Author Archives: Susmit Panda - Content writer

This Email Design Trends infographic features 13 design trends, some new, some already existing. 

But the infographic doesn’t cover how to use the latest email design trends in 2025. Needless to say, unless you know how to apply the design trends, there’s no point. Whether it’s games, layouts, or color blocking, you want to see it all in action. 

So if you’re struggling with the application part, this how-to guide is for you, straight from the experts of a 12-year-young email marketing team. Let’s kick off! 

Email Design Trends 2025

We’ll be studying just four email design trends today, namely:

1. Interactivity 
2. 360°-Rotate
3. Unique/custom layouts
4. Bold typography

The reason for choosing those four is that they are particularly hard to implement. Code complexity, inbox support, accessibility, etc. are just some of the challenges. Besides, since these four generate the greatest excitement in brands and customers alike, it’s critical to address the realities surrounding their execution. 

So let’s learn how to use the latest email design trends, starting with everyone’s favorite, interactivity. 

1. Interactivity

Interactivity is an evergreen trend. It’s not likely to peter out. But it can be challenging to code interactive emails. 

Consider this interactive Volkswagen email below. 

Source: RGE

The email allows the user to view the model in four colors. Own a car or no, car color is a huge deal for car buyers. And if one can view a car in different colors inside an email, it doesn’t get any better than that. But how did Volkswagen manage to pull it off? Let’s try to understand that. 

Interactivity is based on the dynamics between states and events in programming. The “state” refers to the current position of a system at a given time, whereas “event” describes the change of the state of the system. In the VW email above, the checkbox of a particular color is a state, and the changed color, an event. Now, here’s the code snippet which makes this possible: 

So, which elements define the interactivity of the email? Let’s look at each of them below: 

• style=”display:none !important;” hides the color boxes 4, 3, and 2 from view. !important precludes any other CSS rule from displaying the radio button. It’s being used as an emphasis. Keep in mind that the hidden button is still functional, it stores the current/selected “state” of the button image. When you click on a color, the state will be changed to an event.
  
• <input type=”radio” specifies the radio buttons or the color choices in the email. 

• name=”car-rd1″ signifies that only one radio button can be selected at a given time within the email.
  
• checked=”” indicates that the first radio button i.e. Grape Yellow is pre-selected when the email loads. 

Now, speaking of interactivity, you need to consider a few things with respect to inbox support. For interactive emails to work, the inbox must support the following at the least: 

• :checked, display:none, <style>
  
• for: pseudo-class/appearance:none

Apart from Windows Outlook Apps, Gmail, and obscure email clients from different countries, all inboxes support interactivity. Lack of support necessitates the use of fallbacks. 

2. 360°-Rotate

The 360°-rotate debuted toward the end of 2023, and is being used by a number of e-commerce brands. The immediate benefit is that it gives you the entire view of the product. Not very different from checking out a product with your bare hands, now is it?

For example, consider the following email template from Joggy. 

Source: RGE

Joggy nails the 360° effect. How did Joggy do it? The following is the relevant code snippet for the effect: 

The key attribute in the above snippet is the src attribute which specifies the URL of the image file i.e. the Joggy Energy can. 

The value is the URL, pointing to the image hosted on a cloud service. The .gif tells you that the file is an animated GIF.

<img alt=”Joggy Energy can in motion” is the alt-text for screen readers. 

Incidentally, it is not the only way to implement animation; you could use keyframes to achieve the effect. However, in the given email, the animation is particularly complex, so recreating it with keyframes might not be tenable. Plus, GIFs enjoy greater rapport with email clients than keyframe animations. 

The question may arise, What about the file size of the GIF? In Joggy’s email, the Energy can image is not a small file; and keyframe animations pose no size issues since the animation is achieved using code, not through a sequence of frames. 

But Joggy tactfully sidesteps the potential file size challenge by hosting the GIF on a Content Distribution Network or CDN. 

3. Unique Layouts 

Custom or unique layouts were among the email design trends our infographic featured. Below is an example. 

Source: RGE

Epic for Kids doesn’t stick to a traditional layout. Alright. But if you know anything about ESPs and like platforms, one can’t design such unique layouts on their builders. So, in order to pull this off, Epic for Kids probably relied on a design tool. 

