Here are the basics steps on how to create and build your own email from scratch with a blank layout. 

Emails are built on components and always have following hierarchic structure:

  • Row Container

    • Column Container

      • Text for email

      • Image Container

      • Spacer

      • Divider

      • Button

Step 1: Go to "edit mode" to start and click on "Add Component" which can be found in the right-hand side menu.

Step 2: You must always start with a Row Container component, then add a Column Container

Step 3: With the Column Container highlighted, you can now add items, such as text, image, spacers, dividers and buttons inside the Column Container.

Example: Creating a simple email with logo, text and a link button

Note: 

  • Before you start, make sure you are familiar with the basics of editing in Activator.

  • All the components have several customization options in the right-hand slide out menu in order for you to align text and images according to your specifications for the email. 

Step A: Create a Row Container, add a Column Container and place an Image Container inside. Add a picture or a logo as shown below:

Step B: Create another Row Container & Column Container and add 3 Text for Email components

  • Insert a placeholder in the first text component by selecting the "insert" option from the text bubble. This example {{userName}} will automatically replace the text inside the brackets with the recipients name.

  • Write your message in the second text component

  • Add another appropriate placeholder to the third text component. In this case we added a section {{customRichText}} in which the sender can write their own text from their device.


Step C: Add more Row Containers and Column Containers underneath and add text, picture and a button inside.

Step D: Add a placeholder for an email fragment by using the text placeholder {{insertEmailFragments}} You can read more about fragments by reading our article named "Email Fragments"

Step E: Add more text and placeholders to finalize your email

Finally: Remember to upload your changes to Vault.