TIPS & TACTICS :: JDM Knowledge Center

:: Professional HTML Email Creative From Corporate Letterhead

Need a professional HTML e-mail template that's creative and easy to work with, has high deliverability, high open rate, and it needs to be ready for broadcast in less than an hour?

Here’s a tip. The first thing to do is curse. The second thing is to take a client’s current letterhead, add a contrasting background, a small drop shadow, and a shallow, smooth bevel. Cut up into four pieces (top, bottom, left and right). Mix in a little HTML know-how and whalla! Client’s happy because it’s not far off what they already approved of; if the images are not downloaded immediately the email still looks "put-together"; and the whole process is fast, easy and replicable. The final step is never telling anyone how this is done.

Below is an example of an 11th hour project that ended up looking and performing so well that it became the standard template.

Here's an Example:

Open the client's letterhead in Photoshop. We've used an previous client of mine as an example. Once you've opened the document in photoshop delete the content. Then select the edges, smooth (Select > Modify > Smooth > 10px). Now you're ready to make it pretty. Start by opening the layer properties. Here, let's add a drop shadow and a smooth bevel. Now begin cutting it up for HTML development. We use Dreamweaver but the process is the same for most all WYSIWYG editors. That's it! Round the corners, add a contrasting background, mix in a drop shadow and soft bevel to make it professional, and cut it into four-pieces. The finished version looks like this. :: Back to Tips & Tactics