How Will Originality in Your Email Template Design Help You Stand Apart From the Competition?

The first impression you make with your email campaign will play a huge role in determining what type of results it will yield.  In most cases, that impression is based on the design of your email template.  A design that has uniqueness and originality adds life and personality to your marketing message, while allowing you to stand out from the crowd.  Feel free to use the following design tips to further distance yourself from the competition. 

Creating an email design that differentiates you from your competitors all begins with choosing the right template.  Selecting a template has become much easier in recent times as many companies have a wide variety of pre-formatted options available for you to choose from.  One of the best ways to make your selection is to gather your content and choose the template that best supports it.  This will give you an idea of what, and how many elements you want to be included in your design.  Once this has been determined, it will be easy to select a template with the layout that compliments your email.   

There are a few elements that can instantly bring originality to your email template.  These elements are your logo, company colors and fonts.  The logo for your brand or company should appear everywhere it possibly can, and your email is no exception.  Make sure the logo is either placed in the top left, or top middle of your message to ensure that people see it as soon as they open it.  If you have a website for your business, then your logo, colors, fonts and overall design should reflect a similar theme.  When a person clicks through from your email to your website, the transition should feel smooth and seamless, not disconnected and jarred.  This consistency creates a degree of familiarity that makes it easier to recognize your brand. 

Adding photos and graphics to your email template can help breath life into your marketing content.  When deciding to include such elements, remember that simple is always the best way to go.  This is a situation where it would be wise to stick to the basics of branding and focus on your business’ image.  Whether you choose to use original artwork or royalty-free stock images, keep in mind that the photos or graphics you add will represent your brand.  If you go with images that are too colorful or graphics that are too heavy, your marketing message may appear congested and lose its value.  The graphical elements you insert should coincide with your brand and help drive home the message you are trying to send, not take away from it by causing a distraction. 

The key to continuously distancing yourself from the competition is to always keep yourself open to different types of designs.  Looking at your own template and eying your competitors is great, but it never hurts to broaden your horizons by seeking other sources of inspiration.  Check out some designs on websites, look for ideas in magazines, snap a few photos while you’re out on the road, whatever it takes to create visually stunning designs that help you enjoy a leg up on the competition.