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Creating an Email (Overview of the Steps)

In Dialog Insight, email is a tool that can be integrated to several modules or to an automated campaign (welcome campaign, referal, birthday, etc.), or it can be used alone. In this article, we will guide you through the steps to create an email from the conception to the sending, including tests.


Prerequisites

Templates
It is strongly recommended to create an email template to use as a starting point for new messages. This will help you save time and effort. If you don't create any, you can use those provided by DI. It is not recommended to duplicate an email as a starting point. If you use an old template, it is possible that recently added features will not be available in this template. 

Consents
To use opt-in and communication types in the email, you must have created them.
→ Setting Up the Consent Centre


Step 1: Choose a Starting Template

Go to Communications -> Emails (left menu) and click Create an Email:

Fill in the required information, make your selection and indicate the required information and click on Create:

  • Name: Identify the email by naming it for your records.
  • Tag: Assign tags if you want. This can help you find your email in the list.
  • Communication type: Select a communication type with the button Choose. The communication type categorizes the email and manages consents (opt-ins required to receive the message.
  • Start from: Select the starting content for your message.
    → Learn more about templates.

Another option would be to duplicate an existing email in the list:


Step 2: Define the Delivery Information

In the Inbox step, fill in the required information and click on Save:

Resources
→ Generating a Subject Line Using AI
→ Predefine Authorized Senders of Reply-to Addresses
What is a preheader?

The preheader is used to generate a text preview in the recipient's inbox. The preheader text can be a summary of the message or a call to action (to encourage opening the message). 

It is recommended to use about 35 characters if your audience uses mainly a computer (desktop) or between 40 and 50 for mobile. 


Step 3: Configure Additional Options

You can modify the additional options if you want (it is not required). These configurations are hidden in the Additional options

To access these options, click the 3 dots in the upper right:

See the Additional options list
Link trackingLink tracking
Check the Log clicks option to get statistics on the clicked links in your message. In the account configuration, it is possible to automate this function so that when a message is saved all links are automatically followed. When a link is followed, its destination in the message is replaced by a tag specific to Dialog Insight.
If injection rules have been created for the project and for the type of communication associated with the message, these will be displayed under this section and you will be able to activate them if needed. Note that if you are in a new project or if the related project has no injection rules, a Google Analytics rule will be available by default.


Tracked links
Check the links in your message or use the Analyze links button to check if your message contains broken links (identified by a red X). Several functions can be performed on the links:
  •  - To open the link
  •  - To edit the name or URL of the link, or to assign categories
  • - To exclude links that you do not want to track. If needed, you can include them back by clicking on the  icon.
PublicationPublish a web archive of your email to get a link to share it. In order to use the web archive, you must create a preview and web archive profile.
→ See the guide on validation and tests
ReviewsCheck the review notes of people who send or receive a test message or add them to track changes made to the message, or to inform other users on how it was created. You can define the users to be notified in the communication types configuration. When a note is added, the recipient can also comment on the message, in particular, to indicate whether the test message has been sent or whether it has any anomalies.
Communication typeChange the communication type selected when creating the message. The types of communications offered depend on which ones have been configured for the project.
→ Configuring a Communication Type).
Versions
(HTML editor only)
Create multiple versions of the same HTML message to send a single message to contacts who have slightly different profiles (see Creating a Multi-Version Message). Versions will be sent to the right contact, based on conditions on the recipient's profile.
Data sourceUse relational data to personalize the message. The query is executed just before the message is sent, as well as the resulting customization. Note that a query execution can affect the contacts who would otherwise be entitled to receive this message.
ParametersCustomize the message by adding settings that let you get information outside of the application. The use of parameters is possible when the message is sent via Web services, is used in an marketing automation scenario, or uses a query on relational data. You can also add emojis to the message (see Adding an Emoji to a Message).
AdministrativeGet information about who created the email and who last modified it or add internal comments or security attributes to the message.

Step 4: Add Content

To add content, you must use structure blocks in which you will insert content blocks. The editor uses a drag-and-drop system. For more details on how the editor works, see the article on how to add content. When you edit a block, you can add personalization by clicking the person icon when it is available: 

Other recommended actions

Step 5: Fix the Errors

To get details on errors and warnings, hover the icon in the upper right:

You can also see review notes, depending on the additional options you configured.

To continue to the Test or Send interfaces, you must fix the errors (e.g. missing information for sending). The warnings do not need to be fixed to send the message, however, it is recommended that they be verified to make sure everything is in order.


Step 6: Test the Email

For a generic view (without personalization), you can preview the message by clicking the eye in the upper right:On the left of the eye, you can choose the view for desktop or mobile.

To validate your personalization and test the rendering, it is strongly recommended to to use the testing tools that are available in the test interface.
→ See the Guide on Email Validation and Tests


Step 7: Send the Email

When your email is ready to send, it is time to select recipients, plan the mailing and prepare it.
→ See how to send an email

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