# Email editor: blocks, variables and preview

> In Emails Templates, click New Template and build the email with blocks: heading, text, divider, image, grid, button, signature and social networks. Type @ to insert contact data with a fallback value, fill in Subject and Preview, check the preview, send yourself a test and save.

Fonte: https://wiki.bip.marketing/en-us/email-editor · Atualizado: 2026-10-08

<UseCaseMeta effort="nocode" channel="email" plan="free" />

Create on-brand emails without writing a line of code. You stack ready-made blocks, greet each contact by name and see exactly how the message will arrive before you send it.

<Checklist items="A BIP account (the free plan works)|Your logo and the email's images|The destination links: website, store, menu, social media|The custom fields created in Settings, if you want to use them in the text" />

## What you'll get

- A template ready for any campaign, built with blocks: heading, text, image, button, signature and social networks.
- Text with the contact's name, city or any other field, with a fallback value for anyone missing that data.
- The right subject and preview text in the inbox.
- An on-screen preview and a test in your own inbox, without using sends.
- A footer with the contact's preferences link on every send, without you building anything.

## How it works

<Steps items="Create the template and fill in the name, subject and preview|Build the email with blocks and contact variables|Check the preview, send a test and save" />

The editor has two areas. On the left, the email as it will look. On the right, the settings panel:

- click a block to edit its content, colors and spacing;
- click an empty area, outside the blocks, to adjust the email's background and the box that holds the blocks.

Every new template starts as a **Draft**. It only becomes available to pick in a campaign after you click **Save**. The campaign reads the template at the moment of each send: a saved change applies to the next sends of every campaign that uses that template.

## Step by step

### 1. Create the template

1. In the menu, open **Emails Templates** and click **New Template**.
2. BIP creates an **[untitled]** template with the **Draft** badge and opens the editor. It already comes with a gray background, a white box in the center and a welcome heading with the contact's first name. Edit or delete whatever you want.
3. To start from an email you already have, click **Duplicate** (copy icon) on its row. BIP creates a copy with "(Clone)" in the name and opens the editor.

<Shot src="/img/editor-de-email/1-en-us.png" alt="Emails Templates list with the New Template button" url="dash.bip.marketing/…/emails-templates" />

### 2. Fill in the template settings

1. At the top of the editor, click **Settings**. The **Email Template Settings** panel opens.
2. In **Name**, use a name your team will recognize, like _Welcome · Padaria Aurora_. Next to it, pick an emoji for the icon.
3. In **Description**, note what the template is for (optional).
4. In **Group**, choose which group the template appears under in the list. Groups are created in **Settings** → **Groups** → **Email Templates Groups**.
5. In **Language**, choose the language the email is written in: **English**, **Portuguese** or **Spanish**. New templates start in **English**.
6. In **Subject**, write the subject line. Type `@` to include contact data.
7. In **Preview**, write the line that shows in the inbox right after the subject. It also accepts `@`.
8. Click **Save**.

<Shot src="/img/editor-de-email/2-en-us.png" alt="Email Template Settings panel with name, group, language, subject and preview" url="dash.bip.marketing/…/emails-templates/…" />

### 3. Adjust the background and the container

Click an empty area of the email. The right-hand panel shows **Container**, in two parts:

- **Main**: the outer background, which fills the whole screen. Choose the **Background** and the **Padding**.
- **Container**: the inner box that holds the blocks. With **Enabled** on, you set **Background**, **Max Width (px)**, **Rounded (px)** and **Margin / Padding (px)**. With it off, the blocks take the full width, right on top of the main background.

A safe start: a light **Main** background and a white **Container** with **Max Width (px)** at 600 and **Rounded (px)** at 10.

