This article will provide additional guidance on each step of the 'Email Blasts' onboarder.
1) Get Started
In the first step, you will name your e-mail blast. We recommend you choose a relevant and specific name indicating the purpose of your e-mail.
Examples: 'October 2024 Newsletter' or 'Winter Gala Reminder'
Note: To use a previously sent e-mail or saved template, toggle the switch next to that option.
Click the 'Next' button in the upper right corner to advance to the next step.
2) Purpose
In this step, you will choose the type of e-mail you want to send. There are several options, each with its own set of layout templates.
3) Layout
On this page, you will find a list of recommended layouts you can choose from if you opt out of using a specific layout category. To browse all available options, click the 'All Layouts' tab.
4) Build
Click directly on each section you wish to edit in your e-mail blast. This will give you editing options on the right side of your screen, specific to that particular piece of content.
For example, clicking on a text block will open text editing tools. A useful tool to use here is 'Merge tags'. These allow you to insert specific information pulled from your 'Donor Management' system (names, donation amounts, etc.) into your e-mails so you can easily personalize e-mails to your recipients.
Using the menu to the right of your e-mail will give you additional options to edit the content and rows within your message.
From the 'Content' tab on the right, you can add additional content blocks by clicking the type (image, video, button, etc) and dragging & dropping into the e-mail.
Tip: While your work is automatically saved as you go, we highly recommend periodically clicking the 'Save' button to confirm your most recent edits are saved!
Additionally, due to this auto-save capability, it is important to note that only one person can actively edit an e-mail blast at a time. Otherwise, you run the risk of overwriting each other’s work!
When you are finished making your edits, click the 'Save & Next' button in the top right corner.
5) Setup
Here, you will set the specifics of your e-mail, such as the 'Subject Line' of your message. You can also adjust the 'Email Blast Sender' - the name and e-mail address displayed as having sent the e-mail - and indicate the e-mail address that should receive any responses to this communication.
You will also be asked if you would like to share this e-mail blast within the 'Fundraising Email Gallery'. If you opt into this, other nonprofits can view your completed e-mail blast and draw inspiration from your creation.
Other optional settings, which can be accessed by clicking the 'Optional Settings' link towards the bottom of the page, include customizing the “preview text” your recipients' e-mail clients may show or attachments you want to share when sending your message.
6) Recipients
In the next step, you will build your recipient list. If this is a general e-mail communication, you can click the option to include 'Everyone' and move on to the next step. However, if your message is intended for a target audience, click 'Custom List'.
Clicking 'Custom List' allows you to select recipients from a group or saved filters - you can also add individuals.
Note: Any contacts who might fall into more than one group of recipients should only receive the e-mail blast once.
7) Review
Now is the time to carefully review and preview your e-mail blast.
We highly recommend using the 'Send a Test Email' option to send yourself (or a colleague) a test copy of the e-mail before sending it to your intended audience.
8) Send your e-mail blast!
Finally, you can either send your message right away by pressing the 'Send Now' button – or use the 'Schedule Delivery' option to set a specific date and time to send your message.
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