Design tools such as Figma, Adobe XD, and Sketch allow you to create custom layouts. 

Now, Epic’s unique layout seems to be driven by the concept of asymmetrical design. Here’s how it does it:

• Balance: Epic’s email maintains visual weight and balance. One instance would be the Jabari Jumps frame complimenting the Today I Feel image. See it for yourself.
  
• Negative space: The highly economical CTAs and the spaces between and around the typographic trails indicate the good use of white space. Spacing is critical in itself, but when you come to asymmetrical design, it’s more so. 

So much about the design. How could one code this monster of an email? Let’s take the first hero image. Here’s the code:

As before, let’s explore the key attributes of the above snippet:

• <tr> defines a row within the table, and <td> defines a cell within the table row.
  
• style=”background-color: #3f1e54;” this is what sets the background to a very dark violet. This is applied one more time as a fallback because the image has transparent areas (see below), or in case it fails to load. The background color of the image is the same as that of the table cell. Both the <td> tag and <image> tag are dark violet.

• rc=“…” specifies the URL of the image file.
  
• width: 100%; ensures that the image occupies the entire width of its parent container (<td>).
  
• max-width: 600px sets the maximum width of the image at 600 pixels.
  
• height: auto; automatically adjusts the height to fit the width. 

Now this is only the code for the first hero image. But the pattern is the same for the images following it. 

4. Custom Typography 

Also among email design trends, custom typography is making its appearance in the emails of FMCG brands. Usually, and sensibly, confined to the hero text, custom typography doesn’t just help with branding, but it makes your designs pop, and is next only to immersive experience. Take this example below. 

Source: RGE

Once again, you can’t create 3D typography in ESPs. It is likely that Hero Cosmetics used design tools like Adobe Express, Adobe Illustrator, and Sculpteo to create that amazing hero text. 

The hero text is visually rich, immersive, and scroll-prompting.

Similar to the examples we saw before, the relevant attributes are these:

The src attribute points to the URL of the image file. Indeed, as regards bold typography, you must rely on image files. But this brings us to the ever-controversial territory of all-image emails. 

Kath Pay, author of Holistic Email Marketing, has argued, “I love a gorgeous email image as much as anyone, but you must balance aesthetics with functionality. That’s why I have advised my clients against sending all-image emails for years and why my design training course focuses on designing for emails using HTML, images and live text.” Keeping her sage words in mind, it is critical you design emails keeping accessibility at the forefront. 

Now, is Hero’s email above accessible? Yes! 

Because the image tag has an alt attribute; so if images are turned off, the text will be still visible. 

In addition, thanks to the display:block; style, the text will be rendered as a block-level element, taking up the full width of the available space, leading to better visibility than if it had been an inline element. Finally, the font size, set to 13 pixels, makes the text legible for email readers. 

Toward Leveraging the Latest Email Design Trends: Are You Ready?

If you need help with leveraging the email design trends in 2025, get in touch with our email marketing experts.

A well-designed email does more than grab attention—it has the power to convert leads into sales. At the heart of it? The template. 

But here’s the big question: how do you go about creating professional, impactful email templates?

Feeling stuck? Struggling with DIY attempts? Unsure where to begin?

This blog post is here to guide you.

With experience designing over 3,000 email templates every month, we know exactly what it takes to create emails that leave a lasting impression. To get you started, we’re sharing 8 creative email template design ideas to inspire your next campaign. Let’s get started! 

8 Professional Email Design Examples

1. Magic Mind

Source: Inbox

Kicking off with a skyward shot, this email plunges you into its lighthearted mood right in its hero block. Blue sky, white clouds — defines chipper! 

The product is centered, drawing immediate attention. 

The drop shadow effect also adds a realistic touch to the image. The template then shifts to 2D, which brings out the laid-back feel of the email. 

Why this email rocks:

• A single CTA: Focused and strategic, it can generate over 300 more clicks compared to multiple or no CTAs. The design ensures the CTA stands out, surrounded by ample white space for emphasis.
  
