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Using HTML with MailChimp or Outlook

Gino B.
Gino B.
  • Updated

Available on the following Venngage subscription plans: Business and Enterprise.

You can download your Venngage design in an HTML code block to post on your website or embed in the body of an email, or download an HTML-formatted file type to attach to an email. This is an easy way to create a reusable email template or send out scheduled newsletters.

 

VENNGAGE MAKES IT EASY

Venngage offers two ways to convert your designs into HTML:
with embeddable source code, or an HTML format file. 

For interactive elements like hyperlinks,
use either format to share your design. 

For interactive elements like polls or video embeds,
use embed code to share your design.

 

Check out Venngage's fast tips for designing the perfect email, before you send it out. 

 

Upload an HTML file into MailChimp

Log into your MailChimp account. From the dashboard, click "Campaigns".

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

 

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'.

 

Click the Create Template button.

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.

 

From the Create a template page (pictured below) under "Select a starting point for your template", click the "Code your own" tab.

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

 

Select "Import HTML". To use embed code instead, select the "Paste in code" option and paste the embed code into the modal. 

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

 

Click the Add Files button. Select the HTML file you downloaded from Venngage and click the Upload button.

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.

 

Your HTML template is now ready to preview and test in MailChimp.

Click Save and Exit to use the design in a campaign.

 

VENNGAGE MAKES IT EASY

HTML format files offer a compressed, lossless version of
your design that is lightweight and perfect for sharing via email
without eating up data or bandwidth. To keep files light, interactive
elements like polls and videos are disabled in this format.

 

Upload an HTML file into Outlook 365

Create a new email.

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

 

Right-click in the toolbar area and select "Customize the Ribbon".

Right-click menu open on the top toolbar of Outlook, with the first option, 'Customize the Ribbon...' highlighted by a red box.

 

Select "Attach File" and 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.

 

Click "Attach File".

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'.

Select the HTML file you want to insert, but do not insert it yet. Using the drop-down next to Insert, select "Insert as text", then click Insert.

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'.
 

VENNGAGE MAKES IT EASY

Venngage offers two HTML format export options—
embed code and HTML-file download—for you to use
based on which format fits your needs best. 
Certain email carriers don't support custom HTML formatting 
or code embeds, and may not display your Venngage
design in the correct resolution.
Find out more aboutyour download options here.

 

Email design tips

  • Check compatibility: You can create custom email templates in Outlook for Wndows, but Outlook for Mac does not support custom templates; additionally, custom HTML may not display correctly in Outlook's interface. For this reason we strongly recommend using MailChimp for your custom-designed email campaigns.
  • Page Size: in order to export a design to HTML designs, it must be a single page. The page should be up to 816 x 3000 px. Smaller designs optimize email load time.
  • Merge Tags: when you export your design to HTML from the Venngage editor, merge tags will not transfer. Ensure you save add any custom merge tags in MailChimp.
  • Text size: ensure legible text by using a text size of at least 16px.
  • Interactive elements: interactive elements like forms and polls are displayed but not interactive in an HTML export. Embedded hyperlinks are functional in an HTML export.

 

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.

Start designing!

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