Emails
The email editor
The block, classic and HTML editors, merge tags, blocks for some contacts only, templates, patterns, the footer and preview.
# The email editor The same editor is used wherever you write an email: campaigns, sequences, automation emails, templates, and emails to a single contact. It has three modes, and the email's design, footer and merge tags work in all of them.  ## Choose an editor The editor bar shows the current editor's name in the middle. Click it to choose another: - **Blocks** — WordPress's block editor, set up for email. New emails start here. - **Classic** — the classic WordPress editor, with a toolbar for text, links and images. - **HTML** — write the HTML yourself, with a live preview beside the code. Switching between **Classic** and **HTML**, or switching an email that is still empty, happens at once and keeps what you wrote. Any other switch asks first (**Switch editor?**): the email starts blank in the other editor. Nothing is converted to or from blocks. If you switch back before leaving the page, what you wrote comes back. :::note HTML written by someone without WordPress's *unfiltered HTML* permission is filtered when it is saved, the same way WordPress filters post content. Administrators keep their HTML as written. ::: ## Write with blocks The block editor works like WordPress's own. Click **+** (**Add a block**) to open the block library, or **+** in the email to insert a block where you are. The blocks available are those that can be sent by email: paragraph, heading, list, image, buttons, separator, spacer, columns, group, quote, pullquote, code, preformatted, verse, table, media and text, and custom HTML, plus Marker CRM's **Conditional section** and synced patterns. Columns, groups, buttons and media and text are rebuilt as tables when the email is sent, because mail apps cannot lay things side by side any other way. The bar also has: - **Undo** and **Redo**. - **List view**, with an **Outline** tab listing the email's headings and its **Characters**, **Words** and **Minutes to read**. - **Preview width** — **Desktop**, **Tablet** (768 pixels) and **Mobile** (375 pixels). This is a preview only; the email is the same everywhere. - **Settings**, which opens the sidebar with the **Email** and **Block** tabs. - The **⋮** menu: **Top toolbar**, **Spotlight mode**, **Visual editor** / **Code editor**, **Copy all blocks**, and **Save as template**. Images come from your WordPress media library. The image crop tool is not available in the email editor. ### The email's design The sidebar's **Email** tab sets how the whole email looks: - **Layout** — **Boxed** (a card on a background), **Plain**, or **Full width**. - **Colors** — **Page background**, **Content background**, **Headings**, **Text** and **Links**. - **Size and spacing** — **Content width**, **Corner radius** and **Padding**. An email keeps only what you change; everything else follows the site's design. **Use the site design** clears your changes. ### Action links Select some text and use **Action link**, beside the link button in the block toolbar, to link it to one of your [action links](/settings/action-links/), such as "add me to this list". With nothing selected, it inserts the link's name. ## Merge tags Merge tags put each contact's details into the email, such as their first name. Type `{{` in any text to open the list, or click **{ }** (**Insert a variable**) in the bar. Keep typing to narrow the list, then press Enter or click one. The tags are grouped as **Contact** (first name, last name, full name, email address, city), **Company**, **Your business** (business name, postal address), **Dates** and **Links** (**Unsubscribe**, **Manage preferences**). Add-ons can add more; the list always shows everything available. When a contact has no value for a tag, the email shows its fallback. Some tags have one already (first name falls back to "there"). To set your own, write it after a `|`: ``` Hi {{contact.first_name|friend}}, ``` ## Show a block to some contacts only Any block can be shown only to contacts who have, or do not have, certain tags or lists. Select the block, open **Block** in the sidebar and use **Visibility**: 1. **Show to** — **Everyone**, **Contacts who have** or **Contacts who don’t have**. 2. Choose the **Tags** and **Lists**. 3. **Match** — **Any of these** or **All of these**. A block with a rule gets a dashed outline and a label saying who it is for. To put several blocks under one rule, insert a **Conditional section** and put them inside it.  The rule is checked for each contact when the email is sent. Previews and test emails show every section, because they have no contact to check. If a tag or list in a rule is deleted, "have it" then matches nobody and "don't have it" matches everybody. ## Templates and patterns In the block editor, click the **Templates** icon beside the editor name to choose a [template](/emails/templates/) with **Use this template**. It replaces what is written; the subject, audience and schedule stay. To keep the current email as a template, choose **Save as template** from the **⋮** menu. [Patterns](/emails/patterns/) are in the block library's **Patterns** tab, grouped by category. ## The footer Every marketing email ends with a footer holding the unsubscribe link and your postal address. By default it is the site footer, set in [Settings → Email defaults](/settings/email/). To give one email its own footer: - **Blocks:** in the **Email** tab, under **Footer**, choose **This email only**, or click the footer under the email (**Click to edit footer**). - **Classic or HTML:** click the gear beside the editor name and choose **This email only**. Then click **Edit footer**, write it, and click **Use this footer**. The site footer is not changed. If your footer leaves out the unsubscribe link or the postal address, they are added for you, because the law requires both. ## Preview The composer's **Preview** (the eye icon) shows the email exactly as it will be sent, with its design and footer. In a campaign, merge tags are filled with the first contact in the audience, or show their fallbacks while the audience is empty. To check it in a real inbox, send a test (**Test email**). See [Campaigns](/emails/campaigns/#send-a-test).The same editor is used wherever you write an email: campaigns, sequences, automation emails, templates, and emails to a single contact. It has three modes, and the email’s design, footer and merge tags work in all of them.
