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How to Get the Most Out of Your Email Templates, Plus 10 New Templates Available

Beefree team
Beefree team
Aug 30, 2017
How to Get the Most Out of Your Email Templates, Plus 10 New Templates Available
How to Get the Most Out of Your Email Templates, Plus 10 New Templates Available

Finding ready-made responsive email templates can help you put together a campaign fast. They're also a great remedy for when you need fresh inspiration or you're working with limited design resources. In fact, having a library of email templates to choose from is one of the top considerations email gurus make when choosing or recommending an ESP. It's clear email templates are vital time-savers for email marketers and designers.But what's the best way to choose a template and get the most out of it? Today, we'll show you how.

Step 1: Prep your content ahead of time

Finalizing your copy and design assets before you begin building an email means you'll be more efficient in the design phase. You should have a good sense of an email's:

  • Call-to-action. Why are you sending the email? What should readers be compelled to do?
  • Header, sub-header, and body copy. What are your key messaging points?
  • Design assets. Do you have custom photography, animations, or illustrations ready? Will there be dynamic content, like personalizations or a countdown timer? Do you need to source and customize stock images? How many images will your email include?

In short, you need to know what kind of email you're sending. Is it promotional, transactional, or personal? Is it a newsletter, an announcement, or a privacy policy update? Being clear about your email's purpose will make it easier to choose the right template.Once you choose a template, you'll probably make some adjustments to your email's content. Still, having a good understanding of an email's components before you begin designing is important. This means you can choose the template that best fits the purpose of your email and the content it needs to contain.

Step 2: Create a quick mood board or a list of design considerations

Now that you know the purpose and content of your email, envision how the email should look holistically. Consider the following:

  • What is the hero image? Is there a piece of content that absolutely must be above the fold?
  • How should the text be placed in relation to visual content—will some of it be over an image, below it, or alongside it?
  • What kind of layout might best communicate the message?
  • How would you define the style or feeling of the email? Perhaps it's clean and minimal, friendly and playful, or professional and informative?

If you're passing the design process off to a design team at this point, it's helpful to create a design brief that details this information. Including a mood board or relevant inspirational emails can be especially useful. (Sometimes communicating visually is just more direct and clear for everyone). But even if you're building the email yourself, having an idea of how the email should "feel" before you begin designing is a smart step that will save you time. Think about how you want your audience to feel, and then use that to assemble ideas for colors, fonts, and visuals. You can create a Pinterest board, a simple sketch, or even a list of adjectives.

Step 3: Choose your template!

It's time to design your email! After putting in a little work and planning from Steps #1 and #2, selecting an email template will be a breeze—and fun!Wherever you browse for templates, keep in mind that the one you choose should be mobile responsive. Easy drag-and-drop functionality and the ability to customize a template to meet your needsare also important capabilities to keep in mind.

Find 10+ new responsive email templates in BEE Pro

We recently published a slew of responsive, dynamic templates that are designed to look beautiful and resonate with your audience. All templates can be fully edited, downloaded, and used anywhere.Log-in to your BEE Pro account or sign-up to a BEE Pro free trial to check out the new templates from our catalog:

email template

An easy way to choose your template is filtering by tag. Use what you know about your email's purpose (from Step #1) and aesthetic (from Step #2) to filter template types. Or, simply scroll through the template library and browse at your own pace!In addition, when you design an email in the BEE editor, your message will always be 100% responsive; you'll get access to a huge library of free stock photos from Pexels, Unsplash, and Pixabay; and you'll be able to execute the latest email design techniques, like arranging live text over images and personalizing your messagesvia NiftyImages.

4 New dynamic templates with countdown timers and personalized images

A few of our latest templates include built-in dynamic countdown timersthat are ready to be customized, like this Summer Sale Countdown template:

...and this Countdown to Elegance template:

There are also birthday email templates ready to be customized with names:

and...

Other templates also include promotional, e-commerce, and newsletter emails.Each template has been designed with elegance and efficiency in mind so that you can get the most out of each one.

and...

4. Customize your template

After you choose a template, it's time to customize it! With BEE, it's easy. Sections can be duplicated, rearranged, and updated to suit your needs. Here are a few tips:

  1. Choose and edit images. Use our huge library of free stock photos to add some oomph to your message. Or easily import your own via the built-in file manager. You can add filters, crop, etc.
  2. Add copy. Format the size, color, and line height of your text. Text can also be added on top of images or over HTML background colors.
  3. Choose HTML background colors. HTML background colors can give your email a "boxed" look or add a pop of color to modules. Have fun with them!
  4. Create the perfect CTA button. BEE's buttons are fully customizable and always bulletproof. Change the color, height, width, font style, and more until you're happy with it!
  5. Adjust padding and spacing. Make sure your email has room to breathe. Adjust the padding around an image or the spacing between modules, until the message is balanced.
  6. Preview. Check that your message looks great on mobile with BEE's built-in preview function. Make adjustments as needed, then finish and download!

How to find the newest email templates in BEE Pro

Did you like our newest responsive email templates? Find them in your BEE Pro account or sign-up for aBEE Pro free trial, if you haven't already. Check them out, customize them, and let us know how it goes!

