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Create A Template

Create A Template

July 17, 2023

Module 3 — Lesson 14

As I mentioned in the previous lesson, templates are powerful tools to help you publish more consistently while spending less time writing.

If you:

Manually add your header image EVERY time you write your newsletter…
Create the same sections and content breaks EVERY time you write your newsletter…
Include the same polls, recommendations, and referral program embeds EVERY time…

Then creating templates will save you hours of avoidable effort.

(And keep your branding consistent)

So here’s how it works:

First, go to “Write → Posts → Down Arrow Toggle Top Right → Create Template”

Then draft your template in the beehiiv editor.

And voila!

7 Email Formatting Best Practices

While email design is very specific to your brand — there are a few best practices the top newsletters in the world follow. You don’t need to use all of these tips, these are simply suggestions.

1) Use images as headers

In email design, "above the fold" refers to the area of an email that's visible in a subscriber's inbox without having to scroll down. Because this is the first thing your subscribers will see, it's vital to ensure this area is engaging.

And what stands out more than a custom header?

Superhuman by Zain Khan uses a unique green header to stand out in the inbox.

Here’s another example from The Rundown by Rowan Chueng:

Dimensions: 1200W x 300L px

💡 Pro Tip: If you write a longer newsletter, give a brief summary of what you’ll cover to entice your subscribers to keep reading.

2) Style your content breaks

You know what’s the most boring thing on planet Earth?

A solid straight line.

You know what many newsletters use to break their content up?

That’s right… a solid straight line.

So what can you do instead?

Use beehiiv’s dashed or dotted content breaks instead:

Or even better… use an image-based content break, like this:

Dimensions: 1200W x 150L px

It’s a subtle difference, but it adds flavor to your newsletter that frankly, a solid straight line could never add.

(Sorry solid straight line, it isn’t personal).

Now, let’s go on.

3) Experiment with a border

Notice how I said “Experiment”. Borders are great for some newsletters but terrible for others.

Here’s why:

Borders add flair to your newsletter — but they also distract attention away from your content.

So, here’s my verdict…

If you have a short and curated newsletter with lots of different sections? Try using borders.

If you write a long and analytical newsletter with tons of text? A border may distract from your writing.

Regardless, try it out, get feedback from your audience, and move on.

(Do you see how the purple border draws your eyes attention away from the words?)

Just be aware of your readers’ experience as you make design changes.

4) Round the corners of your images

Is rounding the corners of your images necessary? No, of course not.

I simply want to highlight the meticulous attention to detail the top newsletters in the world have when it comes to their newsletters.

Here’s a quick example of rounded borders on your images:

With me so far? Cool.

Let’s keep moving then.

5) Use background colors to emphasize quotes

Here’s another advanced design tip… use background colors to emphasize quotes.

Jack Raines’ newsletter Young Money has a green-colored theme. So adding a subtle green background helps:

It stands out
Build his world
Keep readers engaged

You can change the background color of your quotes by going to:

Settings → Design Lab → Block quotes (Variant 1) → Background Color

💡 Pro Tip: Use a light, subtle color to not distract from the quote itself.

6) End with a personal sign off

They say great writing should feel like a letter from a friend…

They’re right. People start reading your newsletter for the value they receive (education, inspiration, or entertainment). But they stay for the connection to the writer (you).

Attaching an image of yourself is a great way to show your subscribers, “Hey, there’s a real human behind this newsletter!”