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Here's How 10 Email Companies Design Their Own Emails

Beefree team
Beefree team
Sep 27, 2017
Here's How 10 Email Companies Design Their Own Emails
Here's How 10 Email Companies Design Their Own Emails

Today, we're getting a little meta: we're looking at how email companies design theiremails. After all, email service providers and email marketing companies want you to use their platforms to design and send your emails. With hundreds of email marketing companies out there, each one has to work hard to stand out.Even though agreat product is the most important thing, how well a brand communicates is also key. So how do email designs from top email brands stack up? Let's take a look at nine examples from across the industry, from ActiveCampaign to Moveable Ink, along with our own BEE newsletter!

MailChimp

The product announcement email: simple, celebratory, and descriptive

Mailchimp email companies

This pretty pink email from MailChimp doesn't need flashing lights or moving parts to get the job done. A few smart design choices are all it takes. The hero image is perfectly MailChimp—fun and playful—and the text that accompanies it is simple and clear. A healthy line height makes the plain text easy to read, and the bold blue links pop against the HTML color background. The tone is friendly and approachable—a good choice when introducing a new feature. And for readers who choose to skim? The headline and hero image both state the main message, so you can skip the details if you don't have the time. There's nothing foggy about this email.

GetResponse

The webinar invitation email: boxed, headline-focused layout with a CTA that pops

GetResponse email companies

This webinar invitation—clearly labeled in the subject line: "[Webinar] A/B test your way to email success"—gets right to the point. All the important details are included, like the time and date, the reason you should join, and how to register. We like that the header is the title of the webinar, and we dig the huge font size (and color) GetResponse chose. You can't miss it. Same goes for the CTA button. It passes the squint test and employs the "isolation effect." Since the email is all text, using a subtle border color to create a boxed effect helps make it easy to read.

MailCharts

The new feature email: an animation that shows more than tells

MailCharts email companies
MailCharts email companies

When it comes to giving your audience an update about a new feature or product, it usually helps to show more than tell. That's exactly what MailCharts does with this animated GIF. It's better than a screenshot because it shows exactly how easy it is to open a drop-down menu and click. The movement is eye-catching, too. Otherwise, your eye might not immediately know where to focus on the screenshot—what am I looking at?—which isn't visually interesting on its own.

Emma

The new-blog-content newsletter: a simple header that starts with a hook

Emma email companies

We've talked about responsivephoto collages in email that incorporate text. Here, Emma creates a mini version of that. Instead of a single hero image, the hero "image" is actually comprised of aside-by-side image (left) and text (right). The HTML background color behind the live text makes it blend with the image, which means it will always render. (Another alternative would be to use live text atop an image). Using a question as a header (and CTA as a lead-in to the answer) is a great way to engage readers, too.

Litmus

The informational email: modular, color-coded, and informative

Litmus email companies

Litmus wanted to know what was holding readers back from using its service. So they asked. From the results, they excavated three misperceptions people had about its brand. This unique email addresses those myths, and the result is a clever brand introduction email. The long, smart design decisions also help make the email easy to read. For one, the question in the hero image is attention-getting, just like in Emma's email. And to format the text-heavy message, Litmus does a few other smart things: 1) each module has the same layout and style of header and body text, and 2) each module has a bright red "myth" label that pops against the gray color scheme. Then, the matching red CTA button at the end seals the deal. Et voilà.

Campaign Monitor

The activation email: a case-study that catches the eye

Campaign Monitor email companies

This is an activation / re-engagement email for readers who haven't begun using Campaign Monitor yet. And, put simply, the GIF is eye-catching. It renders beautifully in our inbox, and even though we don't know exactly what we're looking at, we're intrigued enough to click to see the video. Using an animation as a video preview is often more compelling than using a static image because it gives readers a teaser of the content to come. We also like that this isn't a standard "Who we are" or "What we do" type of message. Instead of telling readers why its service is great, Campaign Monitor is showing through a case study.

ActiveCampaign

The welcome email: straightforward and clear

ActiveCampaign email companies

This no-fuss email from ActiveCampaign has a simple goal: for the new subscriber to log in and use the service. To that end, its message is pretty clear, and it's easy to spot where the log-in link is in the email. It's also easy to spot the CTA, though the messaging isn't very compelling. The "getting started" section at the bottom is visually appealing but seems like an afterthought. It's a tough call to make: either put the value proposition above the CTA at the top, hoping to make that information compelling enough for readers click the button; or prioritize the CTA button itself, bumping it up and making the value proposition secondary content. A good way to find out what works better is, as always, conducting an A/B test.