<Shot src="/img/editor-de-email/3-en-us.png" alt="Container panel with the Main and Container parts" url="dash.bip.marketing/…/emails-templates/…" />

### 4. Build the email with blocks

1. To add a block, use the purple **+** button in the bottom-right corner (the block goes at the end of the email) or select a block and click the **+** on its bottom edge (the new one goes right after it). In an empty template, click **Add Block**.
2. Choose the block: **Add Heading**, **Add Text**, **Add Divider**, **Add Image**, **Add Grid**, **Add Button**, **Add Signature** or **Add Social Networks**.
3. Click the block to open its panel on the right. Every field of every block is in the [Reference](#reference).
4. Use the bar that appears over the selected block: **Move Up**, **Move Down**, **Duplicate**, **Copy to Clipboard**, **Paste from Clipboard** and the trash can, which asks for confirmation.

To reuse a block in another template, click **Copy to Clipboard**, open the other template in the same browser tab and choose **Paste Block** in the block menu.

<Callout type="warning">
The two-column grid doesn't adapt to narrow screens. The editor itself warns you: **Grid blocks are not responsive. Avoid using them in emails targeted at narrow screens or mobile devices.** For people reading on their phones, stack blocks instead: image, then text.
</Callout>

<Shot src="/img/editor-de-email/4-en-us.png" alt="Block menu open in the email editor" url="dash.bip.marketing/…/emails-templates/…" />

### 5. Personalize with variables

1. In a heading, a text block, a grid text column, the **Subject** or the **Preview**, type `@`.
2. The **Variables** list opens. Keep typing to filter: the name of a custom field (`@Date` finds _Date of birth_) or the English term for standard data (`@first` finds the first name, `@city` finds the city). Pick one with the arrow keys and **Enter**, or with a click.
3. The variable goes in as a gray tag. An orange dot means it doesn't have a fallback value yet.
4. Click the tag and fill in **Fallback Value**: the text shown to anyone who doesn't have that data. For the first name, use something like `friend`. Without a fallback, that spot stays blank.

To format text, select a passage. A bar appears with paragraph size, heading level, alignment, bold, italic, underline and link. The link opens **Add Link**, with **URL** and, if nothing is selected, **Text**.

<Shot src="/img/editor-de-email/5-en-us.png" alt="Variables list open after typing @ in a text block" url="dash.bip.marketing/…/emails-templates/…" />

### 6. Check the preview

1. At the top, click **Preview** → **Preview Email**.
2. On the **Preview** tab, the **Inbox** part shows the email in the inbox: sender name, subject and preview text. The **Body** part shows the open email, footer with preferences included.
3. The **HTML** tab shows the code BIP generates.

Variables show up filled in with a sample contact, so you can see the full text.

<Shot src="/img/editor-de-email/6-en-us.png" alt="Email Preview window with the inbox and the email body" url="dash.bip.marketing/…/emails-templates/…" />

### 7. Send a test and save

1. Click **Preview** → **Send Preview Email**.
2. Type your email address and click **Send Preview**. The message **Preview email sent successfully!** confirms it.
3. Open the email on your computer and on your phone. Click the links and buttons.
4. Go back to the editor and click **Save**. The **Draft** badge goes away and the template is ready to pick in **Campaigns**.

The preview uses what's on screen, even before you save. It goes out from a BIP address, with variables filled in by a sample contact, and doesn't use sends.

<Shot src="/img/editor-de-email/7-en-us.png" alt="Send Preview Email window with the email field" url="dash.bip.marketing/…/emails-templates/…" />

## Reference

### Emails Templates list

| Item | What it does |
| --- | --- |
| **New Template** | Creates a blank template as a **Draft** and opens the editor |
| **Duplicate** | Creates a copy with "(Clone)" in the name, as a **Draft**, and opens the editor |
| Trash can | Deletes the template, after confirmation |
| **Draft** | Badge on a new or duplicated template until its first **Save**; it doesn't appear in campaigns |
| **Name** | The template's name and icon |
| **Updated** | Date of the last change |
| **Ungrouped** | Section for templates without a group; the others appear under their group's name |

