How to Create a Canva Email Template and Send It in Minutes

• Use the Canva integration within Constant Contact to add small graphics like headers instead of one giant image. This prevents emails from being flagged as spam and ensures the message is easy to read on any device.
• Create custom graphics using the Canva button inside the Constant Contact library to avoid the hassle of downloading and uploading files. Storing these assets allows for quick reuse in future emails to save valuable time.
• Send finished layouts from Canva directly to Constant Contact to turn designs into ready-to-use email drafts. This makes it simple to add clickable buttons and website links that drive customer action and track campaign results.
• Check the mobile preview in Constant Contact to make sure Canva images look sharp and text is large enough for phone screens. Verifying the layout before sending ensures a good experience for folks reading email on their mobile devices.

Designing a great-looking email shouldn’t feel like an Olympic hurdle. You just want a professional newsletter that grabs your audience’s attention without having to first endure a major technical headache. This blog shows you exactly what to design in Canva and what to build in the Constant Contact editor. We’ll also help you skip common layout mistakes that can hurt your deliverability.

There are two simple but different ways to create an email using Constant Contact’s Canva integration. First, you can create individual visual elements in Canva — like custom headers, product images, or dividers — and then drop them into a Constant Contact email template. Or, you can design your entire email layout in Canva and publish it directly to your Constant Contact account.

Both options help you ditch the old download-then-upload dance for good. By connecting the two tools, you keep your workflow seamless and your design and branding on point.

What is a Canva newsletter template?

Think of a Canva template as your digital canvas. It’s where you pick your colors, fonts, and photos to make things look just right. But there’s a difference between a design layout and a send-ready email template.

A design template establishes the look of your email, but a newsletter you send to customers needs more. It needs text, working links, and an “Unsubscribe” button, for instance.

That’s why we recommend a hybrid workflow: Use Canva to create your eye-catching graphics, then use Constant Contact to assemble the final message and hit send. It’s the best way to get professional results without needing professional-level design skills.

Tips to design an email template in Canva

Before you start designing, it helps to have a plan for your newsletter email template. You want an email that’s visually appealing but also easy to engage with for your readers. Here are a few ways to make that happen:

• Use modular sections instead of one continuous design. Think of your email like a set of building blocks. When you design in sections, you can easily swap out a header or update a single image without redoing the whole thing. It makes your template flexible for future sends.
• Balance text and visuals for deliverability. Your email needs a healthy mix of pictures and words. Spam filters often get suspicious of emails that are just one giant image. Using “live” text alongside your Canva graphics helps ensure you bypass the junk folder.
• Avoid image-heavy emails with minimal live text. “Live” text is text that’s selectable and searchable by devices, rather than text that’s embedded within an image. If you rely on images only and your reader has a slow connection or images turned off, they could see a blank screen. Too many images can also lead to slow load times and poor accessibility for anyone using a screen reader.
• Choose the visual elements to design in Canva. You have two ways to play this: you can design your whole email in Canva, or you can just build specific assets like headers, dividers, or specific images. Decide which parts need that extra Canva polish before you start.
• Design for mobile scrolling first. The majority of people now read email on their phones. Keep your layouts simple and your fonts large enough to read on a small screen, and make sure image files are small enough to load fast.

Once your design looks perfect, make sure you define a clear call-to-action (CTA). You want to give your readers a crystal-clear next step so they know exactly where to click.

How to use Canva designs in an email template

The hybrid approach gives you the best of both worlds. You get Canva’s artistic freedom and Constant Contact’s powerful email marketing tools. To start, you’ll import your Canva images into your library to keep everything in one place.

Before you start designing, run through this quick consistency checklist:

• Headers: Do they match your brand’s vibe?
• Section dividers: Are the different sections of your email clearly divided?
• Product images: Are your photos clear and consistently styled and/or lit?
• Calls-to-action: Does your CTA button pop against the background?

Build the header and branded image blocks

Your header is the first thing people see, so make it count. You can create a brand-new design directly from your Constant Contact library. Just click Assets, then Library, go to the Canva Designs tab, and hit Create in Canva.

This opens the Canva editor right inside your workspace. You can pick a layout, add your logo, and then click Return to Constant Contact to save it. It’s an easy way to keep your productivity flowing without switching tabs or resorting to the ol’ download-then-upload dance.

Export Canva assets at email-friendly sizes

When you’re ready to bring your art over, size matters. You’ll select the file type that works best for your needs, usually PNG or JPG. PNG is great for clear logos, while JPG keeps photo file sizes small for faster loading.