• Single-column layout: A clear demonstration of a mobile-first design approach, ensuring a seamless experience across devices.
  
• Value-driven copy: Engaging, motivational, and brand-aligned.  

Design idea: Place elements along the Y-axis in order to guide the user’s eye through the content. Simplify viewability using vertical alignment.

2. FUM

Source: Inbox

Fum’s masterful use of the blur effect compels the viewer to star this message and wait for the next one in the sequence. The countdown timer heightens the intrigue, not to mention the tantalizing hints so crisply set down. 

The CTA is spot-on, counterbalancing, as it were, the anticipation. 

Why this email rocks:

• Appropriate color scheme: In an email full of suspense and hints, the color, that of peach, equally strongly anticipates the new flavor.
  
• Well-spaced copy: Text designed with readability in mind, ensuring viewers can easily understand the content without straining their eyes.

Design idea: Leverage the blur effect from time to time, not just to hide and hold, but to achieve stylistic effects as well. Experiment with the Bokeh effect and Gaussian blur. Find more information here. 

3. True Grit Texture Supply

Source: Inbox

 

Colorful, wacky, and dripping with humor. Not just a dynamic, hard-to-forget viewing experience, True Grit inspires and evokes creativity. 

Incidentally, for art lovers out there, this email is itself inspired by fauvism, a 20th century art movement which took off in France.

Why this email rocks:

• Great use of white space: For an email so rich, so vibrant, white space is critically important – something which this email achieves.
  
• Artistic inspiration: We like how True Grit’s designer has been inspired by an art movement, which expands the creative boundaries.
  
• Eye-catching discount: Bold typography makes the offer unmissable.
  
• Animated GIF: Simple yet impactful, the GIFs don’t affect accessibility.  

Design idea: Experiment with grainy or gritty textures to create a retro vibe. 

4. Raw Juicery

Source: Email Love

Bold, high-octane — Raw Juicery’s email hits you like a jet of Jack Frost. 

Utilizing Word Art effects, bold typography, and striking CTAs, Raw Juicery’s once-a-year sale pulls out all the stops to make it count. One of the highlights of this email is the variety of angles and positions in which the products are showcased. But we also love those unorthodox dividers. 

Why this email rocks:

• Bold and beautiful: Email design is typically minimalist. But RJ’s dash at bold typography takes their email to a whole new level.
  
• Unconventional dividers: The Baroque dividers, accentuated by dark colors, perfectly match the 3D resonance of the design.
  
• Blend of dark and light: The alternating dark and light palette enriches the viewing experience. 

• Top-notch photography: A brilliant use of light and shadow, combined with an artful mix of close-ups, long shots, and floating images.

Design idea: Embrace the maximalist approach to design for one-off emails. Experiment with layouts, dense text, bold colors, layered images, etc. 

5. Suri

Source: Email Love

With its futuristic vibe and unique colors, Suri’s email is a nice example of inventive minimalism. We love how the electric toothbrush is made to tower above the rest, signaling its prominence, in a way. 

The imminent 360-degree GIF view also establishes this fact. 

The repetitive mention of “25% off” doesn’t come off as persistent or annoying because it’s not made to override the aesthetic pull of the template. It’s written simply, in a no-fuss manner, the focus remaining on the product. 

Why this email rocks:

• Strategic use of GIF: The 360-degree effect, as we mentioned already, nicely lifts the product to featured status.
  
• Blur effect: Nice use of the blur effect to add a stylistic touch.
  
• Well-curated reviews: Choosing the most impactful customer reviews is important. Suri has picked just the right ones. 

Design idea: Try cyberpunk, or even dystopian, color schemes, to create a futuristic vibe. Learn more about it here. But be strategic, the vibe should vibe with the product or service you’re promoting.

6. Cat Person

Source: Email Love

Cat Person’s short email is cute, funny, and very relatable. The hero image says it all, bolstered by creative copy and a well-placed emoji. 

The footer is quite interesting, too. Paints quite a picture of the cat people as well as their team. 

Why this email rocks:

• Good use of emoji: Cat Person’s use of emoji scores high in relevance or context and humor.
  
• Innovative copy: The content is spot-on – informative as well as funny. 