### Editor top bar

| Button | What it does |
| --- | --- |
| **Preview** → **Preview Email** | Shows the preview on screen: **Inbox**, **Body** and the **HTML** tab |
| **Preview** → **Send Preview Email** | Sends the email to the address you type |
| **Settings** | Opens **Email Template Settings** |
| **Save** | Saves the template. A red dot on the button means there are unsaved changes |

### Email Template Settings

| Field | What it's for |
| --- | --- |
| **Name** and icon | The template's name and emoji in the list |
| **Description** | Internal note for your team |
| **Group** | The template's group in the list. Without a group, it goes under **Ungrouped** |
| **Language** | **English**, **Portuguese** or **Spanish** |
| **Subject** | Subject line, with `@` variables |
| **Preview** | Line shown after the subject in the inbox, with `@` variables. BIP uses up to 150 characters |

### Container

| Part | Field | Details |
| --- | --- | --- |
| **Main** | **Background** | Outer background color |
| **Main** | **Padding** | Space between the edge of the screen and the inner box |
| **Container** | **Enabled** | Turns the inner box on or off |
| **Container** | **Background** | Inner box color |
| **Container** | **Max Width (px)** | Minimum of 400; 0 uses 100% of the width |
| **Container** | **Rounded (px)** | Rounded corners, from 0 to 100 |
| **Container** | **Margin / Padding (px)** | Top and bottom margins and inner padding |

### Selected block bar

| Button | What it does |
| --- | --- |
| **Move Up** / **Move Down** | Changes the block's position |
| **Duplicate** | Creates a copy right below |
| **Copy to Clipboard** | Stores the block so you can paste it elsewhere |
| **Paste from Clipboard** | Pastes the stored block right below |
| Trash can | Deletes the block, after confirmation |
| **+** on the bottom edge | Opens the block menu to insert right below |

### Heading and text

**Add Heading** and **Add Text** open the same panel, **Text Block**. The heading already comes with the text formatted as a title.

| Section | Field | Details |
| --- | --- | --- |
| — | **Text** | Editor with formatting, links and `@` variables |
| **Text Style** | **Align** | Left, center or right. Active when **Max Width (px)** is above 0 |
| **Text Style** | **Color** | Text color |
| **Text Style** | **Max Width (px)** | Minimum of 100; 0 uses 100% of the width |
| **Text Container** | **Background Color** | Block background |
| **Text Container** | **Rounded (px)** | From 0 to 100 |
| **Text Container** | **Margin / Padding (px)** | Space around and inside the block |

### Divider

**Divider Block** panel.

| Section | Field | Details |
| --- | --- | --- |
| **Divider** | **Align** | Active when **Max Width (px)** is above 0 |
| **Divider** | **Color** | Line color |
| **Divider** | **Size (px)** | Line thickness, from 0 to 100 |
| **Divider** | **Max Width (px)** | 0 uses 100% of the width |
| **Divider** | **Rounded (px)** | From 0 to 100 |
| **Divider Container** | **Margin / Padding (px)** | Top and bottom margins |

### Image

**Image Block** panel. A new block comes with a sample photo: replace it with yours.

| Section | Field | Details |
| --- | --- | --- |
| **Image** | **Image** | Upload the image file |
| **Image** | **Alt Text** | Description shown when the image doesn't load |
| **Image** | **Link URL** | Page that opens when someone clicks the image (optional) |
| **Image Style** | **Align** | Active when **Max Width (px)** is above 0 |
| **Image Style** | **Max Width (px)** | Minimum of 100; 0 uses 100% of the width |
| **Image Style** | **Rounded (px)** | Image corners, from 0 to 100 |
| **Image Container** | **Background Color** | Block background |
| **Image Container** | **Rounded (px)** | From 0 to 100 |
| **Image Container** | **Margin / Padding (px)** | Space around and inside the block |