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Now, let's be honest—you’ve likely heard about all of these rotating for the last few years. While email marketing has come a long way and is changing faster than ever, there’s only so much you can do within 600x1,500 pixels. However, there are no limits to where your creativity can take you. 

Let’s get into it.  

#1. Unique, tailored experiences 

Damian Grabarczyk, the co-founder and growth marketer of PetLab Co., says, “We faced the challenge of connecting meaningfully with an audience that expects more than one-size-fits-all communication.” 

When we speak about crafting tailored emails we mean going beyond the recipient's first name in the subject line. We’re talking about optimizing your entire email strategy to design multi-stage touchpoints to nurture leads across the customer lifecycle. As well as, leveraging data to send hyper-personalized, relevant, and engaging emails that feel less like a broadcast message and more like a conversation. 

Many are using AI machine learning algorithms and AI automation to analyze customer interactions, past purchases, browsing habits, website visits, and even social media behavior to curate engaging email content that resonates deeply with the real-time needs of recipients.

For PetLab Co this looked like including content such as an individual’s pet health history or product usage timelines. Damian Grabarzyk expands, “This approach transformed the conversion rate and strengthened customer loyalty. As we look ahead, I see brands in 2025 moving beyond generic personalization to adopt strategies that make customers feel truly understood and valued.”

On the other hand, many are leaning into user-generated content (UGC) for crafting tailored experiences. Customers today are more likely to trust the opinions of peers over branded messages. UGC like customer reviews, testimonials, videos, and photos are the best form of social proof depicting real people using and benefitting from your products or services. 

We see the benefits of using both AI and UGC to get the most out of your email conversions ;). 

#2. AI tools as an addition, not a substitution

Experts at NordPass state, "AI-powered content generation tools are not here to replace email copywriters and marketers. These tools make us more efficient. The smarter the tool is, the better equipped we are to create high-performing email content that drives results." 

AI tools can support us by significantly enhancing the speed, precision, and effectiveness of your emails. For instance while traditionally A/B testing has required a lot of time to analyze small variations with AI you quickly implement and test multiple email elements and make adjustments based on real-time engagement data. There are AI algorithms that can even predict which variations are most likely to resonate with different audience segments, leading to more accurate targeting and faster optimization.

In short, AI tools are revolutionizing the way we craft and optimize our email’s deliverability. There are many different types of AI solutions so we suggest finding the right one for your needs. 

#3. Even more transparency around data

With AI continuing to rise, folks are more and more concerned about where their data is going. That’s where zero-party data collection becomes a key strategy in email marketing, allowing you to gather data directly from customers rather than relying on third-party sources. 

Zero-party data includes information that consumers willingly share, such as preferences, interests, and purchase intentions. This data is often collected through surveys, preference centers, quizzes, or interactive content and is highly valuable because it is shared explicitly, ensuring accuracy and deeper personalization without privacy concerns associated with third-party tracking.

As privacy regulations tighten, zero-party data will empower you to deliver hyper-personalized email experiences while respecting user privacy. This approach will help you build trust, as customers feel more in control of their data, and you gain insights that lead to more relevant and engaging email content.

#4. The death of static emails

With attention span getting shorter day after day, digest-format emails are expected to rise in popularity in 2025. Presenting email content in an easy-to-scan, organized, and minimalistic layout will surely help deliver the most relevant information in a fraction of the time. 

Additionally, interactive emails will allow recipients to directly engage within the email without having to visit a landing page or website. Interactive elements like product carousels, polls, and quizzes create a dynamic experience that keeps subscribers engaged, especially in visually driven industries like fashion brands

So what now? 

You’ve heard these strategies before, but now it’s time to actually put them into action. The brands that win at email marketing in 2025 won’t just be sending emails—they’ll be creating experiences. Whether it’s hyper-personalized content, AI-driven efficiency, zero-party data collection, or interactive emails that break the mold, the key is to stay ahead of the curve.

So, what’s the first strategy you’ll finally implement? Your inbox (and your audience) are waiting.

How to Leverage Email Campaigns to Gather Sincere Product Reviews

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What do customers think about your brand’s products? The best way to find out is to ask them directly, which you can do via strategic email campaigns.

Email makes gathering authentic product reviews quick and easy. By collecting sincere feedback, you can build trust, increase sales, boost loyalty, and innovate product improvements. 

That said, requesting reviews via email requires precise timing, personalized messaging, and lots of engagement optimizations. But don’t worry—we’ll walk you through some key steps to create email campaigns that deliver the valuable feedback you need.

Why product reviews matter

Product reviews do more than confirm that you're meeting customers’ needs. Sincere feedback drives loyalty and sales, offers valuable customer insights, and helps you develop a strategic product development roadmap.

