsletter Builder
MailerLite has become a popular choice for businesses and individuals looking to create and manage effective email marketing campaigns. One of its key strengths is its user-friendly newsletter builder, which allows you to design visually appealing and engaging emails without needing extensive technical skills. This article will guide you through the process of using the MailerLite newsletter builder, covering everything from choosing a template to sending your first campaign.
Choosing a Newsletter Template
MailerLite offers a variety of pre-designed templates to help you get started quickly. These templates cover different industries and campaign types, such as product announcements, event invitations, and promotional offers. Alternatively, you can start with a blank template and build your newsletter from scratch. Here’s how to choose a template:
- Log in to your MailerLite account.
- Navigate to the “Campaigns” tab.
- Click on “Create campaign.”
- Choose “Regular Campaign.”
- You will be prompted to enter campaign information such as name, subject, and sender.
- On the “Content” page, you’ll find different editor options. Select “Drag & Drop Editor.”
- From here you can either choose a template, or start from scratch.
If you choose a template, browse through the available options and select one that aligns with your campaign goals and brand identity. Consider the layout, color scheme, and overall design of each template before making your selection. Once you’ve chosen a template, you can customize it to match your specific needs.
Understanding the Drag & Drop Editor Interface
The MailerLite Drag & Drop Editor is intuitive and easy to use. Here’s a breakdown of the key elements:
- Content Blocks: These are pre-built elements like text blocks, image blocks, buttons, dividers, and social media icons that you can drag and drop into your newsletter.
- Settings Panel: This panel allows you to customize the appearance and functionality of each content block, including font styles, colors, spacing, and alignment.
- Preview Mode: This lets you see how your newsletter will look on different devices, such as desktops and mobile phones.
- Undo/Redo Buttons: These allow you to quickly revert or reapply changes you’ve made to your newsletter.
Familiarizing yourself with these elements will make the newsletter creation process much smoother and more efficient.
Adding and Customizing Content Blocks
The core of the MailerLite newsletter builder lies in its content blocks. These pre-designed elements allow you to structure your newsletter and add various types of content. Here’s how to add and customize them:
Adding Content Blocks
To add a content block, simply drag it from the left-hand panel and drop it into the desired location within your newsletter. You can add multiple blocks of the same type and rearrange them as needed.
Customizing Text Blocks
Text blocks allow you to add written content to your newsletter. To customize a text block, click on it to open the settings panel. Here, you can change the font style, size, color, and alignment. You can also add headings, bullet points, and hyperlinks.
Adding Images and Galleries
Images can greatly enhance the visual appeal of your newsletter. To add an image, drag the image block into your newsletter and upload an image from your computer or use an image from your MailerLite media library. You can adjust the size and alignment of the image and add a link to it. You can also add galleries for multiple images.
Adding Buttons
Buttons are essential for driving conversions and directing subscribers to specific landing pages. To add a button, drag the button block into your newsletter and customize the text, color, and link. Make sure the button stands out visually and clearly communicates the desired action.
Adding Social Media Icons
Social media icons make it easy for subscribers to connect with you on different platforms. To add social media icons, drag the social media block into your newsletter and add the URLs of your social media profiles. You can customize the appearance of the icons to match your brand.
Adding Dividers and Spacers
Dividers and spacers help to break up your newsletter and create visual separation between different sections. To add a divider or spacer, drag the corresponding block into your newsletter and adjust the thickness, color, and spacing.
Personalizing Your Newsletter
Personalization is key to creating engaging and relevant newsletters. MailerLite allows you to personalize your newsletters using merge tags, which are placeholders that are automatically replaced with subscriber-specific information. Here’s how to use merge tags:
- Adding Subscriber Name: You can greet subscribers by name by using the
{$subscriber.name}merge tag in your text blocks. This will automatically insert the subscriber’s first name into the newsletter. - Adding Subscriber Email: You can display the subscriber’s email address by using the
{$subscriber.email}merge tag. - Custom Fields: If you’ve added custom fields to your subscriber list, you can use merge tags to display the values of those fields. For example, if you have a custom field called “city,” you can use the
{$subscriber.city}merge tag to display the subscriber’s city.
To add a merge tag, simply type the merge tag code into your text block. Make sure to use the correct syntax and capitalization.
Mobile Optimization
With the majority of emails being opened on mobile devices, it’s crucial to ensure that your newsletters are mobile-friendly. MailerLite automatically optimizes your newsletters for mobile devices, but it’s still a good idea to preview your newsletter on different screen sizes to ensure that it looks good on all devices.
Here are a few tips for mobile optimization:
- Use a responsive template: Choose a template that is designed to adapt to different screen sizes.
- Keep your layout simple: Avoid using complex layouts that may not render properly on mobile devices.
- Use large fonts and buttons: Make sure that your text and buttons are easy to read and tap on mobile devices.
- Optimize your images: Use compressed images to reduce file size and improve loading speed on mobile devices.
Previewing and Testing Your Newsletter
Before sending your newsletter, it’s essential to preview and test it to ensure that everything looks and functions as expected. MailerLite provides several options for previewing and testing your newsletter:
- Preview Mode: This allows you to see how your newsletter will look on different devices.
- Send a Test Email: This allows you to send a test email to yourself or a colleague to check the formatting, links, and overall appearance of your newsletter.
- Spam Check: MailerLite includes a spam check feature that analyzes your newsletter and identifies potential issues that could cause it to be marked as spam.
Take advantage of these features to thoroughly test your newsletter before sending it to your subscribers.
Saving and Sending Your Newsletter
Once you’re satisfied with your newsletter, you can save it and send it to your subscribers. Here’s how to do it:
- Click on the “Save” button to save your changes.
- Click on the “Next” button to proceed to the next step.
- Choose your recipients. You can send your newsletter to your entire subscriber list or to specific segments.
- Schedule your newsletter. You can send your newsletter immediately or schedule it to be sent at a later time.
- Review your campaign settings and click on the “Send” button to send your newsletter.
After sending your newsletter, you can track its performance using MailerLite’s analytics dashboard. This dashboard provides valuable insights into open rates, click-through rates, and other key metrics.
Advanced Tips and Tricks
Here are a few advanced tips and tricks for using the MailerLite newsletter builder:
- Use A/B testing: Experiment with different subject lines, content, and layouts to see what resonates best with your subscribers.
- Segment your audience: Segment your subscriber list based on demographics, interests, or behavior to send more targeted and relevant newsletters.
- Automate your campaigns: Use MailerLite’s automation features to create automated email sequences that are triggered by specific events, such as new subscriber sign-ups or purchases.
By following these tips and tricks, you can create even more effective and engaging newsletters.
Conclusion
The MailerLite newsletter builder is a powerful tool that allows you to create visually appealing and engaging emails without needing extensive technical skills. By following the steps outlined in this article, you can design and send effective email marketing campaigns that drive results.