### 2-column grid

**Grid Block** panel. A new block comes with text in **Column 1** and an image in **Column 2**.

| Section | Field | Details |
| --- | --- | --- |
| **Grid Settings** | **Vertical Align** | **Top**, **Middle** or **Bottom** |
| **Grid Settings** | **Gap (px)** | Distance between the columns, from 0 to 100 |
| **Grid Container** | **Background Color** | Block background |
| **Grid Container** | **Rounded (px)** | From 0 to 100 |
| **Grid Container** | **Margin / Padding (px)** | Space around and inside the block |
| **Column 1** / **Column 2** | **Column Type** | **Text** or **Image** |
| Text column | **Text** and **Text Style** | The same fields as the text block, with `@` variables |
| Image column | **Image** and **Image Style** | The same fields as the image block |

### Button

**Button Block** panel.

| Section | Field | Details |
| --- | --- | --- |
| **Button** | **Align** | Left, center or right |
| **Button** | **Name** | Button text, with an optional emoji next to it |
| **Button** | **Link URL** | Page the button opens |
| **Button** | **Background Color** and **Text Color** | Button colors |
| **Button** | **Width** | As a percentage, from 50 to 100 |
| **Button** | **Rounded (px)** | Button corners, from 0 to 100 |
| **Button** | **Padding (px)** | Space between the text and the button's edge |
| **Button Container** | **Background Color**, **Rounded (px)**, **Margin / Padding (px)** | Block background and spacing |

### Signature

**Signature Block** panel. Phone, email and website become clickable links.

| Section | Field | Details |
| --- | --- | --- |
| **Signature** | **Preset** | **Simple**, **Inline Photo**, **Bottom Photo** or **Compact** |
| **Signature** | **Name**, **Title**, **Company** | Who signs |
| **Signature** | **Phone**, **Email**, **Website** | Contact details (optional) |
| **Photo / Logo** | **Image** | Only in **Inline Photo** and **Bottom Photo** |
| **Photo / Logo** | **Image Size (px)** | From 32 to 200 |
| **Photo / Logo** | **Rounded (px)** | From 0 to 100 |
| **Signature Style** | **Text Color** | Text color |
| **Signature Style** | **Font Size (px)** | From 10 to 24 |
| **Signature Style** | **Divider Size (px)** | Line above the signature, from 0 to 10; 0 removes the line |
| **Signature Style** | **Divider Color** | Active when the divider is above 0 |
| **Signature Container** | **Background Color**, **Margin / Padding (px)** | Block background and spacing |

| Preset | How it looks |
| --- | --- |
| **Simple** | Name highlighted; title and company; contact details. One line under the other |
| **Inline Photo** | Photo or logo on the left, details on the right |
| **Bottom Photo** | Details on top, photo or logo below |
| **Compact** | Everything on a single line |

### Social networks

**Social Networks Block** panel. A new block comes with Facebook, Instagram, X, LinkedIn and YouTube, with no links.

| Section | Field | Details |
| --- | --- | --- |
| **Icon Style** | **Align** | Left, center or right |
| **Icon Style** | **Icon Color** and **Background Color** | Color of the symbol and of the background behind it |
| **Icon Style** | **Size (px)** | From 24 to 64 |
| **Icon Style** | **Rounded (px)** | From 0 to 100; at 100, the background becomes a circle |
| **Icon Style** | **Gap (px)** | Distance between icons, from 0 to 32 |
| **Social Networks** | URL for each network | Profile link. The trash can removes the network |
| **Social Networks** | **Add Network** | Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, Pinterest, Telegram, TikTok, Website, WhatsApp, X and YouTube; each one once |
| **Social Container** | **Background Color**, **Rounded (px)**, **Margin / Padding (px)** | Block background and spacing |

### Most used variables

The **Variables** list shows a description in English and the variable's code. Type part of either one to filter.

| In the list | Variable | Example |
| --- | --- | --- |
| `first name` | `lead.firstName()` | Marina |
| `name` | `lead.name()` | Marina Alves |
| `last name` | `lead.lastName()` | Alves |
| `email` | `lead.email()` | marina.alves@exemplo.com |
| `last location city` | `lead.location('last', 'city')` | Curitiba |
| `"Date of birth" field value` | `lead.field('…')` | The custom field's value |
| `calculates the age based on the "Date of birth" field` | `lead.ageField('…')` | Age calculated from a Date field |
| `kpi "Points" value` | `lead.kpi('…')` | The KPI's value |

Custom fields and KPIs appear with the names you gave them in **Settings**.