Design idea: Experiment with toon styles and pop art to lighten up your emails. Try caricatures, where appropriate. Implement color blocking to section off each content block more clearly as well as to enhance the look. 

7. Bershka

Source: MailCharts

Bershka’s product promotion starts in the hero image itself – quite a unique way of doing it. The entire hero block is a call to action. 

The CTA buttons are well-padded, creating a clean and inviting design. We particularly appreciate the inclusion of user-generated content in the pre-footer section. Additionally, the bold typography used for the app download call-to-action is refreshingly unconventional and eye-catching.

Why this email rocks:

• Impressive hero section: That the entire hero section could be a call to action is unprecedented.
  
• Long CTAs: The long CTA buttons are proof of a mobile-first approach.
  
• Navigation bars: Prominent top and bottom navbars.   

Design idea: Explore unorthodox email layouts, such as storytelling layouts, asymmetrical layouts, angular layouts, and so on. Use these layouts for one-off emails like BFCM, holiday emails, product launch, anniversaries, etc. Check out how far you can go with layouts in this curation. 

8. James Perse 

Source: MailCharts

Intense and striking, JP’s all-red Valentine’s Day email has a bite to it. From the skull-and-rose hero image to the two-column product grid to the CTA, this email redefines minimalism with a vengeance. 

The color scheme is unforgettably bold, erotic, and “dangerous.” 

Why this email rocks:

• Gothic vibe: The Gothic romance theme effectively captures the mood.
  
• Color gradient: James Perse masterfully uses color gradients to bring out the relatable capricious oomph of the season.
  
• Classic color combination: The timeless pairing of black and red, bold yet harmonious, completes the mood.

Design idea: Depending on the campaign or season, strive for intense styles with the help of color grading, backlighting, saturation, vignettes, etc. 

Speaking of professional email template design ideas, a few expert tips:

• Add a “View in Browser” or “View Online” link: Place it at the top of every email for easy accessibility.
  
• Ensure the Unsubscribe link is visible: Position it clearly in the footer to comply with email best practices.
  
• Stick to web-safe fonts: Use fonts that guarantee consistent readability across devices and email clients.
  
• Maximize the preview text: Treat it as an extension of your subject line to captivate readers.
  
• Implement defensive design strategies: Optimize your emails to remain readable and functional, even with blocked images.
  
• Prioritize above-the-fold branding: Feature your CTA prominently and align it with your brand identity.
  
• Design with online viewing patterns in mind: Structure content to match the natural flow of how users scan digital content.
  

This Way, Please—for All Things Email Templates

At Email Mavlers, our team of over 150 specialists brings more than 12 years of experience and proficiency across 50+ ESPs. We craft hand-coded email templates designed to integrate smoothly with your platform of choice, ensuring a hassle-free and efficient sending experience. You can bet your bottom dollar. Get in touch with us today. 

You want to launch an email newsletter, more power to you! 

But, it’s easier said than done, now, isn’t it? An email newsletter is not a collage of information; it’s not a potpourri of links. 

It’s certainly not just news, pictures, or a raft of emojis. No wonder, most newsletters are boring and flop successfully. (You heard that!)

The ideal newsletter engages, educates, is written well, and is personal. 

But, how do you create email newsletters which meet these criteria? We are telling you in the guide that follows. Let’s begin!

7 Steps To Create An Email Newsletter

1. Identify the Purpose Of Your Newsletter

First and foremost, why do you want to launch an email newsletter? 

Generally, the goal of any email newsletter is to educate your audience and make your brand identity more real, personal, and instantly recognizable. 

But more specifically, do you have a vision for it? Do you want to make your niche more relatable, captivating? Establish yourself as an authority? 

2. Identify & Segment Your Target Audience

Next, who are you writing your newsletter to? Certainly, not all of your subscribers. You want to reach readers per se, not customers or subscribers. 

So you need to identify who cares about not just buying from you, but listening to you, your stories, and your values. From doing polls and surveys to running focus groups, you want to get valuable feedback from your audience.

3. Select the Right Email Service Provider

Now that you know why you’re creating an email newsletter and to whom you’re going to send, it’s time to select the right email marketing platform. 

