Which template should I choose?

EmailOctopus offers several ways to get started with your email design. You can reuse one of your previously saved designs, use a Branded template that pulls in your branding automatically, or pick one of our Inspirational templates for a ready-made layout. And if you prefer to start fresh, you can also build something entirely from scratch or pick up from a past email.

Any of these can be customised to suit your needs – they're all just a starting point.

To view the templates, head to the Brand tab, select Templates, and click the Create button. All your template options will be listed on the left-hand menu.

You can also pick a template mid-email set-up – you'll be taken to the same screen during campaign or automated email creation.

Yours

You will find your previously saved templates here. This is the quickest option if you have an existing design you want to reuse or build on.

Branded

If you've set up your branding in EmailOctopus (your logo, colours, fonts, etc.), the Branded templates are a great first stop. They pull your details in automatically, so you get a professional-looking email with very little effort.

Branded templates work best for emails where you want to get something out quickly without spending time on design.  Since they reflect your brand automatically, every email will feel polished and on-brand, whether you're sending a last-minute update, a product announcement, or a birthday email to your list.

Here's what each Branded template is best used for:

• Announce – great for product launches, new features, or any single-focus message where you want one clear call-to-action.
• Birthday – perfect for birthday emails to add a personal touch to your marketing.
• Explore – ideal for sharing news or displaying multiple products.
• Share – a good fit for sharing your latest products or news.
• Update – curated for blog newsletters, round-ups, or multi-section emails with more than one thing to share.
• Welcome – designed to welcome new subscribers to your list.

All the Branded templates include placeholder text and images that you'll want to replace with your own content before sending.

Inspirational

With over 100 templates to choose from, the Inspirational section is the best place to start when you want a more polished, design-led email.

To find your template, just use the search bar at the top of the Inspirational section.

For example, you can type "newsletter" in the search bar and choose one of these templates:

Or search "welcome" to then pick one of the below templates when looking for a welcome email design:

If you're working on a product update email, you can search "product" and pick one of these:

You can also search for templates based on your industry. Type "real estate" to see these options for a real estate agent:

Or "non-profit" for your non-profit organisation:

Or "recruitment" if you run a recruitment company:

And if you're looking for something occasion-based, we've also got you covered. Type "Valentine's Day" to see these themed templates:

Or search "Christmas" for these:

Keep in mind that all Inspirational templates are fully customisable. You can adjust the colours, fonts, images, and layout to make them your own.

Start from scratch

If you'd rather build something entirely your own, the Start from scratch → Drag and drop option is for you. The Plain template gives you a blank canvas to work from. Just drag in content blocks such as text, images, buttons, and dividers and arrange them however you like.

For users comfortable with HTML, the Code your own option gives you full control over the design.

Past emails

The Past emails section lets you pick designs from your previously sent campaign or automated email. Just select one from the list, and it'll open in the editor, ready for you to adjust.