  • Fosters customer loyalty: Requesting and listening to feedback makes your customers feel valued and heard. It demonstrates that you prioritize customer satisfaction, which helps you build stronger, long-term relationships. Review requests also act as re-engagement emails by starting new conversations with customers.
  • Increases sales: Social proof drives sales. According to a recent survey by Power Reviews, 90% of potential customers use online reviews to make purchasing decisions. In fact, reviews have more influence over purchasing decisions than product prices. Turning product reviews into customer testimonials and encouraging reviews on third-party sites can significantly boost sales.
Image sourced from powerreviews.com
  • Builds Customer 360 insights: Customer feedback delivers insights into customer needs and sentiments, enriching Customer 360. Exactly what is Customer 360? It’s a unified, 360-degree view of customer data. It empowers you to tailor products and customer experiences to meet individual needs and preferences. 
  • Drives product improvements: Sincere customer feedback reveals what target customers like/dislike about your products. It provides key insight into their value, functionality, and usability, unlocking large-scale development opportunities.

How to create an email campaign to collect product reviews

Want to unlock the power of product reviews? Let’s explore how to create email campaigns that encourage customers to share their feedback.

Segment your audience

Like promotional emails, product review requests shouldn’t be sent to every subscriber.

If subscribers haven’t had the chance to try your product, product review requests will feel irrelevant and may trigger unsubscriptions. So, only send review email requests to customers recently trying your product.

You can do this by segmenting your email list based on where customers are in the buying cycle. Target loyal customers, recent purchasers, and first-time buyers with tailored email campaigns. This ensures that you’re sending emails to customers most likely to respond with insightful feedback.

Write a compelling email subject line

According to Superoffice, 33% of people open an email based on the subject line. 

Image sourced from superoffice.com

To get the click-through rates you want, your email subject lines should be personalized, relevant, and engaging. Here are some examples:

  • Did you love [product]? Or hate it? Let us know!
  • We value your opinion — help us improve!
  • We want YOU to help us make our product better!
  • Up for a discount? Share your feedback for 10% off! 

Learn more > Tips for writing open worthy subject lines.

Optimize for customer engagement

A successful email marketing strategy relies on customer engagement. Here are some key email elements you need to encourage interactions.

  • An attractive email design: With the right layout, color scheme, typography, and images, you ensure easy readability and promote interaction. Use these engagement-boosting email design best practices to help you create a design that boosts conversion rates.
  • Gratitude and value: Thank customers for reading the email and explaining why their feedback is so important. Also, consider including a personalized Gmail email signature with your content details to build trust and encourage customers to engage with your review request. 
  • Personalized, relevant content: Personalized email content motivates engagement. Use customer data platform (CDP) data to tailor messages to individual customers. What is a CDP? It’s a centralized platform that collects and unifies customer information, building comprehensive customer profiles. 
  • Incentives: Offering a small discount can motivate customers to leave reviews, especially first-time buyers. That said, incentives can (sometimes) generate insincere reviews, so stress the importance of honesty. 
  • A strong call-to-action (CTA): Your CTA should direct readers straight to the reviews submission page. Use clear CTAs with bold buttons and typography to make it stand out.
  • Mobile responsiveness: If your emails are slow to load or don’t display correctly on mobile devices, your bounce rate will spike. Leverage solutions that offer advanced mobile optimization features — such as Beefree— to create responsive emails every single time.

Ask specific, concise questions

Complex, drawn-out questions that are too open-ended can disengage customers. So, get straight to the point with concise, direct questions. Here are some examples:

  • What did you think of [specific product feature]?
  • How often do you use our product?
  • What are your favorite/least favorite features?
  • How likely are you to recommend this product?
  • What could we do to improve our product?

Use a mixture of closed and open-ended questions to increase your chances of receiving meaningful responses.

Make it easy to respond

The easier it is for customers to leave a review, the more responses you’ll receive. So, make the process as seamless and convenient as possible. One way to do this is with survey emails.

Email surveys have high response rates. They can be completed within the email with minimal effort, which is a big plus for busy customers. And, they can generate a wealth of quantitative data and metrics that are quick to analyze, leading to faster improvements. BeeFree has an extensive collection of email survey templates to suit every need.

For longer review requests, include a CTA that directly links to the review submission page. Review forms should use simple, clear language, be optimized for mobile, and have a progress bar. 

You could even provide your telephone contact details to allow customers to leave a review via telephone. It’s the preferred communication method for 55% of Baby Boomers according to Hubspot, so it’s worth considering. 

Leverage small business telephone services from Vonage to access call center capabilities like virtual receptionists and CRM integrations, streamlining processes.

Also consider directing customers to leave reviews on popular review sites, such as Google and Amazon.

Optimize email timings

If you send product review requests too early, there’s a chance your customers won’t have tried your product yet. But if you send them too late, your customer might have forgotten their experience. 

So, when’s the best time to request reviews? 

Aim to send review requests within 7-14 days post-purchase. This gives customers a chance to try the product a few times, leading to more sincere, meaningful reviews. Plan for seasonal surges such as Black Friday and incorporate them into your schedules.

Key takeaways

Do email campaigns work for gathering valuable product reviews that drive improvements, boost trust, and increase sales and loyalty? 

Absolutely — but they need to be strategic.

To generate sincere reviews and valuable data, ensure your marketing emails are personalized, engaging, and optimized for convenience. And, use email list segmentation and marketing automation to ensure they’re sent to the right customers at the right time.

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