Using Gmail email templates can give your correspondence a bit more personality and tie in your branding. Here we offer 10 of the best templates, plus a tutorial for using custom HTML in Gmail.
Gmail is a popular email platform from Google that was introduced in 2004. While initially it had an HTML editor, that was quickly removed. This left Gmail with the WYSIWYG editor that makes it easy to compose and format your emails.
However, Gmail still supports HTML emails which comes in handy if you want to spice up the look of your emails. For example, adding your photo to your email signature can make your email even more personal. And if you use Gmail for business purposes, perhaps you’d like to add your company logo or maybe highlight special offers on your website.
That’s exactly where HTML templates come in. With the help of a Gmail email template, you can create a good-looking email without learning how to code. In this guide, we’ll show you how to create Gmail email templates as well as how to use HTML email templates in your Gmail account.
What Are Gmail Email Templates?
There are two kinds of Gmail email templates. First, you have email templates known as canned responses. These are email templates that you create to quickly reply to common emails you receive.
For example, if you invite your have guests over frequently, they might email you asking about directions to your house. Instead of typing it out every time, you can create an email template that you can reuse over and over again.
Or maybe, you’re using Gmail for business and you get the same type of inquiry all the time. You can save time by creating a template and sending it whenever someone asks that same question.
Gmail allows you to store up to 50 templates so it’s easy to create different templates for different purposes. To do this, first you have to enable the template functionality within Gmail. Here’s how:
- Click on the cogwheel icon in the top right corner of your screen
- Click on See all settings
- Open the Advanced tab
- Scroll down to Templates and check Enable
- Click Save changes
Now it’s time to create your first email template. Follow the steps below to do it:
- Press the Compose button
- This will open up a window where you can start composing your template.
- Type whatever you’d like to say in your email and when you’re done, click the three dots in the bottom right corner of the compose window
- Select Template > Save draft as template > Save as new template
You’ll then have the option to name your template. Keep in mind that whatever you name the template will appear as the subject line in your email.
If you ever want to edit the template, you’ll have to overwrite the existing template. All you have to do is compose the template and include the edits you want. Then when it’s time to save, be sure to click on the name of the previously saved template and select the Overwrite Template option.
How to Use HTML Email Templates in Gmail
Now you know how to create your very own Gmail templates. These are fine for basic communication and quick replies. But what if you want to make your emails look more custom?
As mentioned earlier, that’s exactly where HTML email templates come in. In this part of the tutorial, we’ll take a look at how you can use a premade HTML template and use it within Gmail. For the purposes of this tutorial, I’ll be using the Maverick email template from Envato Elements.
1. Customize Your Template
The first step is to customize your template. You can do this by using the StampReady Builder and platform or you can edit the HTML file yourself. If you decide to edit the code yourself, you’ll need a code editor like Notepad++ or Sublime Text.
The most important part of this process is to ensure that your images are stored in an online location, otherwise they won’t render properly when you send an email. You can use a web server or a service like Dropbox or Google Drive to store any important images.
Once you’ve uploaded images to Dropbox or Google Drive, copy the link to each individual image. Then, open your template in Sublime Text or your preferred editor and update the image links.
Lastly, make sure that any styles are loaded inline as you can’t use external stylesheets with Gmail.
2. Open Your HTML Template in Browser
The next step you need to do is to open up your HTML template in the browser. To do this, open up the folder you’ve downloaded from Envato Elements and look for a folder labeled HTML. Right click on the file that has the .html extension and select Open With Chrome or whichever browser you’re using.
This will open the template in the browser where you can see what your template will look like. If you’re happy with how your email looks, you can move on to the next step.
3. Select the Code
To select the code for your email, whilst in your text editor click CTRL+A on your keyboard. This will select all of the code as it is rendered in the browser and that’s exactly what we want. Then press CTRL+C on your keyboard to copy the selected content.
4. Copy the Code to Gmail
Head on over to your Gmail and click on Compose. Then, press CTRL+V to paste the content of the email over.
