Email headers are the key to making a great first impression on your subscribers because they are the first element they see when they open your email. It can entice people and compel them to scroll down and check out the entire email when designed well. So, you must make the most of this component by making the right impression and capturing your readers' attention.
You never get a second chance to make a good first impression.
- Will Rogers
Don't fret if you have no clue how to use them. We have compiled this guide to tell you all you need to know about email header design.
What are email headers?
In casual terms, the email header refers to the section that displays the sender, recipient, and subject line. In email marketing, however, the email header refers to the visual element at the top of your email or the HTML header that subscribers see after they open it. The primary email copy and footer come after the header.
This email header serves as your digital storefront window. So, it needs to be compelling enough to attract them to engage with the rest of your email content.
The email header design usually contains the company's name, logo, or even a line about some discount or free shipping offered.
In the example below, Mailmodo has put its logo in the header and an option to invite a friend.
If you want to learn more about email headers, check out our full guide below.
Note: People commonly confuse email headers with email preheaders. To make it clear, the email preheader is the text below or next to the email subject line in the inbox. In contrast, email headers are the beginning portion of the HTML emails.
Ideal email header dimensions
Regarding the standard size of email banners or email header dimensions, it's essential to strike a balance between aesthetics and functionality. This ensures that the banner remains visually appealing without overpowering the email's main content. Following this, here are some recommendations that you should follow when it comes to designing different email headers.
| Feature | Recommendation |
|---|---|
| Width | 600px - 800px |
| Height | 100px - 200px |
| File size | Less than 100KB |
| Format | JPEG or PNG (compressed) |
| Design complexity | Simple, avoid excessive animations |
| Responsiveness | Adapts to different screen sizes |
It's important to keep in mind that email clients and devices may vary in their rendering capabilities, so it's advisable to test the banner across different platforms to ensure optimal display.
Ideas to create the best email header design
Now that you've learned the foundation – email headers are the visual gateway to your email content. Now, let's delve deeper into crafting email header designs that truly resonate with your audience. We'll explore some fresh perspectives to elevate your email marketing game.
1. Put in your logo
By placing your logo in your email header, you incorporate branding by visual identity in your email. The logo helps with brand recognition and makes people want to read it because it's from a known source. Ensure that your logo reflects your brand's current colours, fonts, and design style.
Use a transparent PNG of your logo in the header. That way, it'll look good in dark mode. Most brands add the logo in the centre of the email. But you can also add it to the left side of the email because people usually read from left to right.
Source: Really Good Emails
2. Add a "View in browser"/"Web version" option
Sometimes, the email may not load fast or load at all; in that case, you need to give people an option to view it elsewhere, like on the browser.
Most people provide the view in browser option in the footer of the email. But a great way would be to provide the option in the header so that they don't have to scroll down and search for it. Test your header design across different devices (desktop, mobile, tablet) to ensure proper scaling and readability.
Source: Really Good Emails
3. Provide a navigational menu
You can provide an interactive menu to help your customers with easy navigation through the email and lead them to your website. Many ecommerce companies use this menu to help reduce email clutter and make it easy for people to discover what they are looking for.
Use concise and descriptive labels for each menu item, avoiding ambiguity. Make sure that your menu functions flawlessly on touchscreens, with clear tappable areas.
Source: Really Good Emails
4. Use a colorful header background
Colour is another way to capture your reader's attention, apart from using GIFs or animated logos. You can use one of your brand colours or something that complements it to add a pop of colour to your email.
Select header colours that complement your brand font while maintaining a visually pleasing contrast with your logo. Consider the emotions you want to evoke. For example, warm colours like orange can convey a sense of energy, while cool colours like blue can create a sense of trust.
In the example below, Mojo uses its signature brand colour as the background colour in the header behind its logo.
Source: Really Good Emails
5. Write about the discount or free shipping
If you offer discounts or free shipping, you can mention it in the header, as it will motivate the users to scroll down to see more about the offer.
Go beyond just stating a discount. Explain how it benefits the user – "Save 20% on the items you need most!"
For example, Everlane has utilized the header space to announce a Black Friday sale of up to 40%. They have used a bright green background to grab your attention, and they tell you more about the offer in the body of the email.
Source: Really Good Emails
6. Try using no header at all
Contradicting? Yes!
But it can work when done right. At times, less is more.
The point of the header is to utilize space and promote your brand, and you can also do this without having a separate header block. This approach works best for established brands with high logo recognition.
Nike is a well-known brand with an iconic logo, and they know it. So, they use just a logo in their email on top of the image without a separate branding header.
Source: Really Good Emails
7. Use your brand mascot in the email template
If you have a mascot or character for your brand, the email header is one of the great places to add it to the email. People are always fond of characters and mascots. So, by including them in the header, you positively impact the readers, and they want to know more about what your cute mascot has to say in blogs or newsletters.
A well-designed mascot can add a touch of personality and is a fun way to design your email header, making it more memorable.
Source: Really Good Emails
8. Use animations to spice up boring email headers
If you have already added your logo to the header, try adding an animated version of your logo. The animated version of the layout makes the headers more interesting to look at and captures your reader's attention.
Ensure your GIF or logo's image size is less than 1MB so that it loads fast even when viewed on a mobile device.
Semrush, a popular SEO tool, demonstrates a tasteful use of animation in their email headers. They incorporate subtle twinkling lights in the background, adding a touch of festive cheer without overwhelming the viewer or distracting from the main message.
9. Create different variations for different occasions
We recommend that you create a few different header variations that you can use on various occasions. For instance, incorporate festive visuals that resonate with the specific holiday or season. Think pumpkins for Halloween or twinkling lights for Christmas.
While adding festive touches, ensure your headers remain consistent with your overall brand identity. Even for seasonal themes, test different header variations with your email list to see which resonates best with your audience.
Mailmodo offers pre-built templates for various occasions, including holidays and seasonal events.
Here is a great example of how to use seasonal imagery in email headers without going overboard. They have subtly conveyed a Christmassy warmth using bells, socks and Christmas trees.
By incorporating these suggestions and going beyond the basic email header design principles, marketers can create perfect email headers that leave a lasting impression, strengthen your brand identity, and ultimately drive results for your email marketing campaigns.
If you’re not sure how your email header is going to perform, check out Mailmodo’s email header analyzer to see how it stacks up against best practices and identifies areas for improvement.
How to design email headers in Mailmodo
If you plan to use Mailmodo to create your free email template, here are the steps to create your email header design:
Step 1: Log in to the Mailmodo dashboard, click on templates, and either select a pre-made template or create a new one. If you choose a new template, this window will appear 👇
Step 2: You can add logos or images and customize the text according to what suits your brand identity. Or, you can utilize one of the pre-made blocks they provide and customize it to suit your needs.
To access the pre-made blocks, go to the ➕ symbol and click on "pre-made blocks."
Step 3: Click on the "headers" section, and you will see a few pre-made header options that you can use in your email.
Customize it with your logo, colours, and text. Now, you are all set to create the rest of your email. Mailmodo makes it easy to create your email templates with their drag-and-drop editor, which enables you to create beautiful emails in a short period.
You can also check out our email design system playbook to learn how to design better emails.
Get the Email Design System Playbook in your inbox
Proven tactics for lean marketing teams to roll out on-brand emails faster
Final takeaway
Crafting impactful email headers is an art form. By incorporating the best practices outlined in this guide, you can design headers that grab attention, strengthen your brand identity, and drive results for your email campaigns. So, experiment, test, and refine your headers to unlock their full potential following the tips discussed in this guide.
If you feel that Mailmodo is the right option for you to design and send your emails, try it out today for free.
Design attractive headers without coding
