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Build an Email in Knak

Create an on-brand, campaign-ready email using Knak’s drag-and-drop builder.

Overview

In this article, you will:

  • Create a new email.

  • Add your sending details.

  • Build the layout and content.

  • Preview and test the email.

  • Get approval and send it to your email platform.

Before You Begin

Check these things before you start:

  • Log in to Knak.

  • Make sure you can build in the right campaign folder.

  • Gather your images, text, and links.

  • Find the modules you want to use. A module is a reusable block of content, like a header or footer.

Note: What you can do in Knak depends on your role permissions. Some users have more access than others. If you can't do an action you need, ask your Knak admin to update your role permissions. Learn more in Role Permissions.

Step 1: Select Your Brand and Campaign

  1. Select your Brand.

  2. Go to the correct Folder and Campaign.

  3. Click Create Email or Create Email From a Theme. A theme is a pre-built design you can start from.

    Knak Studio interface showing brand and campaign folder selection screen with create button menu expanded.

Step 2: Set Up Your Email Details

  1. Click the email details section at the top of the Create tab.

  2. Fill in each field.

    Email setup panel with fields for From Name, From Email, Subject Line, and Preview Text.

Field

What it is

From Name

The name people see in their inbox.

From Email

The email address your email comes from.

Subject Line

The title people see before they open your email.

Preview Text

The short line that shows after the subject line in most inboxes.

Email Title

The title tag in your email's HTML code. Some email clients and browsers show it, like when you open an email in a browser tab. It is not your subject line. Your admin may set a default title or lock it so it can't be changed.

Note: The Email Title field is not turned on for every account. If you need this field and don't see it, contact Knak support to turn it on.

Step 3: Build the Email

Use the Create tab to customize layout and content. Work through these sections:

Email Settings

Email settings apply to the whole email. Set these options:

  • Email width: How wide your email is on a desktop screen.

  • Mobile breakpoint: The screen width where your email switches to its mobile layout.

  • Email layout: Whether your email lines up on the left, center, or right of the screen.

  • Dark mode editing: Lets you edit how your email looks in dark mode. Dark mode shows light text on a dark background.

  • Force light mode: Keeps your email in light mode, even when a reader's device uses dark mode. This works in Apple Mail and the Gmail app on iOS and Android. Learn more in Use Force Light Mode.

  • Background image or color: The image or color behind your content.

  • Link color: The color of links in your text.

  • Font: The font your whole email uses by default.

  • Language: The language of your email.

    Email Settings panel

Structure

Structure blocks set the layout of your email. For example, a row can have 1 or 2 columns.

  1. Choose a structure block, like a 1-column or 2-column row.

  2. Drag it onto the canvas. The canvas is the main editing area.

    Section structure being dragged into the email canvas.

Content

  1. Drag a content block into a column.

  2. Click the block to edit its settings.

    Dragging an image content block into an empty column.

You can add these content blocks:

  • Images

  • Text boxes

  • Buttons

  • Dividers

  • Spacers

  • Social icons

  • HTML

    • (This block is off by default for emails. Contact Knak support to turn it on.)

  • Nested sections. A nested section is a section inside another section.

  • LiveClicker and Movable Ink.

    • (These show only if your account has these integrations.)

Modules

Modules are pre-built blocks of content, like headers and footers.

  1. Drag a module onto the canvas.

    Module panel with draggable headers, footers, and content blocks for email building.

  2. Use the module actions to change it if needed:

    • Clone: Make a copy of the module.

    • Delete: Remove the module.

    • Break apart: Split the module so you can edit each piece. You need the Break Apart Module role permission.

    Module actions visible.

Undo or Redo Changes

  1. Click Undo in the bottom left corner of the builder. This reverses your last change.

  2. Click Redo next to Undo. This brings back a change you reversed.

    Undo and Redo buttons in the bottom left corner of the builder.

