Hi, I’m Jen from Starchelle Communications, and today we’re talking about how to design eye-catching email templates. If you’re an online course creator, you know your emails need to do more than just inform—they need to impress, reflect your brand, and drive engagement.
Whether you’re sending a welcome email, a promotional message, or a course update, design plays a crucial role in getting your readers’ attention. In this blog, I’ll share some top tips, common mistakes to avoid, and useful tools to help you create stunning email templates with ease.
Why Does Email Design Matter?
Think of your email as a first impression of your course or brand. A cluttered, hard-to-read, or boring email can cause your readers to ignore your message—or worse, unsubscribe. A well-designed email:
Grabs attention
Builds trust by reflecting your brand
Makes it easy for readers to take action
Ready to design an email that checks all these boxes?
Let’s break it down into five key steps.
1. Keep It On Brand
Your email should feel like an extension of your website and overall branding. To achieve this:
Use your brand colours consistently.
Include your logo in the header.
Stick to your brand fonts (or choose similar, legible alternatives).
Accessibility is also key—select fonts that are easy to read, even for users with screen readers. Creating a style guide for emails can ensure your templates always feel cohesive and professional.
2. Simplify Your Layout
When it comes to email design, less is more. A clear, single-column layout works best for most emails. It’s clean, easy to read, and mobile-friendly.
Best Practices:
Whitespace is your friend: Give content room to breathe.
Stick to one main idea per email: Think of your email as a mini landing page with a single call to action.
Keep it simple, clear, and focused on the reader’s next step.
3. Use High-Quality Visuals
Visuals make your emails more engaging, but they need to be used wisely.
How to Use Visuals Effectively:
Include relevant images or graphics that support your message.
Use GIFs sparingly to add personality or highlight key points.
Optimize images for fast loading times—oversized files may trigger spam filters.
Add alt text to all images for accessibility and to ensure your message still gets through if images don’t load.
4. Highlight Your Call to Action (CTA)
Your CTA is the most important part of your email. Make it stand out!
Tips for CTAs:
Use a button instead of a plain text link—it’s more attention-grabbing.
Choose a bold, contrasting colour for the button to make it pop.
Use actionable text, such as “Enroll Now,” “Watch the Video,” or “Download the Guide.”
Place the CTA above the fold (visible without scrolling) and repeat it near the bottom.
5. Optimise for Mobile
With over 50% of emails opened on mobile devices, ensuring your email looks great on a phone is non-negotiable.
Mobile-Friendly Design Tips:
Stick to a single-column layout for easy navigation.
Use a font size of at least 14pt for body text and 24pt for headlines.
Ensure buttons are large enough to tap comfortably.
Preview your email on both desktop and mobile devices before sending.
Bonus Tip … Test Before You Send
Before hitting send, take a moment to test your email:
Send it to yourself (or a friend) to check for typos and test all links.
Open it on both desktop and mobile to ensure it looks perfect.
If your platform offers a spam-check tool, use it to avoid landing in spam folders.
To Sum Up
Designing eye-catching email templates doesn’t have to be complicated. Stick to these key principles:
Stay on brand.
Simplify your layout.
Use high-quality visuals.
Highlight your call to action.
Optimize for mobile and always test before sending.
Let’s create emails that captivate and convert!
If you found this helpful, don’t forget to subscribe to my newsletter https://go.starchelle.com/mailinglist and follow me on YouTube (198) Jen Heppell Starchelle Communications - YouTube for more actionable advice.
Helpful Links and Resources
Take your email marketing to the next level with these resources:
Watch the video that inspired this blog: How to Draft Email Templates That Engage and Convert
Download my free guide: Marketing Made Simple
Need tech help? Join my FREE Monthly Tech Café Meetings: https://go.starchelle.com/tech-cafe-page
Have a challenge with email design? Let me know—I’d love to help!
