This article...

• Details the main areas of Message Designer's editor.
• Describes how to create and format email messages in Message Designer.
• Describes applying, editing, and switching templates to control the layout and appearance of a message.
• Covers how to build messages by adding and configuring content blocks.
• Outlines deliverability best practices to avoid spam filters and improve email accessibility.
• Summarizes configuring message properties and targeting message recipients.

Even if you don't have graphic design experience, you can create professional-quality email messages with Message Designer. With it, you can:

• add and remove stories (i.e., content),
• insert headings, text blocks, and images, and
• apply custom templates.

Message Designer's formatting tools make it easy to:

• add borders and spacing,
• change font styles and colors, and
• manipulate images.

ACCESSIBILITY: Any time you're designing webpage or email-based content, it's important to keep in mind modern accessibility principles. Because this article touches on content design, we recommend referring to Best Practices - Accessibility and its associated resources.

Watch the video

Click the image to link to a HUG Education Library video that is related to the content in this article.

You should also visit the Deliverability section of our knowledge base for recommended deliverability tasks and best practices, troubleshooting information, and more. Deliverability Best Practices - Messages has tips for ensuring that your message content doesn't negatively impact your deliverability.

Message Designer layout

This section details Message Designer's three main areas.

• Navigation Bar - Across the top of the designer are the main navigation tabs for the various tasks associated with creating, designing, and sending a message:
  • apply a template,
  • design a message,
  • set the message's properties,
  • review a message, and
  • send a message.
• Content Properties - After adding or selecting content on the canvas, a Properties panel displays in this area on the left. The panel is unique to the selected content type and is where you configure the properties (e.g., select an image; apply borders and padding; input and format text; add hyperlinks).
• Canvas - The canvas is where you add, arrange, and manage the content of the message.

Select Template tab

This tab displays all of the templates that can be applied to your messages. You can apply a different template to change the look of your message without changing the message content.

NOTE: Templates must be activated in order to be available.

Selecting a Template

The gallery always lists the currently-used template first. If you want to find a template in a different folder, click the Folder menu to select a folder.

Click a different template thumbnail to use it for your message. The system will attempt to automatically migrate any message content or stories you have from the old template to the new template (see below). However, if the new template does not have enough available Message Content Areas, you may see some content truncated or lost.

Original template

New template

Edit templates in Message Designer

While on this tab, you can edit the current template while working on a message.

1. Click your template's Edit button to open Template Designer (this automatically saves your work).

2. After you've made your modifications, click Save to update the template.
3. Click Return to navigate back to your message, along with a notification indicating a new version of the template is available. Click Update Template to switch to your new template.

TIP: You can also swap out the template for a different one, as described in Switch a Message's Template.

Additional details

Keep the following details in mind about this tab:

• The template that is the foundation of the message always displays as the first item (regardless of the folder selection).
• You can edit the in-use template even if that template is deactivated.
• You cannot edit an in-use template if it has been deleted. This disables the Edit button.

NOTE: Only users with template editing permissions can make changes directly from Message Designer.

Design Message tab

This tab is where you build your messages, of which, content types are the heart and soul. In Message Designer, you add content to Message Content Areas, which are indicated by the Add Content button. 

NOTE: Your message's layout and Message Content Areas are controlled by the template your message is using. If you're unable to achieve certain results or add certain types of content, you may have to edit the template.

To start adding content, click one of the Add Content buttons. The available content types (again, dictated by the template) display in a selection box.

NOTE: Higher Logic's integrated AI Assistant is available with the text-based content blocks of the text editor. To learn how to work more quickly when creating and editing content, see AI Assistant.

Click the content type you'd like to add to launch its properties. Now, you can add content and format it as necessary using the Rich Text Editor.

Text Version of a message

This is the text-only version of your message (all HTML is removed), which you can preview and edit by selecting this view.

To access the text-only version, click the menu at the top right and select Text Version.

NOTE: This version is sent to recipients who choose to receive text-only email messages (i.e., they use a text-based email client).

As you create a message, the text-only version is automatically created for you alongside the HTML version. When your message is finalized, you should review this version in case there are any formatting or style issues (e.g., spacing, bullets) that may not properly convert from the HTML version.

TIP: Content that you add to the text-only version is not automatically added to the HTML version. The benefit of this is that you can add unique text-only content.

Undo/Redo buttons

• Undo - Click this to undo one or more actions you made while creating your message. This is the best way to quickly and easily fix mistakes you've made or changes you don't want to keep.
• Redo - Click this to redo actions you've made while creating your message, but had then undone.

NOTE: These buttons are only available when editing the HTML version of your message.

Choose Properties tab

This tab is where you set several types of properties for your message. The properties are managed on sub-tabs, which are described in the sections below.

Name sub-tab

Use this tab to configure the message's properties.

• Enter a Message Name. This is for your own organizational purpose, so contacts won't see this.
• Click the Folder menu to store your message in a folder.

Tentative Send Date

A good way to stay organized is to set a tentative send date for each message. By doing so, everyone on your team will know "who's sending what, when" by simply taking a peek at the calendar. If you have concerns about sending too many messages, or if you need to oversee other child accounts, this is an invaluable tool.

Click the Tentative Send Date field and select a send date and time.

Targeting sub-tab

Targeting is where you'll set the recipients for your message. See Targeting in Messages to learn more.

TIP: Use a Sender Profile to quickly populate the "From," "Friendly From," and "Reply To" fields.

Envelope sub-tab

• The From email address is displayed next to the "Friendly From." Some bounces and all out-of-office replies go to this address.
• The Friendly From is the name that contacts see in the "From" field.
• Enter the Subject Line for message recipients. Click the Personalization icon to the right to add any personalizations to your subject line.

NOTE: Subject Lines are required for all messages. If you enable A/B Testing, Subject Line A and Subject Line B are required.

• Check the Use Targeted Subjects box to set alternative subject lines that display to contacts in the specified target groups. Refer to the Targeted Subject Lines section of our Targeting article to learn more.
• The Reply To email address receives all email replies.

A/B Testing

You can A/B test your Friendly From and Subject Line via the menu at the top. When you select either option, the Envelope page expands to allow you to enter an "A" version and a "B" version for the selected field.

Analytics sub-tab

Google Analytics is a popular tool that many organizations use to track their web visitors. You can track hyperlinks in your Higher Logic messages with Google Analytics, helping you to better understand your audience.

See Google Analytics to learn more about setting up Google Analytics in your account.

Review Message tab

This tab is where you can preview your message; while working on and, more importantly, before sending it. You can:

• check the look of your content,
• test your personalizations, and
• send your message to your targeted contacts.

There's a lot of behind-the-scenes that goes on before sending a message, including several deliverability best practices, so we've dedicated an article to it.

Send Message tab

This tab is where you set your message-send preferences.

You can send the message immediately or select a scheduling option; there are also several delivery methods you can choose from.

See Send a Message to learn more.

Related articles

Learn about Higher Logic's integrated AI Assistant and how you can use it to more quickly generate content for:

• Messages
• Newsletters
• Campaigns
• A/B testing