Here are some tips to consider while choosing the right ESP:

• Look for features like drag and drop builders, list management, segmentation and personalization, A/B testing, automation, integration capabilities, etc.
  
• Think long-term as far as the cost is concerned. The cost scales directly with the size of your list. You may want to pick platforms which offer a free trial.
  
• Find a platform with a robust built-in CRM tool, like HubSpot.
  
• Make sure the platform you pick is intuitive and easy to use.
  
• Look for strong, in-depth email analytics features. Critically, you want reports which are easy to understand. Review the overall presentation.
  
• Investigate the platform’s security features, customer support quality, and its email deliverability standards.

Next step, learning how to design a newsletter template. Keep reading! 

4. Design the Email Newsletter Template 

The traditional newsletter template consists of the following components: 

• Logo: This is the first thing the reader sees. Make it prominent, solitary, and instantly recognizable.
  
• Visual header: Feature a navigational bar if you want the reader to visit the most popular pages of your website:
   
• Hero banner: The hero image introduces the newsletter. Solid colors and bold fonts will make the banner stand out.
  
• Body (text and image): This is the meats-and-potatoes bit of your email. You have the flexibility to include anything relevant to your audience in whatever way suits your needs. We like to call it the wildcard module.
  
• Footer: Add Proof of Consent, unsubscribe link, social icons, privacy policy, physical address, terms and conditions, and copyright notice. 

So, here’s how the typical newsletter would look like.

5. Add Content

Newsletter formats generally fall into three categories:

• Traditional Format: A blend of content such as news, blog, and promotions. This format works well for keeping readers informed and engaged.
  
• Digest Format: Ideal for brands with a high volume of content, this format features multiple pieces of content as teasers, encouraging readers to click through.
  
• Curated Content Format: Focused on sharing valuable content from other niche sources, this format is great for establishing brand credibility.

Consider these tips for crafting an effective newsletter body:

• Keep readers hooked with compelling narratives such as success stories or milestone achievements, character highlights, etc.
  
• Include visuals such as GIFs, infographics, high-resolution images, videos, or ticker GIFs, etc.
  
• Sprinkle in emojis where appropriate and ensure your CTAs and anchor text are clear and relevant.
  
• Include alt-text for all visual elements to improve accessibility for all readers.
  
• Share updates on events, webinars, popular articles, testimonials to maintain reader interest.
  
• Distinguish each content block with visible dividers or generous white space to create a clean and organized layout.

But, how to get your readers to notice your newsletter in a crowded inbox?

6. Ace Your Subject Line

Yes, a compelling subject line stands out. But equally, it gives an idea into the value of your email newsletter. 

Regardless of whether it’s a newsletter or regular email, the CUE-DIVE approach recommended by Chad S. White is ideal. A good subject line is contextual, urgent, emotional, detailed, intriguing, visual, and earned. A few examples:

• On My Mind: Running Mittens and Floating Bookshelves (The Strategist)
• Melissa Clark’s classic potato latkes (NYT Cooking)
• Save Science, Save Lives (The Nation)
• My favorite places to shop small ❤️ (Ugmonk)
• Balsam Hill’s success: Ditching 4 tools for 67% email revenue growth (Klaviyo)
  
• My 10 Most Memorable Emails of 2024 (Email Love)
  
• It’s a Devil’s Bargain, Being a Writer (The Paris Review)

7. Review, Test, & Keep Testing

Do a thorough testing of your newsletter before sending it out. From grammar to colors to layouts to links to responsiveness, check everything. 

Share the newsletter with your team and to a select group of subscribers from the segment you’re targeting. Gather last-minute feedback and edit.

Once approved, you can send it out to all the subscribers in the segment. Review how your newsletter is performing in terms of click rate, engagement, etc. 

Remember, it’s an ongoing process, so you want to keep testing over time.

Email Newsletter Best Practices

Consider the following best practices while creating your newsletter:

• While AI can assist, keep your writing human-centric. Craft engaging, concise copy tailored to your readers.
  
• Avoid monotony by using questions, witty remarks, or even humor to guide your audience through the content.
  
