Creating an Email Message

Use Oncord’s drag-and-drop editor to create and customise e-mail messages that match your branding and engage your audience.

To get started:

1. Navigate to Dashboard > Marketing > E-mail.
   
2. Click the New Message button at the top of the page.

A pop-up window will appear with options to:

• Start from Scratch - Create a new blank message.
  
• Create from Posts: Use existing blog or news posts as the base for your message. This option appears when posts are available and the selected design supports it.

You’ll also be asked to select the Message Type:

• Broadcast - A one-time send to a group of recipients (typical for newsletters, promotions, announcements).
  
• Automation - Used in automated workflows (e.g., welcome sequences, abandoned cart reminders).
  

You can also clone an existing e-mail message by clicking the "..." menu next to a message, and selecting "Clone".

After creating the new e-mail message, you'll be taken to the visual editor to begin adding content.

Choosing an Email Design

When you begin editing, the message will automatically use your default e-mail design.

To use a different design:

1. Click the Settings button on the left-hand side of the editor.
2. Select an e-mail design.

You can set the default design for new messages via Dashboard > Website > Designs.

Setting an Email Subject

The subject of your e-mail message is set at the top of the page while editing.

To update the subject line of an e-mail message:

1. Navigate to Dashboard > Marketing > E-mail.
2. Select a message to edit, and update the subject at the top of the page.

Adding Content to Your Email Message

Editing an e-mail message is similar to editing a website page.

To build your e-mail:

1. Click the Insert button on the left-hand side of the screen.
   
2. Drag-and-drop elements (text, images, buttons etc.) into place.

To edit the properties of an element: 

1. Click to select the element.
2. Click the arrow icon to reveal a menu, and select Edit.
3. Adjust the properties of the element in the left panel.

Check for Spam Keywords

The Spam Analysis tool is available in the left-hand menu while editing an e-mail message.

This tool will help highlight if you've overused "spammy" keywords in your message, in order to improve deliverability. 

Send Yourself a Test Email

It's good practice to send a test message to yourself or your team to catch errors and preview the final message.

To send a test: 

1. Edit your e-mail message (via Dashboard > Marketing > Email).
2. Click the Test button on the left-hand side of the page.
3. Enter the e-mail address you'd like to send to.

Hint: Save your changes before sending a test, to ensure you're previewing the latest version.

Next Steps

Once you're happy with your e-mail message, you're ready to move on to the next step: Preparing to Send an E-mail - where you’ll choose recipients, schedule delivery, and send your campaign.