This article provides a high-level introduction to the various "content blocks" (Zones, Layouts, Custom Zones) that are available in Message Editor. When creating a message or a template, you can use this information to:

• understand the differences and purposes of the block types and
• decide which type of content block — or combination of block types — is best for your design.

TIP: Each Zone is detailed in a dedicated article to provide more focused guidance (instructions, tips) for creating messages and templates.

NOTE: The content blocks that are described in this article are available only in the Email Designer view of Message Editor.

Email Designer overview

See Message Editor Overview to learn about the features and functions of Message Editor that are available as you create and edit messages and templates. The article describes:

• what's where in the editor (e.g., Navigation bar tabs, message preview, and send a test message) and
• what you can do with the options and settings menu in the toolbar.

NOTE: The Zones and Layouts are unique to the Email Designer view; they are not a feature in legacy Higher Logic Thrive Marketing Enterprise/Real Magnet editors.

Watch the video

Watch a short video that highlights the redesigned Zones iconography and the new, pre-configured Layouts options.

Zones and Layouts

The tables in this section provide an introduction to the content blocks that are available in the Zones and Layouts sections of the Zones tab on the Navigation bar.

These content blocks are grouped in the following three categories:

• Zones
• Layouts
• Custom Zones

Using the Zones & Layouts

You can insert the content for each Zone or Layout as you place it or you can build out your design first, and then return to the Zones and Layouts to populate them.

As you design your message or template, keep in mind that where you place your Zones and Layouts content blocks determines the layout of the message.

Zones

Zones	Descriptions
	WYSIWYG - Use alone or within a column to add editable text, images, tables, and more to your message/template.
	Image - Use to enhance your message/template with images, hyperlinked or not.
	Video - Use to add a video thumbnail that links to a Vimeo or YouTube video.
	RSS - Use to add an RSS feed to your message/template.
	Article - Use to share an article and, optionally, post it to your social-media sites.
	Dynamic Content - Use to enhance your message/template with sections that are customized per recipient.
	Social Sharing - Use to add a "share" button that enables your recipients to share your entire message on their social-media accounts.

Landing Pages differences / Form Field zone

When you are creating a Landing Page, the collection of Zones is slightly different:

• The Article, Dynamic Content, and Social Sharing zones are not available.
• The Form Field zone is available.

NOTE: This zone is exclusive to Landing Pages. To learn about this zone, see the section, Form Field zone, in Manage Landing Page Campaign Templates.

Layouts

Layouts	Descriptions
	Columns - Use to insert one or more parallel columns that you can customize with unique borders, padding, and background colors, and use to host Zones and other Layouts (including additional Columns).
	Thumbnails (two designs) - Use to insert pre-designed (left-right preferences) blocks that host an image, a headline, body text, and a button; all of which you can customize.
	Card Rows (three designs) - Use to insert pre-designed blocks that host an image, a headline, body text, and a button; all of which you can customize.
	Image Rows (three designs) - Use to insert image-only placeholders; by design, these are not intended to host text or buttons.

Custom Zones

In addition to the purpose-built Zones and pre-designed Layouts content blocks, you can use the WYSIWYG and Image zones to create zones that are unique to your account, and save them as Custom Zones. To learn how to create and edit these zones, refer to Custom Zones, below.

The sections that follow provide a closer look at the Zones and Layouts to help you more quickly decide which is right for your template/message design.

WYSIWYG

Add a WYSIWYG zone to your message/template in order to create a text block that you can populate with your template/message content. After you've placed the zone, you can use the WYSIWYG Editor to:

• apply styles and formatting your text,
• insert images, tables, and personalization, and
• add links to images and text.

See Message Editor Zone - WYSIWYG for instructions on how to add and configure this zone.

Image

Use this zone to insert images, to which you can add hyperlinks and alt tags. After inserting an image, use one of the image editors to customize it — without leaving the editor or the message.

• Use the Basic Editor to perform rudimentary edits, such as cropping and re-sizing.
• Use the Advanced Editor to add text, adjust the colors, add overlays and frames, and other advanced customizations.

See Message Editor Zone - Image for instructions on how to add and configure this zone.

Video

Use this zone to add a video thumbnail to your templates and messages. You can configure the thumbnail to link to either a Vimeo or a YouTube video, and customize the thumbnail link with your preferred image.

• Video is one of the most effective ways to engage your audience.
• An eye-catching, inline, easy-to-access link to a video is one of the most reliable ways to ensure that engagement.

See Message Editor - Video to learn more about adding and configuring video thumbnails.