• Write in a colloquial tone, incorporating multiple perspectives for a relatable and dynamic approach.
  
• Break up text with meaningful visuals or subtle decorative touches in order to maintain clarity and appeal.
  
• Use ample spacing to minimize clutter, particularly in longer newsletters, for a clean and digestible layout.
  
• Avoid overloading with hyperlinks. Instead, distribute them thoughtfully using a mix of emojis, icons, or buttons to diversify the user experience.
  
• Invite your subscribers to participate with polls, quizzes, or other interactive elements to foster engagement.

How to Design A Newsletter Template

The best place to start is to look at how other brands are doing it. Now, as we know that most newsletters flop, you want to be picky about your muse. 

So then, here are 5 (picky does it!) newsletters we absolutely love. 

1. Soft Services

Source: Email Love

Why we love this email newsletter: It’s stylish, takes social proof to a whole new level, leverages negative space to a T. 

2. Yotpo

Source: Email Love

Why we love this email newsletter: Yotpo’s newsletter is funny, intelligently animated, and brilliantly written. 

3. The Marginalian 

Source: Inbox

Why we love this email newsletter: It’s informative, educational, and most vitally, quite moving. 

4. Vox

Source: Inbox

Why we love this email newsletter: It’s relevant, timely, and empathetic. But most importantly, it is so sincere. This is what being personal means.

Have A Newsletter Idea? We’re All Ears! 

Perhaps you have an awesome idea brewing in your mind. Feel free to share it with us, and get your dream newsletter designed with Email Mavlers. 

Over 5,000 brands across 50+ countries have trusted us. Let’s talk! 

Over the last 10 years, our organization has witnessed the evolution of email designing this close. In fact, for many of us, it’s been like watching one of those boy-to-man GIFs, with each new update adding another frame to the animation.😊 

Currently, the landscape of email designing is experiencing a seismic shift with the advent of AI email summaries in major email clients such as Apple Mail, Gmail, and Yahoo Mail. These are designed to enhance user experience by providing concise overviews of email content, enabling users to glean essential information without even opening the email. 

While this advancement is undeniably user-centric, it poses a unique set of challenges for email marketers.

Maybe you’re already seeing the repercussions of AI summaries. 

Let’s not panic! In this post, we explore how AI email summaries are reshaping email design strategies, the potential impact on engagement metrics, and how marketers can adapt to this evolving landscape. Here we go!

Key Ways AI Summaries Reshape Email Design

There are five ways AI summaries are reshaping email marketing. 

1. Subject Line & Preview Text

AI summaries often override traditional preview text, making subject lines the most critical component of the “email envelope” (sender name, subject line, and preview text).

Marketers must craft subject lines that:

• Are clear and compelling enough to stand alone.
  
• Work cohesively with preview text, avoiding tactics like “bait-and-switch” or “surprise reveals.”

Prioritizing transparency and relevance is vital to capturing attention effectively.

2. Concise, Front-loaded Content

To cater to AI summarization and human skimming, emails need to:

• Place key information early in the email, ensuring visibility.
• Use clear language, avoiding jargon.
• Highlight crucial details through bullet points or bold text.

Calls-to-action (CTAs) should be prominent and strategically positioned.

3. Optimizing for Image Blindness

AI may struggle to interpret visual elements like charts, logos, or infographics. To address this:

• Alt-text for images should be descriptive to aid AI in capturing essential visual information.
  
• Ensure that critical insights from visuals are mirrored in text form to maintain clarity and accuracy.

4. Personalization & Segmentation

AI summaries may prioritize emails that align with user preferences. Marketers must:

• Leverage data-driven segmentation to tailor emails to user interests.
  
• Personalize email content to resonate on an individual level, improving relevance and engagement.

5. Adapting to Engagement Metrics

AI summaries may lead to:

• Lower open rates as users rely on summaries instead of opening emails.
  
• Reduced click-through rates if summaries provide enough information, negating the need to explore further.

Marketers need to explore alternative engagement metrics, focusing on direct conversions and behavioral insights beyond opens and clicks.

Impact on Open & Click Rates

The average open rate across all industries stands at 35.63%. 

