Note: Some menu options only appear when certain account preferences are turned on. Your account may show slightly different options.
Building Emails
Follow these recommendations when you create emails. They improve performance, accessibility, and consistency.
Fonts
Use web-safe fonts. These fonts work well across email clients.
Limit the number of font families you use. Fewer fonts help your email load faster.
Use these recommended font sizes:
Mobile: 12–16 pt
Desktop: 16–20 pt
Inherit vs. Text Style
Select Inherit in the Font dropdown to keep your default font family.
Use Text style when you want font family, size, and color to match your brand in one step.
Option | Where to find it | What it does |
Inherit | Font dropdown | Resets the font family to your email’s default font. It does not change font size or color. |
Text style | Text toolbar | Applies a saved style. This sets the font family, size, and color together. |
Images
Optimize images before you add them to your email.
Recommendation | Best Practice |
File size | Keep the total image size under 1 MB. The upload limit is 10 MB per file. |
Supported formats | Knak accepts GIF, JPG, PNG, WebP, TIFF, and BMP. SVG is not supported. For the best support across email clients, use GIF, JPG, or PNG. |
Alt text | Add descriptive alt text for accessibility. |
Animated GIFs | Keep file sizes small. Make sure the first frame shows the main message. |
Image dimensions | Upload images at double the display width. For example, use a 1200 px image for a 600 px layout. |
Resolution | Use at least 72 pixels per inch (PPI). |
Video | Use a static thumbnail with a play icon. Link the image to the external video. |
Placeholder images | Use placeholder images while you build. Replace them with final images before you publish. |
Email File Size
Keep your final email under 102 kilobytes (KB). Gmail clips emails that are larger than this.
The Email Size check in the Optimize tab warns you at about 92 KB. Leave extra room, because your email platform adds code, like link tracking, after export. To check the final size, send a test to a Gmail inbox. If you see [Message clipped], your email is too large.
To reduce file size:
Limit the number of layout rows.
Reuse layouts when possible.
Avoid duplicate content.
Learn more in Optimizing Email Size.
Layout and Design Tips
Padding
Use consistent padding throughout your email.
For the best mobile experience:
Apply the same padding on all sides whenever possible.
Keep spacing consistent between sections.
Settings vs. Attributes Panels
Use the right panel for the change you want to make.
Use Global Settings | Use the Pop-Up Editor |
Apply styles across the whole email | Change the styling of one element |
Keep your brand consistent | Make one-off adjustments |
Best Practice: Use the Settings panel whenever possible. Use the Pop-Up Editor only when one element needs different styling.
Links
Add links to stop email clients from formatting your content on their own.
Link these items whenever they appear:
Email addresses
Phone numbers
Physical addresses
Use Link Attributes to control how links look.
Special Links
Every marketing email should include an easy-to-find Unsubscribe link.
You should also consider adding:
Forward to a Friend
View as Webpage
Unsubscribe
Set Up a Special Link
Open your merge tags in your account settings.
Create or edit a merge tag.
Select the Special Link checkbox in the Create/Edit Merge Tag window.
Save the merge tag.
Add a Special Link to Your Email
Select the text you want to link in your email.
Click the Links dropdown in the text toolbar.
Select your special link.
Mobile Optimization
Optimize your email for smaller screens. Find these options under Responsive Options.
Fixed Layouts
Turn on Don’t stack on mobile to keep columns side by side on mobile devices.
Content Order
Turn on Reverse column order on mobile to flip the order columns stack on mobile.
Note: You cannot use Reverse column order on mobile and Don’t stack on mobile at the same time.
Alternate Versions
Use the icon buttons in the Hide on row to hide content on mobile or desktop. This lets you show different content on each device.
Tip: Keep duplicate content minimal to reduce file size.
Working With Modules
Organize Modules
Create categories before you create new modules. This keeps your module library organized.
Reuse Modules
Build a module once. Clone it to create consistent designs across many assets.
Choose Which Brands Can Use a Module
Set brand access in the Module Builder before you publish.
Open the module in the Module Builder.
Find the Assign to field in the settings panel.
Select the brands that can use this module.
If you leave Assign to empty, the module is available to All Brands (Global).
Publishing Modules
Changes you have not published yet show as Unpublished Changes. A module that has never been published shows Not Published.
To publish a module:
Open the module in the Module Builder.
Click Actions in the upper-right corner.
Select Publish.
Or:
Click Unpublished Changes.
Click Publish in the window that opens.
If the module is used in themes, you also see Publish and Update Themes. Click it to publish and choose which themes to update.
Refresh Open Assets
An open email or landing page only loads module versions when you first open it. If you publish a module while an asset is open in another tab:
Refresh the asset.
Open the Optimize tab.
Find Out Of Date Modules.
Click Update for one module, or Update All for every module.
This makes sure your asset uses the latest published version.
Custom Themes
Build themes with reusable modules. This saves time and keeps your branding consistent.
How you update themes after you change a module depends on your account:
Publish and Update Themes: Click this when you publish the module. Use Related Themes to choose which themes to update.
Apply to Themes: Click the menu on the module card on the Modules admin page. Select Apply to Themes. This option only appears for accounts that do not use Publish and Update Themes.
Brand Settings
Set your brand defaults to keep every email consistent.
You can set:
Color Kits and Color tokens
Font Kits
Brand voice
Social links
Default language
Default email parameters
Page settings
Email setting presets, which include Default from name, Default from email, and Default reply-to email
Need more help? Contact support via live chat within Knak using the chat bubble in the bottom right corner or email support@knak.com.