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Using HTML with MailChimp or Outlook

Krystine
Krystine
  • Updated

Venngage allows you to download your design as an HTML code block or an HTML-formatted file. This makes it easy to embed designs on websites, include them in emails, or create reusable email templates and newsletters.

You can convert your design into HTML in two ways:

  • Embed code – perfect for interactive elements like polls or video embeds.

  • HTML format file – lightweight and optimized for email; interactive elements are disabled, but hyperlinks remain functional.

 

Upload an HTML File into MailChimp

  1. Log in to your MailChimp account.

  2. From the dashboard, click Campaigns.

    Screengrab of MailChimp dashboard with the 'Campaigns' tool (a megaphone with the title 'Campaigns') highlighted.

  3. Open the menu and select Email templates.

    Screengrab of MailChimp dashboard with the 'Campaigns' menu open (black text on a yellow column). The 'Email templates' tool is highlighted, and a black label tag beside it reads 'View your saved templates or design a new one to fit your brand'.

  4. Click Create Template.

    Screengrab of MailChimp Templates page with the grey button titled Create Template in the top right corner of the page highlighted by a red box.

  5. In the Create a template page, select the Code your own tab.

    Screengrab of MailChimp 'Create a template' page with the 'Code your own' tab highlighted by a red box.

  6. Choose Import HTML to upload a file, or Paste in code to use embed code.

    Screengrab of MailChimp 'Code your own' page with the 'Import HTML' option in the center highlighted by a red box.

  7. Click Add Files, select the HTML file downloaded from Venngage, and click Upload.

    Close-up of the 'Import HMTL' pop-up box with the Add Files button visible in the center and the 'Upload' button at the bottom. Both are highlighted with a red box.

  8. Preview your template, then click Save and Exit to use it in a campaign.

HTML files provide a compressed, lossless version of your design that’s lightweight and ideal for sharing via email without using excessive data or bandwidth. To keep the file size small, interactive elements such as polls and videos are disabled in this format.

 

Upload an HTML File into Outlook 365

  1. Create a new email in Outlook.

    The top menu of Outlook for Windows, with the 'New Email' icon highlighted by a red box.

  2. Right-click the toolbar area and select Customize the Ribbon.

  3. Add Attach File to the toolbar then click Add button so that it can be added to your toolbar. Press the OK button to confirm.

    In the 'Outlook Options' pop-up dialog, the 'Customize Ribbon' tab is highlighted in the left pane. In the right pane, the option 'Attach file' is highlighted in blue and framed by a red box in the list of Popular Commands. The 'Add' button in the center is framed by a red box. The 'Ok' button at the botton of the dialog box is highlighted with a red box.

  4. Click Attach File in the main window.

    In the main window of Outlook, under the 'Message' tab, the 'Attach File' tool (represented by a paperclip icon) is highlighted and framed by a red box. The mouse hovering over the icon has brought up an ALT text box that reads 'Attach File: Attach a file to this item'.

  5. Select your HTML file, then click the drop-down next to Insert and choose Insert as Text.

    Close-up of file selector where the 'Insert' button is highlighted by a red box around it. The down arrow next to the button is clicked, and the mouse is hovering over the second option in the menu which reads 'Insert as Text'.

  6. Click Insert to embed the HTML content in your email body.
     

 

💡 Venngage Tips for HTML Email Design

  • HTML Options: Use embed code for interactive designs or HTML-file downloads for lightweight email sharing.

  • Compatibility: Outlook for Mac does not support custom templates; MailChimp is recommended for consistent results.

  • Page Size: Single-page designs up to 816 x 3000 px optimize email load times.

  • Merge Tags: Merge tags from Venngage do not transfer; add custom tags directly in MailChimp.

  • Text Size: Use at least 16px for legibility.

  • Interactive Elements: Forms, polls, and videos are non-functional in HTML-file downloads; hyperlinks remain clickable.

 

✅ Pro Tip: Always preview your HTML email in your email client before sending to ensure formatting and links appear correctly.

The feature(s) discussed in this article is available on the following Venngage subscription plans: Free, Premium, Business and Enterprise.

Curious about upgrading? Compare our plan features side by side.

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