But AI-generated summaries may reduce the incentive to open emails, especially when users can discern the content at a glance. This challenges marketers to rethink how they drive opens.

If AI highlights CTAs effectively, click-through rates may improve for well-optimized emails. Conversely, poorly summarized emails may see diminished clicks. 

A precise and engaging summary could rekindle interest in overlooked emails, potentially driving new engagement.

Accuracy & Brand Voice Concerns

1. Inaccurate Summaries

AI can misinterpret complex language or visuals, leading to:

• Summaries that omit key details.
  
• Fabricated or misleading information, particularly in data-heavy emails.
  

2. Diluted Brand Messaging

Summaries may unintentionally alter tone and priority, weakening the brand’s intended voice and message.

3. Loss of Key Elements

AI may overlook CTAs or promotional details, diminishing the campaign’s effectiveness.

Differences Between AI Email Features in Apple, Yahoo, and Gmail

Let us briefly note the differences in how AI functions across these email clients. 

1. Preview Text Replacement

Apple Mail replaces preview text with AI-generated summaries, offering users a quick, concise overview of the email’s content.

Yahoo Mail retains traditional preview text while supplementing it with bullet-point summaries, creating a layered preview experience.

Gmail integrates AI-driven summaries selectively, depending on the user’s settings and email type. Gmail’s emphasis is on relevance, often curating key details like sender, promotions, and updates to enhance prioritization.

2. Automatic vs. On-Demand Summaries

Apple Mail provides both automatic and on-demand summaries, allowing users more flexibility.

Yahoo Mail offers automatic summaries by default, providing a consistent experience for all users.

Gmail uses a dynamic approach, leveraging AI for summaries primarily in its “Smart Replies” and “Priority Inbox” features. Summaries may be dynamic for emails in categories like Promotions or Updates but are less common in standard inboxes.

3. Integration with Broader Ecosystems

Apple Mail seamlessly integrates its summaries into a larger AI suite, enhancing usability across the Apple ecosystem (e.g., Calendar and Notes sync).

Yahoo Mail focuses on standalone email enhancements, keeping its AI tools largely within the email client.

Gmail takes a multi-layered approach, embedding AI summaries within its existing AI features, such as Smart Compose and Personalized Tabs, while leveraging integrations with Google Workspace tools like Calendar and Drive.

Adapting Email Design for AI Summaries

To succeed in this new landscape, marketers must:

1. Craft Strong Subject Lines

Ensure subject lines alone convey the core message and entice the reader.

2. Enhance Content for Dual Audiences

Balance content for both AI and human readers with clear, skimmable, and concise information.

3. Use Visual Hierarchies

Implement headings, subheadings, and formatting like bold text to direct attention effectively.

4. Monitor Performance and Iterate

Continuously test and refine email strategies based on how AI clients interpret and summarize emails.

Closing Thoughts…

AI-driven email summaries are transforming email designing by shifting the focus toward clarity, relevance, and front-loaded value. While these innovations present challenges, they also offer opportunities to rethink strategies and foster deeper subscriber connections. By embracing adaptive techniques and leveraging insights, marketers can ensure their campaigns remain impactful in an AI-dominated inbox.

The email designing revolution is here. The question is: are you ready to embrace it?

If you’re doing email marketing, your one goal would be to stand out in a crowded inbox. And, ten to one, it’s the one thing that keeps you up at night.

We get it! As email marketers with over a decade of experience, standing out has been not just the challenge faced by our clients but by us as well. 

Fortunately, with the incorporation of Augmented Reality (AR) in email marketing, you can stand out not just in the inbox, but in the customer’s mind as well. As Zapper’s CRM executive explains, “Augmented Reality (and new developments in WebAR) can now enable your emails to be more than just text on a screen – AR can now act as a portal (or means) for your content to transcend the device screen and be interacted with by your consumers.”

And that’s what this introductory post is all about. Let’s get started!

Why Augmented Reality in Email Marketing?

Augmented Reality bridges the gap between the physical and digital worlds, offering recipients an interactive experience that enhances their connection to your brand. Here are some key benefits of using AR in email marketing:

• Enhanced Engagement: AR experiences draw users into your content, increasing click-through and conversion rates.
  