Once you click Import, Constant Contact handles the heavy lifting. Your design will be ready to use in your Library in just a minute.

Save reusable design elements for future sends

The secret to staying consistent with sending emails is working smarter, not harder. Any design you import or create is saved automatically in your Library. This means you can easily reuse that branded header or footer for every campaign you send, making your future sends way faster.

How to send a Canva newsletter template in Constant Contact

This is where you transform your Canva newsletter template into an actual marketing effort that can deliver real results. By using the Canva integration workflow, you can pull in your designs and surround them with interactive elements like clickable links and buttons.

Insert Canva images into your campaigns

Within the emaiil editor, you can insert Canva images directly into any image block. This allows you to place your branded graphics exactly where they belong. Then, you can finish the campaign by adding editable text, clickable links, and bold buttons that lead back to your website. This hybrid approach ensures your email is visually stunning but still easy for customers to navigate.

Review and test before you send

Before you hit the big “Send” button, you need to run a few final quality checks. Use the mobile preview tool to make sure your images aren’t too small for phone screens. Check that all your images load quickly and that every single link goes to the right destination. Sending a quick test email to yourself is the best way to catch tiny mistakes before they reach your customers.

Connecting these two tools doesn’t just make your emails look better, it makes the entire process faster and more streamlined. You’ll spend less time on the technical “how-to” and more time on the creative “what’s next”.

How to create a whole email template in Canva

On the other hand, sometimes you want to do all your creative work in one place. If that’s you, then building your entire email layout in Canva is another option. You can design the whole look of your email and then move it over to Constant Contact with just a few clicks.

First, you’ll want to finish your email design in Canva. When it looks exactly how you want it, click Share, then See all, and find Constant Contact.

Click Open, then Connect and log in to your Constant Contact account. You’ll then click Allow Access to link your two accounts together.

When you’re ready, click Publish now to export your design as an HTML email. Then, simply click Check it out to open your new draft inside Constant Contact.

From there, you can handle the final logistics:

• Update the essentials: Fill in your subject line, preheader, and sender info.
• Choose your audience: Select your contact list or a specific segment.
• Send a test: Send a test email to yourself to make sure everything looks right and any links work.
• Schedule or send: Click Schedule or Send now depending on whether you want your email to go out now or later.

Your email will then appear in your Campaigns list. You can track its performance and see how your audience is reacting to it, just like you would with any other campaign. For a deeper dive into the technical steps, check out this step-by-step guide on sending a Canva-designed email with Constant Contact.

Scale branded email design with Constant Contact

Using Canva and Constant Contact together helps you get more eye-catching marketing emails out the door faster. Here’s how using these tools together can benefit your brand:

• Kick off campaigns faster. You’ll save time because you don’t have to deal with the old “download-then-upload” dance anymore.
• Keep your branding on point. Your look stays consistent across your social media and your emails because you’re using the same Canva magic for both.
• Assemble emails with ease. Your workflow feels way smoother when your designs sync up automatically.
• Empower solopreneurs or small teams. You can create professional-looking emails even if you have zero design experience.

Ready to start building better emails, faster? Check out Constant Contact’s Canva integration and see how much easier your email marketing workflow can get.

Canva newsletter template FAQs

Can you create a newsletter in Canva and email it?

Yes, you can design your entire newsletter layout right in Canva. Once it looks perfect, you use the “Share” menu to publish it directly to your Constant Contact account. This turns your design into a send-ready email draft in just a few clicks.

How do you import Canva designs into Constant Contact?

The easiest way is to use the “Canva Designs” tab in your library. You can connect your accounts through the Integrations tab or directly while you are working in the Email Editor. Once you’re linked, just hover over any design in the library and click the upload symbol to bring it over. You can even start a brand-new design without ever leaving Constant Contact.

Should a Canva newsletter template be one full image?

Ideally no. If your whole email is just one giant image, it can load slowly or get caught in spam filters. Instead, use Canva to create smaller “building blocks” like headers, branded dividers, and product photos. Then, use live text in the Constant Contact editor to fill in the details. This makes your email more accessible and easier to read on mobile phones.

What makes a good email template for small businesses?

A good email template looks professional and is easy to use. It should be customizable to match your brand’s colors and fonts so customers recognize you instantly. It also needs to be mobile-friendly so your emails look good on a phone. Most importantly, it should have a clear call-to-action that tells your readers exactly what to do next. Using a template saves you time so you can get back to running your business.