Article

Use this zone to import external, web-based content as an article into a message or template. After inserting this zone, you can:

• Customize it by adding an image, body and title text, and a link.
• Post that external content to social-media sites.

See Message Editor - Article for instructions on how to add and configure this zone.

Dynamic Content

You can insert the Dynamic Content zone in order to populate your message/template with content that is targeted and tailored to your recipients individually. The message that is sent to recipients is customized with content that applies to each recipient based on, for example, their:

• interests,
• preferences,
• geographical location,
• group affiliation, and
• other criteria that you choose.

See Message Editor - Dynamic Content for instructions on how to add and configure this zone.

RSS

This zone makes it easy to add an RSS feed to your messages and templates. You can also customize the zone (adjust font, formatting, spacing, padding) using the standard WYSIWYG editing tools.

The feed can be from:

• your own website,
• a relevant blog, or
• any available RSS content.

See Message Editor - RSS for instructions on how to add and configure this zone.

Social Sharing

Use this zone to add social-media buttons to your sent message. The message recipients can then share your entire message on their own social-media accounts.

IMPORTANT: Do not use this zone if you don't want the information in the message to be shared.

See Message Editor - Social Sharing for instructions on how to add and configure this zone.

Layouts

Layouts are pre-configured content blocks that you can use to quickly start building a message or template with some of the more popular layout designs.

We've done the preliminary design work for you! All you have to do is add your preferred layouts to the Message Editor canvas and make a few customizations to have quick-&-easy, professional-looking messages and templates.

The mix-and-match possibilities give you plenty of design options with:

• columns,
• thumbnails, and
• card and image rows.

See Message Editor Layouts to explore these pre-configured blocks and to start adding content with them.

Custom Zones

You can add custom zones in order to truly customize your messages and templates — beyond the standard set of zones and layouts. Custom zones are created within and are unique to your account.

• You can add custom zones to new and existing messages and templates.
• Custom zones can be built on WYSIWYG and Image zones.

TIP: These zones are ideal for adding "static" content that is unique to your organization/business, such as physical address, contact information, and links to social-media sites. These are ideal candidates because they're not likely to change and are the type of info you should include in your messages.

NOTE: Some Higher Logic-supplied templates, as well as your account's existing templates and messages might already have custom zones; you can edit these if the Zone Settings allow it.

Add a Custom Zone

To add a custom zone:

1. Create a new message or template (or open an existing one) in Message Editor.
2. Click a zone that pre-populates the canvas, or add a zone and click on it.

The options tab displays on the right side of the zone.

NOTE: You must do this in order to be presented the option to add a zone.

3. Click the Zones tab in the Navigation bar.
4. Click Custom Zones to expand the section, and click + Add new zone.

NOTE: If the template that you've selected already has custom zones, this "Add" option will be below them; scroll down to access it.

5. In the dialog:

• Give the zone a title (required) and a description (optional).
• Optionally, check the boxes to:

• • Make this custom zone available to other users.
    NOTE: Unchecked = this custom zone is available only to you when creating/editing other templates and messages. This setting can be changed.
  • Make this custom zone accessible for this template only.
    NOTE: Unchecked = this custom zone will be available to other users for use in other templates and messages. This setting cannot be changed.

6. Click Save.

Now you can position the custom zone where you want it in the message/template and then drag other zones into it to create your custom content.

EXAMPLE: In the following image, five zones comprise this one custom zone.

Be sure to save your changes.

Manage a Custom Zone

Custom zones have properties and content. Some of the properties can be changed; all of the content can be edited. You can also delete custom zones.

NOTE: Edits and changes that are made to a custom zone are unique to that specific message; the custom zone will not be updated in other messages or templates.

To edit custom zone content:

1. Click the zone that you want to edit. (You should see the options tabs on the right side of the zone.)
2. Click the Edit tab.
3. Make your changes and click anywhere on the canvas to exit the edit mode.
4. Review and save your changes.

To delete a custom zone:

1. Click the Zones tab.
2. Click Custom Zones to expand the section.
3. Hover on a custom zone to reveal the pencil (edit) icon and click it.
4. Click Delete and then click Yes at the confirmation prompt.

The custom zone is removed and no longer available for use. Any content in messages and templates that were built on the custom zones remains intact.

To change a custom zone's properties:

1. Click the Zones tab.
2. Click Custom Zones to expand the section.
3. Hover on a custom zone to reveal the pencil (edit) icon and click it.
4. Make your changes to the properties that are editable.
5. Click Save.