LiveIntent

The fresh content email: a video-preview GIF and click-worthy CTA

LiveIntent email companies
LiveIntent email companies

LiveIntent creates a lot of content and does a great job distributing it through email. We've featured their emails before. Because their blog content often includes videos, their emails also include video teaser content in the form of an animated GIF. We're fans. Plus, we love how they customize their CTA button text every time. No "click here" or "read more" in sight.

Moveable Ink

The invitation email: a personal note with a photo signoff

Moveable Ink email companies

Movable Ink sends more visually interesting emails than this one, but let's see how the brand styles its more personal letter-like messages. A template like this is one that we recommend every brand have on hand because sometimes, you want to send an email that feels more like a personalnote from a friend. Moveable Ink's "To" line is actually personalized with a dynamic field. But because I haven't provided my name, the field is auto-populated with the default "there," to read "Hi there." Likewise, the sign-off is personalized with Katrina's name and picture. The whole email feels like a personalized invitation, and this style might help drive attendance.

Bonus: Our own BEE newsletter

Get design tips, tricks, and product updates delivered straight to your inbox

We want you to get the most out of our email editor, and that's exactly the goal of our newsletter. We often include animated GIFs, bold easy-to-read updates, and quick takeaways in a modular design that's mobile-friendly.To get insider email design tips delivered to your inbox each week—and decide how the BEE newsletter design stacks up against the rest—look for the Subscribe Now box at the top of this post!

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Creating professional emails and landing pages can be challenging for businesses of all sizes. Whether you're designing a newsletter, promoting an event, or driving a marketing campaign, ensuring that your emails and landing pages are visually appealing, engaging, and efficient to produce is no small task. That’s where Beefree comes in.

Beefree is a robust tool for designing emails and landing pages with ease, offering templates, automation features, and seamless integrations. Regardless of your industry or goal, Beefree empowers you to craft high-quality communication and marketing materials quickly and effectively. By providing an intuitive and user-friendly experience, it helps businesses transform their creative ideas into polished campaigns without requiring extensive technical expertise.

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Why use Beefree for professional email campaigns?

Before we jump into the nitty-gritty of using Beefree, let's quickly go over why this tool is worth your time. There are a lot of email marketing tools out there, but Beefree stands out from the crowd for a reason. Let’s break down the unique benefits that make it an invaluable asset for anyone serious about email marketing:

Design made easy:

According to HubSpot, well-designed emails can drive open rates as high as 30%. Maybe you’re following up with leads from a recent webinar or you want to reach potential clients after a product launch. But you're finding yourself stuck because crafting professional emails and landing pages that capture attention is no easy feat.

With Beefree’s intuitive design tools and a library of over 1,700 templates tailored for various industries and purposes, you can achieve professional results without the guesswork. The wide variety of pre-designed options ensures that you can find a solution that aligns perfectly consistent with your brand.

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Time-saving features:

Speed is key, especially if you’re running time-sensitive campaigns. Beefree simplifies the design process with reusable content blocks, real-time collaboration tools, and the ability to transform emails into landing pages with a single click. These features enable you to produce high-quality materials in less time, allowing you to focus on strategy and content rather than struggling with technicalities.

According to a Beefree report, 82% of users report faster email creation. The ability to save and sync reusable content blocks means you can replicate what’s working without reinventing the wheel each time. Once you find a winning format, you can use it again and again with minor tweaks to fit the audience or campaign.

Maybe you’re following up with leads from a recent webinar or you want to reach potential clients after a product launch. With Beefree’s templates, you can get those messages out quickly and make sure your brand stays top-of-mind for your audience.
Using email cadence software like QuickMail ensures that outreach campaigns maintain a structured and effective flow, preventing overwhelming inboxes while keeping engagement high.

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Increased engagement:

A significant 64% of Beefree users report an 11% or more increase in click-through rates after using the platform. By enhancing the visual appeal and personalization of your emails, Beefree helps you achieve better engagement with your audience. The ability to test and iterate your designs ensures continuous improvement in performance.

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Getting started with Beefree templates

Alright, now that you know why Beefree is so powerful, let’s talk about how you can get started with their massive library of templates. This section will walk you through choosing and customizing a template that works for you.

1. Choose your template

The first thing you want to do is pick a template. Beefree’s catalog has templates for just about every sector—whether you're in retail, healthcare, SaaS, you name it. With a variety of options, you can find something that suits your goals perfectly, whether for a simple newsletter or detailed marketing report templates. Say you're promoting a webinar—just pick a template that’s built to highlight your CTAs, and you're off to the races.

The best part? You’re not starting from scratch. You save hours by picking a pre-designed template, and then it’s just a matter of customizing it to fit your brand. Beefree's templates are super flexible—add or remove elements, change colors, switch up the fonts, rearrange layouts—make each email uniquely yours without the hassle. This flexibility is especially beneficial for maintaining a low code architecture in website design.