You can also use keyboard shortcuts:

Action

Mac

Windows

Undo

Command (⌘) + Z

Ctrl + Z

Redo

Command (⌘) + Shift + Z

Ctrl + Shift + Z

Preview

  1. Click Preview.

    Preview option highlighted from the email canvas view.

  2. Check the desktop and mobile versions of your email.

  3. Switch between dark mode and light mode.

  4. Toggle each dynamic content segment to check it. Dynamic content shows different content to different groups of readers.

    Visibility toggles for different email content segments in preview mode.

Note: Not all email clients support dark mode. An email client is the app people use to read email, like Outlook or Gmail. Learn more in Dark Mode Editing.

Optimize

The Optimize tab checks your email against a list of best practices.

  1. Click the Optimize tab.

  2. Review each item. Each item shows as passed, warning, or failed.

  3. Fix the items that need attention. Each issue has a high or medium impact.

    Optimize checklist tab with medium impact and optimal audit items

The Optimize tab looks for these items:

Check

What it looks for

Alternate Text

Checks that every image has alt text. Alt text describes an image for people who cannot see it.

Asset Translation

Checks that each translated version matches the latest original email.

Background Height

Checks that no section is taller than 2,050 pixels.

Border Color

Checks that border colors work in dark mode.

Button Border

Checks that button borders have enough contrast.

Button Links

Checks that every button has a link.

Button Over Background Image

Checks for buttons on top of a background image. Outlook shows rounded button corners as square in this case.

Color Contrast

Checks that text stands out from its background.

Content Links

Checks that every text link points to a real page.

Dark Mode Color Choices

Checks the text and background colors used in dark mode.

Dark Mode Color Contrast

Checks that text stands out from its background in dark mode.

Deleted/Unpublished Modules

Checks that no module in your email is deleted or unpublished.

Email Preference Link

Checks that your email has an unsubscribe or email preference center link.

Email Size

Checks that your email is smaller than 102 kilobytes (KB).

Email Title

Checks that the email title is not empty and is 30 characters or fewer.

From Address

Checks that the from address is valid.

Image Dimensions

Checks that image width and height follow the module's editor restrictions.

Out Of Date Modules

Checks that every module is up to date.

Preview Text

Checks that preview text is at least 15 characters long.

Reply-To Address

Checks that the reply-to address is valid.

Subject Line

Checks that your email has a subject line.

Variant Segment Assignment

Checks that each dynamic content variant has a segment assigned.

Send a Test Email

  1. Open the Actions Menu.

  2. Select Send Test Email.

  3. Check the test email in your inbox.

    Actions menu showing the option to send a test email

Run Render Tests

  • A render test shows how your email looks in different inboxes and on different devices.

  • Learn how in Email Testing.

    Email testing interface with render previews across devices and inboxes.

Step 5: Review, Approve, and Publish

  1. Click the Collaborate tab to leave comments on your email.

    Collaborate tab where users can leave feedback comments on the email.

  2. Click the Reviews tab to manage approvals.

    Reviews tab for managing email approval workflows.

  3. Open the Actions Menu after your email is approved.

  4. Choose how to send your email to your platform:

    • Sync your email to your Marketing Automation Platform (MAP) or Email Service Provider (ESP). A MAP or ESP is the tool that sends your emails, like Marketo.

    • Download the HTML to import it manually.

    Actions menu showing options to sync or download the email HTML.

Step 6: Launch and Monitor

  1. Launch your email from your MAP or ESP.

  2. Track opens, clicks, and conversions.

  3. Use Performance Insights to improve future emails.

    Performance Insights dashboard showing email analytics like opens and clicks

Performance Insights works with Marketo, Salesforce Marketing Cloud, and Account Engagement.

Tips and Best Practices

  • Keep fonts, colors, and logos consistent with your brand.

  • Reuse modules that perform well to save time.

  • Preview every email on desktop and mobile.

  • Write preview text that supports your subject line.

  • Add alt text to every image.

  • Join the free Knak Academy course to build emails faster.

Need more help? Contact support via live chat within Knak using the chat bubble in the bottom right corner or email support@knak.com.

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