5. Save the Email As the Template
Once you’ve pasted the contents of the email over, be sure to check everything to make sure your email is displaying properly. Then, follow the steps I’ve outlined earlier to save it as a template:
- Click the three dots
- Select Templates > Save draft as template > Save as new template
Give it a name and save it. You can then test it out by sending it to yourself and use it whenever you want.
10 Best Gmail Email Templates From Envato Elements
Now that you know how to use HTML templates in Gmail, let’s take a look at some of the best Gmail email templates from Envato Elements. These templates feature a modern design and are easy to tailor to your specific needs.
1. Sartre - Responsive Email Design Toolkit
If you’re looking for a modern and creative email template, try Sartre. This template is easy to customize with the StampReady Builder. It comes with more than 10 predesigned layouts and more than 120 different modules. This allows you to create the perfect template for your email correspondence. It features a responsive design and is compatible with all major email services.
2. Notify - 6 Emails + Themebuilder Access
This template is perfect if you’d like to create a Gmail template for different notifications. It includes 6 premade emails that you can easily customize with a drag and drop builder. The template is compatible with all major email platforms and services. You can also change colors to your liking.
3. Corporate - Responsive Email Newsletter Templates
This set of professional email templates will satisfy any Gmail email template need. It contains several different email templates that are easy to customize. You can easily add your logo or even your signature and import the template into Gmail. It’s compatible with all major email services and email providers. On top of that, it’s also fully responsive. With this template, you’ll never have to worry about plain-looking emails.
4. Sentinel - Responsive Email Gmail Template + StampReady Builder
The Sentinel Gmail email template has a clean and minimal design that works well for any purpose. You’ll get a template that’s easy to customize with the StampReady Builder. You can change colors and add your own email signature to make the template reflect your personality. In addition to that, StampReady builder offers a variety of different sections that you can add to your emails. The template is responsive and compatible with major email services.
5. Gravity - Responsive Creative Email + Builder
The Gravity Gmail email template is a modern and sleek template. It comes with a drag and drop builder so you can customize the look and feel of the template before importing it to Gmail. In addition to that, you can easily add or remove sections you don’t need and add the ones you want. This template is responsive.
6. Brand Gmail Email Template
If you want to create a branded Gmail email template, the Brand template is the perfect fit. It comes with a drag and drop builder so you can easily change out the sections and add as much custom content as you’d like. The template is responsive and compatible with major email services and providers.
7. Bost Responsive Gmail Email Template
Here’s another beautiful and modern Gmail email template with a clean design. This template will look good no matter which device your recipients are using to read their emails. The template is easy to customize with the drag and drop builder. You can change colors, add your images, and add different sections to highlight services or add a custom email signature to your emails.
8. Blaack - Multipurpose Responsive Email Template
Try the Blaack Gmail email template if you want to add a touch of class to your emails. The template features a gorgeous black color scheme so it’s sure to stand out in your recipient’s inbox. This template is responsive and you can customize it with the StampReady Builder. It works with all major email services and email providers. You can change colors, add your images, and more.
9. Blade - Responsive Gmail Email + StampReady Builder
The Blade template has a minimal look and feel but it’s easy to customize with the StampReady Builder. It includes various sections that you can re-arrange to your liking. The template is responsive and works with all major services and providers. In addition to that, you can change colors to match your personal taste.
10. Office Multipurpose Gmail Email Template
The Office Gmail email template is the perfect choice if you want your emails to have a sleek, corporate feel. The template is responsive and easy to customize. You can switch out the colors, add your images, insert your logo, email signature, and more. The template is compatible with all major email clients and services. This template is sure to make your emails look polished and professional!
Spice Up Your Boring Gmail Emails With HTML Templates
Gmail makes it easy to send and receive emails but plain text emails can be a bit boring. Luckily, HTML email templates can help you make your emails look more professional and appealing. You can use them to add any custom email elements that you find yourself using on a regular basis.
Browse our collection of HTML email templates for Gmail on Envato Elements and then use the steps in this guide to set it up in Gmail. Happy emailing!
More Email and Gmail Tutorials on Tuts+
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