2. Personalize

Consistency is key to building trust, and when your emails have a cohesive look, it helps recipients recognize your brand. It is also important to follow a brand style guide for your email campaigns so that the audiences can associate elements like your logo, colors, and fonts easily with your brand.

When using a template, customization is key to making your emails and landing pages feel unique and relevant. With Beefree’s drag-and-drop editor, you can easily tweak templates to align with your branding. Adjust colors, fonts, and layouts, or add personalized content such as recipient names and company details. The flexibility ensures that your final output is as distinctive as your brand’s voice.

Plus, with so many people opening emails or landing pages on mobile devices, Beefree’s mobile design builder guarantees that they look great no matter what device they’re on. When your emails look good, people trust your brand more, and that makes them more likely to click through and take action.

Personalization isn’t just a nice touch; it’s essential for engagement. According to Campaign Monitor, personalized subject lines can increase open rates by 26%. By tailoring your designs to speak directly to your audience, you can create a more impactful experience. Furthermore, the platform’s collaborative features allow team members to provide input and make edits in real-time, enhancing efficiency and creativity.

1. Export

So, you’ve picked and customized your template—now it’s time to send those emails.

One of the coolest things about Beefree is that it plays nice with just about every major email platform out there—Mailchimp, HubSpot, Outlook, Quickmail—you name it. This means you can create a killer email in Beefree, connect it to your favorite email platform, and schedule it all from one place. For more advanced needs, many businesses choose a CRM with email integration, to seamlessly combine customer management and automated outreach.

Start designing for free

Beefree simplifies the process of creating visually appealing, professional emails and landing pages, saving you time and boosting engagement. Whether you’re looking to streamline your workflow or enhance your marketing efforts, Beefree offers the tools and flexibility to meet your needs.

The best part? You’ll save time and see increased engagement, connecting with your audience in a meaningful way. In a world where everyone’s fighting for inbox space, Beefree helps you stay ahead of the game by simplifying the process while delivering professional results. So, why wait? Dive into Beefree today and see how it can transform your email campaigns.

8 Common Email Spam Triggers That Can Damage Your Sender Reputation

Whether you’re employing a lifecycle email marketing strategy or simply confirming an order, we’ve outlined the basics of how spam prevention works, why it matters, and how to avoid running afoul of some commonly used triggers.
Beefree team
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In 2024, roughly 361.6 billion emails were sent per day. Whether you're using email for business or to keep in contact with your long distance cousin (do people still do this?), it’s easy to picture just how clogged someone's email can get. That's where modern day Email Service Providers (ESPs) come to save the day with trigger-based spam filtration tools.

For user these spam filters help ensure a smooth email experience, free of spammy and fishy emails. However, as email marketers, these filters lead us to be overly cautious out of fear that our emails are not accidentally filtered out.

Whether you’re employing a lifecycle email marketing strategy or simply confirming an order, we’ve outlined the basics of how spam prevention works, why it matters, and how to avoid running afoul of some commonly used triggers.

Why you need to avoid email spam triggers

Whether you’re an ESG reporting software or a travel company email spam triggers can email marketing performance and in turn hurt your business. For one, there’s the obvious reason that if your emails get sent to the spam folder, they probably won’t be seen. That's time and effort wasted.

Beyond that, being sent to the spam folder too many times delegitimizes your email marketing, which damages what’s known as your sender reputation. When just starting out, this reputation is effectively neutral. But if it gets too low, it could damage your marketing performance and even result in being blocklisted.

How email spam filtering works

As mentioned above, spam filters are implemented as a form of quality assurance and protection for end-users. Here's how ESPs determine content to be spam:

  • Sender reputation analysis: ESPs check sender reputation based on authentication, user complaints, bounce rates and sending patterns. They’ll also check the reputations of your IP address and web domain.

  • Content analysis: Content filtering uses triggers like keywords, formatting and error detection to distinguish spam from legitimate email marketing.

  • Blacklists: Along with sender reputation metrics, ESPs also cross-reference email senders against any of several blacklist databases. Being on even one of these means you’ll struggle to climb out of the spam folder at all.

8 common email spam triggers and how to avoid them

Now let's get to the good stuff. Prevention is generally the best strategy when it comes to avoiding email spam triggers. Here are seven factors commonly used by ESPs to filter spam emails, and the simplest solutions for dealing with them.

1. Lack of authentication

Missing authentication is one of the first red flags an ESP will pick up on. Authentication shows you’ve taken certain steps to establish legitimacy. It’s also used to prevent fraudsters from impersonating your brand online. There are three commonly used forms of email authentication:

  • Sender Policy Framework (SPF): This means publishing a list of mail servers and IPs with permission to send messages using your domain. This is one reason it’s important to conduct email marketing through a branded business email, rather than a personal account.