Choose an editor
Section titled “Choose an editor”The editor bar shows the current editor’s name in the middle. Click it to choose another:
- Blocks — WordPress’s block editor, set up for email. New emails start here.
- Classic — the classic WordPress editor, with a toolbar for text, links and images.
- HTML — write the HTML yourself, with a live preview beside the code.
Switching between Classic and HTML, or switching an email that is still empty, happens at once and keeps what you wrote. Any other switch asks first (Switch editor?): the email starts blank in the other editor. Nothing is converted to or from blocks. If you switch back before leaving the page, what you wrote comes back.
Write with blocks
Section titled “Write with blocks”The block editor works like WordPress’s own. Click + (Add a block) to open the block library, or + in the email to insert a block where you are. The blocks available are those that can be sent by email: paragraph, heading, list, image, buttons, separator, spacer, columns, group, quote, pullquote, code, preformatted, verse, table, media and text, and custom HTML, plus Marker CRM’s Conditional section and synced patterns.
Columns, groups, buttons and media and text are rebuilt as tables when the email is sent, because mail apps cannot lay things side by side any other way.
The bar also has:
- Undo and Redo.
- List view, with an Outline tab listing the email’s headings and its Characters, Words and Minutes to read.
- Preview width — Desktop, Tablet (768 pixels) and Mobile (375 pixels). This is a preview only; the email is the same everywhere.
- Settings, which opens the sidebar with the Email and Block tabs.
- The ⋮ menu: Top toolbar, Spotlight mode, Visual editor / Code editor, Copy all blocks, and Save as template.
Images come from your WordPress media library. The image crop tool is not available in the email editor.
The email’s design
Section titled “The email’s design”The sidebar’s Email tab sets how the whole email looks:
- Layout — Boxed (a card on a background), Plain, or Full width.
- Colors — Page background, Content background, Headings, Text and Links.
- Size and spacing — Content width, Corner radius and Padding.
An email keeps only what you change; everything else follows the site’s design. Use the site design clears your changes.
Action links
Section titled “Action links”Select some text and use Action link, beside the link button in the block toolbar, to link it to one of your action links, such as “add me to this list”. With nothing selected, it inserts the link’s name.
Merge tags
Section titled “Merge tags”Merge tags put each contact’s details into the email, such as their first name. Type {{ in
any text to open the list, or click { } (Insert a variable) in the bar. Keep typing to
narrow the list, then press Enter or click one.
The tags are grouped as Contact (first name, last name, full name, email address, city), Company, Your business (business name, postal address), Dates and Links (Unsubscribe, Manage preferences). Add-ons can add more; the list always shows everything available.
When a contact has no value for a tag, the email shows its fallback. Some tags have one already
(first name falls back to “there”). To set your own, write it after a |:
Hi {{contact.first_name|friend}},Show a block to some contacts only
Section titled “Show a block to some contacts only”Any block can be shown only to contacts who have, or do not have, certain tags or lists. Select the block, open Block in the sidebar and use Visibility:
- Show to — Everyone, Contacts who have or Contacts who don’t have.
- Choose the Tags and Lists.
- Match — Any of these or All of these.
A block with a rule gets a dashed outline and a label saying who it is for. To put several blocks under one rule, insert a Conditional section and put them inside it.
The rule is checked for each contact when the email is sent. Previews and test emails show every section, because they have no contact to check. If a tag or list in a rule is deleted, “have it” then matches nobody and “don’t have it” matches everybody.
Templates and patterns
Section titled “Templates and patterns”In the block editor, click the Templates icon beside the editor name to choose a template with Use this template. It replaces what is written; the subject, audience and schedule stay. To keep the current email as a template, choose Save as template from the ⋮ menu.
Patterns are in the block library’s Patterns tab, grouped by category.
The footer
Section titled “The footer”Every marketing email ends with a footer holding the unsubscribe link and your postal address. By default it is the site footer, set in Settings → Email defaults.
To give one email its own footer:
- Blocks: in the Email tab, under Footer, choose This email only, or click the footer under the email (Click to edit footer).
- Classic or HTML: click the gear beside the editor name and choose This email only.
Then click Edit footer, write it, and click Use this footer. The site footer is not changed. If your footer leaves out the unsubscribe link or the postal address, they are added for you, because the law requires both.
Preview
Section titled “Preview”The composer’s Preview (the eye icon) shows the email exactly as it will be sent, with its design and footer. In a campaign, merge tags are filled with the first contact in the audience, or show their fallbacks while the audience is empty. To check it in a real inbox, send a test (Test email). See Campaigns.