How To Create an Email Newsletter Using HTML and CSS

Introduction.

Email newsletters are one of the most direct ways to engage with an audience, whether you’re a small business owner, a blogger, or someone running a non-profit.

But here’s the thing—creating a newsletter that stands out in a crowded inbox isn’t as simple as drafting a quick email and hitting send.

It takes a little more effort to create something that not only looks good but works well across different email platforms and devices.

That’s where HTML and CSS come in. By using these two basic web technologies, you can create beautifully designed email newsletters that not only capture attention but also ensure they look great no matter what screen they’re viewed on.

And the best part? You don’t need to be a coding expert to get started. With just a little time and practice, you’ll be able to create newsletters that look professional and polished.

In this guide, I’ll walk you through the process of building an email newsletter using HTML and CSS. I’ll break everything down step by step, so you’ll know exactly what each part of your code does and how to put it all together.

Why Use HTML and CSS for Email Newsletters?

Before diving into the how-to part, it’s worth understanding why HTML and CSS are the go-to tools for creating email newsletters. Let me explain:

1. Customization and Branding.

HTML allows you to structure your email’s content, while CSS lets you customize how it looks. This means you can tailor the design to match your brand’s unique style, from colors and fonts to spacing and alignment.

2. Mobile-Responsiveness.

More and more people are checking their emails on their phones. According to a report by Litmus, over 50% of all emails are opened on mobile devices. By using HTML and CSS, you can make sure your email looks good on any screen, whether it’s a desktop, tablet, or smartphone.

3. Consistency Across Platforms.

Different email clients (like Gmail, Outlook, or Apple Mail) can display emails differently. HTML and CSS give you more control over how your newsletter looks across various platforms, ensuring a consistent experience for your readers.

4. Engagement.

A well-designed email is more likely to be read and engaged with. By using HTML and CSS to style your email, you can make your content stand out, encourage clicks, and boost your open rates.

How Do I Create Your Newsletter with HTML and CSS?

Now, let’s dive into the actual process of creating your email newsletter. Don’t worry, I’ll keep it simple. We’ll go over the basics of HTML for structure and CSS for styling.

1. Start with a Simple HTML Structure

The first thing you’ll need is the basic structure of your email. Here’s what you need to include:

• DOCTYPE Declaration: This tells the email client that you’re using HTML5.
• HTML Tags: The main structure of your page.
• Head and Body: The head contains meta information, while the body contains the content of your email.

Here’s a simple starting point for your HTML:

Let’s break it down quickly:

• The outer <table> ensures the email will be full-width across all devices.
• Inside that, another table holds your content, centered at 600px wide, which is a common width for email newsletters.
• The h1 and p tags hold your main headline and content.

2. Add Styling with CSS

CSS is what makes your email look good. Let’s add some basic styles to make our newsletter more visually appealing. The key here is to use inline CSS because not all email clients support external stylesheets.

Here’s how you can style the newsletter:

This code does a few things:

• Sets the font for the email to Arial, a common, web-safe font.
• Adds padding and spacing to improve readability.
• Styles the button to stand out with an orange background and white text.

3. Mobile Optimization

Since more than half of emails are opened on mobile devices, it’s crucial to make sure your newsletter looks great on smaller screens.

The trick is to use media queries in your CSS to adjust the layout for mobile devices. Here’s an example of how you can make the email responsive:

This CSS rule says that if the screen width is 600px or less (common for mobile devices), then the font sizes of the headings and paragraphs will shrink a bit to fit the smaller screen.

4. Testing Your Email

Now that you’ve created your email, it’s important to test it. Email clients like Gmail and Outlook render HTML and CSS differently.

You can use tools like Litmus or Email on Acid to preview how your email will look in different clients and devices.

FAQs

Q1: Do I need to know coding to create an email newsletter?

Not necessarily. While knowing HTML and CSS can help you create more customized designs, there are tools like Mailchimp or Constant Contact that let you create newsletters without coding knowledge.

Q2: Can I use images in my email newsletters?

Yes, you can! Just make sure to host your images on a reliable server and use the <img> tag to display them in your email. Don’t forget to include alt text for accessibility.

Q3: How can I improve email deliverability?

Make sure your emails are not too “spammy” by avoiding excessive use of exclamation marks or all caps. Also, ensure that your email is properly authenticated with DKIM and SPF to improve deliverability.

Q4: Is there any way to track how well my email does?

Yes! Many email marketing platforms offer analytics to track open rates, click-through rates, and bounce rates, so you can see how your emails are performing.

Conclusion

Creating an email newsletter using HTML and CSS doesn’t have to be intimidating. By breaking it down into simple steps—setting up your structure, styling with CSS, and testing across devices—you can create a newsletter that looks great and performs well.

With a little practice, you’ll be able to customize everything from fonts to colours, making your emails stand out in an inbox full of competition.

So, now that you know how to create a newsletter that works across devices and email clients, are you ready to give it a try? What will your first email look like?