Creating Templates

Before you can send a message, you will need to create a Message Template. The easiest way to do this is to click on options from the menu bar above and go to 'HTML Templates'. From there, click 'Create New Template' and use the template designer to add text, styles, and images to the template. The most important thing to remember when creating a template is to use 'Place-Holders' for where you wish for the message subject and message body to appear later on. To do this, you simply place the key-words: $MessageSubject$ and $MessageBody$ (including the dollar-signs and cases) anywhere in your template. These Place-Holders will be later replaced by the actual message subject and message body.

Other content Place-Holders you can use include:

• $FirstName$ = The first name of the recipient
• $LastName$ = The last name of the recipient
• $FullName$ = The full name of the recipient
• $EmailAddress$ = The email address of the recipient
• $ShortDate$ = The date the email is sent in the form 4/1/2008
• $LongDate$ = The date the email is sent in the form Tuesday, April 1, 2008
• $UnsubscribeLink$ = A link which will allow the recipient to unsubscribe from your mailing list (necessary to comply with ligitimate bulk maling policies)
• $Tracker$ = This will be replaced with an invisible tracking link that will allow for you to see who has viewed your email. You will not be able to track your email if you do not put this Place-Holder somewhere in your message

Images

When you are creating or editing a Message Template, you will notice there is an 'Image Library' on the right side of the page. This is for adding logos, photos, and other images to your template. To upload an image, click the 'Upload New' link and select an image from your computer to upload. Once the images has been uploaded it should appear in the Image Library. To place one of these images into your template, simply place your cursor at the place you would like it inserted, and then click the image of your choice.

Once an image is inserted, you can resize it by dragging the 'handles' at the corners of the image, or you can right-click the image for more advaced options.

Uploading Templates

If you already have a template on your computer that fits your emailing needs, you can upload this template for use with FlowMail. The requirements of such a template are that it must contain standards-compliant HTML and CSS only, the file-type of which should be .htm or .html.

If you understand these requirements or you have a designer who understands this, you can upload your template by clicking on 'Options' from the menu bar above and go to 'HTML Templates'. Then click the link that says 'Upload Template' and use the following form to select your html file.

After you have uploaded an html template, you will probably have to edit it and make sure it contains the required content Place-Holders $MessageSubject$ and $MessageBody$. If your images don't contain complete URL addresses you may find that the images are no longer visible. To resolve this upload them into the Image Library and re-inserted into the template.