  • Domain Keys Identified Mail (DKIM): A cryptographic signature which shows a message’s original content has not been altered during sending. Think of it like the tamper-proof seal on a bottle of milk.

  • Domain-based Message Authentication, Reporting and Conformance (DMARC): A way for you to establish how you want receiving platforms to handle authentication failures related to your domain.

2. Shady linking practices

Link placement and presentation play an important role in email marketing. Aside from engaging recipients and securing click-throughs, using links appropriately helps avoid your emails looking like spam.

Questionable linking practices include:

  • Links to domains with poor reputations
  • Excessive numbers of in-email links
  • Compressed, modified or obscured links, particularly when generic link shorteners are used

Only link to your own authenticated domain. Also, use an unlimited bandwidth VPS to help ensure your website access speed is always stable and fast. This will give visitors the assurance that your site is legitimate.

Don’t forget to make the purpose of any in-email link absolutely clear.  

3. Content

Although the reason for an email landing in a spam folder is often related to authentication, reputation, or poor formatting, content can at times be the culprit. Here are elements that you should look at if you suspect that your content is why your emails are not reaching their recipients:

  • Typos
  • Irrelevant content that doesn’t foster positive engagement
  • Poorly translated text
  • Partner content with poor reputation
  • Possibly offensive content
  • URLs or images with poor reputation

Another thing to note is language detection filters. Various words, phrases and tone choices have strong associations with scam emails. This includes certain buzzwords, vague or exaggerated claims, or excessive sales jargon. However, this is only really an issue when you already have a bad reputation.

Nevertheless, let’s say you’re beginning to build your reputation back up and are conducting Black Friday email marketing. While it’s important to use engaging language and strong CTAs, you should avoid terms like:

  • Limited time only
  • 100% free
  • Make money from home
  • Avoid bankruptcy
  • You have won

4. Bounce rates

A ‘bounce’ is when an email doesn’t arrive in the recipient’s inbox. This could be due to it being sent to a fake email address, an out-of-date email that is no longer in use, a full inbox, etc.

When a sender frequently experiences high bounce rates for their emails, this damages their reputation with ESPs.

But how do you improve bounce rates and, therefore, your reputation? The best way is to have good segmentation practices to ensure the right content goes out to the right people. You should also keep your list clean by regularly evaluating it and removing hard-bounce email addresses as well as inactive subscribers.

Moreover, ensure you send relevant messages that your audience actually wants to receive. Of course, always be mindful of the rest of the triggers on this list to make sure you’re protecting your sender reputation.

5. Misleading email subjects

Even if you’re not trying to do anything malicious, misleading subject lines can trigger email spam filters. For example, an email might claim to promote educational B2B content about internal audit controls. Then, instead, link the user to a landing page to sell them a product.

Always set clear topic sentences as email subject lines. Try to summarize the content and intent of the email. If you’re sending a welcome email for customer retention or promoting, say, a product or sale, make it obvious before the recipient clicks on it.

6. Poorly written and formatted emails

Poor formatting and low-quality writing are other important email spam triggers. Common writing triggers include:

  • Overly vague language lacking personal detail
  • Typos and spelling errors
  • Being too brief

A marketing email can trigger spam filters if it lacks formatting of any kind, or if there are inconsistencies. It’s also suspicious when marketing emails lack branded color schemes, imagery or the correct logo design.
Avoiding these email triggers is simply a matter of emphasizing professional communication standards in email marketing.

7. Poor engagement

Low engagement manifests itself through a lack of interaction with your emails from the recipients—low open rates, click-through rates, and conversion rates, as well as low subscriber count are all indications. 

Consistently low engagement will likely result in your emails being filtered into spam. To combat this, you should strive to deliver good and captivating content tailored to your audience. More specifically, you can:

  • Use segmentation to personalize your emails and craft the most compelling content for each segment.
  • Put together attractive subject lines
  • Make use of solid and clear CTAs

8. Getting blacklisted

Improving your sender reputation, also means you don’t run the risk of being blacklisted. Blacklists are a useful prevention tool, but if you end up on one of these lists, your email marketing is more or less guaranteed to end up in spam folders.

Aim for prevention with email security and compliance training, and don’t send unsolicited marketing emails. You can also use a blacklist checking tool to make sure your sender emails haven’t been compromised.

Maintaining your sender reputation is essential

Email spam triggers aren’t all bad, they ensure that your well crafted messages aren’t drowned out and that users are able to easily see the emails they’re interested in. 

To reap these benefits, you need to keep an eye on these triggers and protect your sender reputation. Don’t worry, though. It’s easy to deliver marketing copy that avoids email spam triggers once you know what they’re looking for.

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