Clicking on the yellow button New message will initiate a step-by-step plan for creating a message.
Getting started
Once you click on New message, you will see the following step-by-step plan:
The step-by-step plan consists of four steps:
Step 1 – Properties
When you enter the New message submenu, you can immediately choose your message properties: the name and type of the message.
- Choose a descriptive name for your message. Example: Newsletter Prospects January 2018. This is not your subject line. The name you choose for your message is for internal use only.
- Choose the message type Email for sending email messages and the message type SMS for sending text messages.
The Author field will be prefilled with your username and the Creation date is automatically filled with the date on which the message is created.
Step 2 – Delivery
Once you have completed step 1, you will enter the screen for step 2 of composing your message. In step 2 you will fill in the inbox fields of your message: ‘To’ field, sender name, subject line, snippet, domain and reply address.
Inbox field To
By default Spotler fills the inbox field To with the recipient’s email address. After all, the recipient is familiar with this address.. Do you prefer using the recipient’s first name, last name or both? Click the drop-down arrow at the end of the inbox field.
Inbox field From
The inbox field From is prefilled by Spotler with the company name that has been set up in your Spotler account. Of course, you can change this.
Inbox field Subject line
Fill this field with the subject line of your email message.
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Subject line personalization Click on the button {P} next to the inbox field Subject line. A pop-up will appear containing several database fields. Pick a database field which you would like to use to personalize your subject line. Don’t forget to add an alternative value. |
The Add A/B testing option
You can apply A/B testing to the From and Subject line fields. A/B testing is an efficient tool to get insight into the preferences of your target group.
Inbox field Snippet
A snippet is the first (top) text in your email that reinforces or complements the subject line and supports it in a better open rate. It's a second kind of subject line. This will be shown directly below the subject line in your inbox. If no snippet has been applied, that place will be the first line of text of your message. In many cases this is "Read Online"or "Webversion".
A snippet is part of a powerful mailing. That is why it is mandatory to fill in, so you can't forget it.
A/B testing is also possible on the snippet. You do this by clicking on Add A/B test in the subject line. Want to know more or do A/B testing? Then read the article Automated A/B testing.
Inbox field Domain
Have you added your domain name to your Account settings? You will then see this domain in the inbox field Domain. Our advice: always use your own domain name. This builds trust in your readers because they will see your domain in each link.
Inbox field Reply address
Your reply address is prefilled. Would you like to use an alternative reply address? You can change it via your Account settings. Using the drop-down arrow at the end of the inbox field Reply address you will see all the reply addresses you can choose from.
Step 3 – Message
Once you have completed step 2, you will reach the step 3 screen for composing your message. In step 3 you can edit or view your message. The screen looks like this:
In this screen you can:
- Choose a template that you can use to format your message.
- Preview your message’s template.
- Edit your message’s template.
Choose a template
Does your account contain several templates? Click on the drop-down arrow at the end of the Template field and select the template you would like to use for your message. Do this before you start working on your message.
View message
Click the white button View. You will see how the message will appear on a desktop, a smartphone or a tablet. You can also see an overview of trackable links. This is handy for checking if your links have been set up properly.
Edit message
Click the blue button Edit to open the editor. The screen looks like this:
Are you using the editor for the first time or you need help? Go to Messages Editors.
Step 4 – Plain text version
To make things easier for you, you don’t have to create the text version of your message yourself. Spotler automatically sends a plain text version of your message with each HTML mailing you send.