### Automatic footer

Every email BIP sends to a contact ends with the line **We respect you, adjust your contact preferences any time.** The **contact preferences** part leads to the preferences portal, where they choose what they want to receive. You don't need to build this footer or an unsubscribe block.

## Ready to copy

### Structure of a welcome email

| Order | Block | Suggested setting |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **Add Image** | Brand logo, **Max Width (px)** 160, centered |
| 2 | **Add Heading** | Greeting with the first name |
| 3 | **Add Text** | Two short paragraphs |
| 4 | **Add Button** | A single action, with **Width** at 50 |
| 5 | **Add Divider** | **Max Width (px)** 120, light color |
| 6 | **Add Signature** | **Simple** |
| 7 | **Add Social Networks** | Only the networks the brand uses |

### Email copy

Wherever you see `[@first name]`, type `@first`, pick `lead.firstName()` and use `friend` as the **Fallback Value**.

<Copy label="Subject">
[@first name], your breakfast is waiting ☕
</Copy>

<Copy label="Preview">
Fresh-baked bread from 7 a.m. and a treat on your first visit.
</Copy>

<Copy label="Heading">
So glad you're here, [@first name]!
</Copy>

<Copy label="Text">
Padaria Aurora bakes bread, cakes and savory snacks fresh every day, starting early. From now on, you'll be the first to hear about special batches and what's new on the menu.

On your first visit, show this email at the register and get a pour-over coffee on us.
</Copy>

<Copy label="Button — Name">
See the menu
</Copy>

### Signature

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| **Preset** | **Simple** |
| **Name** | Marina Alves |
| **Title** | Manager |
| **Company** | Padaria Aurora |
| **Phone** | +55 41 99876-5432 |
| **Website** | padariaaurora.com.br |

### Fallbacks that work

| Variable | **Fallback Value** |
| --- | --- |
| `lead.firstName()` | friend |
| `lead.location('last', 'city')` | your city |
| `lead.kpi('…')` (points) | 0 |

## How to measure

- **Before sending**: use **Preview Email** to check the subject, preview text and variables, and **Send Preview Email** to see the email in your inbox. None of this uses sends.
- **After sending**: in **Campaigns**, open the campaign and click **Campaign Stats**. Track **Opens**, **Open Rate**, **Click Rate** and **Click-to-Open Rate**.
- **Links**: BIP counts clicks on every link in the email on its own, with no setup. In **Top clicked links**, you see which button or image drew the most people.
- **Subject test**: duplicate the template, change only the **Subject** and use each version in a campaign for similar segments. Compare the **Open Rate** of the two.

## Frequently asked questions

### Do I need to create an unsubscribe link?

No. Every email BIP sends to a contact has the **contact preferences** link in the footer, which opens the preferences portal. There, they choose what they want to receive or leave the list.

### What shows up when the contact doesn't have the variable's data?

The **Fallback Value** you set. Without a fallback, that spot stays blank. That's why you should fill in the fallback for every variable: the orange dot on the tag shows which ones are still missing it.

### If I change the template, do the campaigns that already use it change too?

Yes, starting with the next send. The campaign reads the template at send time. To keep an older version, use **Duplicate** before editing.

### Does the preview use sends from my plan?

No. **Preview Email** and **Send Preview Email** don't use sends. Variables show up filled in with a sample contact.

## See also

- [Campaigns: one-time, recurring and API-triggered](/en-us/campaigns)
- [Your own sending domain](/en-us/sending-domain)
- [Segments: the 10 criteria to filter contacts](/en-us/segments)
- [Compliance: preferences portal, opt-out and topics](/en-us/compliance)
- [Getting started with BIP](/en-us/getting-started)