• Interactive Storytelling: Tell your brand story in a way that captivates and resonates with your audience.
  
• Boosted Brand Recall: Interactive and immersive content is more memorable, leaving a lasting impression.
  
• Improved Customer Experience: AR offers utility, such as virtual try-ons or 3D product previews, which help customers make informed decisions.

How to Use AR in Email Marketing

Below are some of the ways you can use AR in email marketing:

1. Embed Interactive AR Experiences

While emails themselves cannot host AR directly due to technical limitations, you can include links or QR codes to immersive AR experiences. Examples include:

• Virtual Product Try-Ons: Let users visualize how products like glasses, makeup, or clothes would look on them.
  
• Interactive 3D Models: Showcase your products in 3D, enabling users to rotate, zoom, and view them in their own space.

2. Leverage WebAR Technology

WebAR allows users to access AR experiences directly through their smartphone browsers, eliminating the need for additional apps. You can:

• Add WebAR links to your email campaigns.
  
• Showcase product demos or branded experiences.

3. Enhance Visual Appeal with QR Codes

Dynamic QR codes in emails can be used to direct recipients to AR experiences. For instance:

• A fashion retailer could send a QR code to let customers try on clothes virtually.
  
• A real estate company could link to virtual tours of properties.
  

4. Gamify the AR Experience

Gamification enhances engagement and adds a fun element to AR. Ideas include:

• Scavenger Hunts: Encourage users to interact with AR content to unlock discounts or exclusive offers.
  
• Branded Mini-Games: Create AR-based games tied to your product or service to boost interaction.

5. Use AR for Personalization

Personalization meets AR for a powerful combo. Use recipient data to tailor AR experiences:

• Send customized AR holiday cards.
  
• Let users visualize products in their preferred settings (e.g., furniture in their home).

6. Support with Augmented Tutorials

Guide customers with AR tutorials for complex products. 

For example, a tech company can send an AR link to a 3D interactive guide for setting up a device.

How to Implement AR in Your Email Strategy

Consider the following tips on how to implement AR in email marketing: 

1. Choose the Right AR Tool
   Collaborate with platforms that support AR experiences, such as 8thWall, ZapWorks, or Adobe Aero. These tools can help create WebAR experiences that can be linked in emails.
   
2. Optimize for Mobile Devices
   With most emails being opened on smartphones, ensure your AR experiences are optimized for mobile.
   
3. Provide Clear Instructions
   AR experiences should be easy to access and use. Include step-by-step guides or visuals in your email to ensure a seamless experience.
   
4. Incorporate Analytics
   Use tracking tools to measure the performance of your AR campaigns. Monitor metrics like click-through rates, interaction times, and conversions.
   
5. Test Across Platforms
   Test AR links and QR codes across different devices, browsers, and email clients to ensure compatibility and ease of use.

Real-World Examples of AR in Email Marketing

Take a look at how these brands are incorporating AI in their campaigns:

• IKEA: Links to AR-powered tools that let customers visualize furniture in their homes.

Source

• Sephora: Offers virtual try-ons for makeup products via AR experiences accessed through emails.

Source

• L’Oréal: Incorporates AR to help users try hair color shades virtually.

Source

Challenges of Using AR in Email Marketing

While AR opens up exciting possibilities, it’s not without its challenges:

• Technical Limitations: Not all email clients or devices can support AR integrations directly.
  
• Cost of Development: Creating AR content can be resource-intensive.
  
• User Education: Users may need guidance on how to access and interact with AR content.

Future of AR in Email Marketing

As AR technology advances, it’s expected to become more accessible and integrated into marketing strategies. The introduction of tools like AMP for Email and innovations in WebAR are paving the way for more seamless integration. Brands that adopt AR now will stay ahead of the curve and create memorable experiences for their audiences.

Wrapping Up!

Augmented Reality is not just a trend—it’s a transformative tool that has the potential to revolutionize email marketing. By combining AR with your email campaigns, you can deliver engaging, interactive, and personalized experiences that set your brand apart.

Ready to elevate your email marketing strategy with AR? Start experimenting with interactive elements today and watch your engagement soar!