Optimising Email creation
Before you start building emails one at a time, take a few minutes to set up the tools that make every future email faster, more consistent, and more professional. This article covers the preparation work that pays off on every send: Templates, Assets, Image Gallery, and sender setup.
💡 This isn't extra work — it's a shortcut
Teams that set up a Template and a few core Assets before their first send typically cut email creation time by half or more from the second email onward. We also recommend ordering a custom template from our Consultancy Team — they are the experts and email design wizards at Apsis.
In this article
Build your first Template
A Template is a complete email layout saved for reuse. It includes your structure (Rows and Columns), design settings (colours, fonts, width), sender details, and any pre-placed content. When you start a new email from a Template, everything is already in place — you just swap in the new content.
Why Templates matter
Brand consistency — every email follows the same layout and design rules, no matter who on your team creates it.
Speed — skip the blank canvas and go straight to writing content.
Fewer mistakes — sender details, unsubscribe link, footer, and design settings are baked in.
How to create a Template
Method 1 — From the Templates tab (start from scratch)
Go to the Email tool start page → click the Templates tab.
Click the Create template button (top-right corner).
Give the Template a name and enter the editor.
Design the Template layout — add your header, footer, content structure, and brand colours using Elements, Rows, and Assets.
Go to Settings (bottom bar) and configure sender name, sender email, reply-to, unsubscribe settings, language, and analytics — these are all saved with the Template.
Click Save. The Template now appears on the Templates tab and is available when creating any new email.
Method 2 — Save an existing email as a Template
Create a new email (or open a Draft) and design it the way you want your standard emails to look.
Configure the Settings (sender name, sender email, reply-to, unsubscribe settings, language, analytics).
In the editor bottom bar, click Save as template.
Give the Template a descriptive name (e.g. "Monthly newsletter", "Product announcement", "Event invitation") and a brief description.
The Template is saved and appears under the Templates tab on the start page.
💡 Which method to use?
Method 1 is ideal when you want to build a Template from scratch as a deliberate, standalone task — for example, when preparing your brand layout before your first send.
Method 2 is perfect when you've just finished designing an email and realise it's good enough to reuse — save it as a Template on the spot so the next email starts from a proven design.
💡 Tip: Create 2–3 Templates to start
Most teams need a newsletter template, a single-message announcement template, and possibly an event or promotional template. Start with these and add more as your needs evolve.
Pre-defined Templates
If you don't want to start from scratch, Apsis One includes pre-defined Templates with ready-made layouts. You can also browse the Email Design Gallery for inspiration, or Request a custom Template from the Apsis Consultancy team. Read more: Email Templates
Create reusable Assets
An Asset is a saved content block — a single Row or a group of Rows — that you can drag into any email. Think of Assets as modular building blocks: a branded header, a footer with your contact details and social links, a CTA button block, a product card layout, or a standard disclaimer.
Why Assets matter
Consistency — your header and footer look identical in every email, without manual recreation.
Collaboration — assets can be used by any user when creating an email.
Speed — drag in a pre-built block instead of rebuilding it from scratch.
Single source of truth — update the Asset once and it's ready for the next email that uses it. (Note: updating an Asset doesn't retroactively change emails already sent or in draft.)
How to create an Asset
Method 1 — From the Email tool start page:
Go to Assets on the Email tool start page.
Click Create New Asset.
Design the Asset in the editor using the same Elements and settings available in the full email editor.
Save and name the Asset.
Method 2 — From within an email:
While editing an email, select a Row you want to save.
In the Row settings (left panel), click Save as Asset.
Name the Asset — it's now available in the Assets tab of the Design Panel for any future email.
Recommended starter Assets
Asset | What to include |
Branded header | Logo (linked to your website), brand colours, optional tagline or navigation links |
Footer | Company name and address, social media icons, unsubscribe link, privacy policy link |
CTA block | A pre-styled button Row with your brand's button colour, size, and padding |
Divider / spacer | A consistent visual separator between content sections |
Read more: Email Assets
Organise your Image Gallery
The Image Gallery in Apsis One stores all images you upload for use in emails. A tidy gallery saves time when building emails and prevents the common problem of re-uploading the same image multiple times.
Preparation tips
Upload your core brand assets first — logo (in multiple sizes if needed), social media icons, any standard hero images or product photos you use regularly.
Use descriptive file names — "spring-sale-hero-2026.jpg" is easier to find than "IMG_4523.jpg".
Optimise file sizes before uploading — keep images under 1 MB each. Large images slow down email loading, especially on mobile.
Prepare retina-ready images — for sharp display on high-density screens, upload images at 2× the display size (e.g. 1200px wide for a 600px-wide email).
Prepare your sender details
Sender details — name, email address, reply-to — are set per email in the Settings step of the wizard. But if you save your first email as a Template with the correct sender details already configured, they'll be pre-filled every time you start a new email from that Template.
Before your first send, make sure:
Your DKIM authentication is set up for your sending domain — contact your Account Manager to start this if you haven't already. Read more
You've decided on a consistent sender name (e.g. "Your Brand" or "Anna at Your Brand") and a sender email address on your authenticated domain.
Your reply-to address is monitored — recipients do reply to marketing emails, and a bounced reply-to erodes trust.
Suggested setup workflow
Here's the recommended order for getting everything ready before your first email:
Step | Task | Time estimate |
1 | Upload core images to the Image Gallery (logo, social icons, hero images) | 10 minutes |
2 | Create a branded header Asset and a footer Asset | 20 minutes |
3 | Build your first Template using the Assets, set sender details and unsubscribe settings | 30 minutes |
4 | Save the Template and send a test email to yourself | 5 minutes |
Total: roughly one hour of setup that saves you time on every email after.
What's next?
Email – Best Practice — Design, content, deliverability, and accessibility tips.
Email: Create and Send — Full step-by-step walkthrough of creating and sending your email.
Email Templates — Detailed guide on managing Templates.
Email Assets — Detailed guide on creating and managing Assets.