3 Simple Hacks To Add Columns In Mailchimp

In today's digital marketing landscape, email campaigns play an essential role in reaching and engaging with your audience. Mailchimp has solidified its place as one of the go-to platforms for email marketing, offering a suite of tools that cater to both novice and seasoned marketers. However, when it comes to designing emails, even the simplest tasks, like adding columns, can pose challenges. This guide walks you through three straightforward hacks to enhance your Mailchimp campaigns by adding columns to your emails, thus making your content more visually appealing and organized.

Understanding the Basics of Mailchimp's Email Builder 📚

Before we delve into the hacks, let's get a quick overview of how Mailchimp's email builder functions:

Mailchimp’s email editor offers drag-and-drop capabilities, allowing users to design emails visually. You can select from various content blocks, pre-designed templates, or start from scratch. Each block serves a specific purpose, from text to images, and notably, the Content block for general content.

<div style="text-align: center;"> <img src="https://tse1.mm.bing.net/th?q=Mailchimp email builder interface" alt="Mailchimp's Email Builder Interface"> </div>

Key Features to Know:

• Content Blocks: These are the building blocks of your email. They include Text, Images, Buttons, Dividers, and more.
• Customization Options: Adjust fonts, colors, spacing, and more to match your brand.
• Columns and Rows: While Mailchimp doesn’t explicitly offer a column block, we can achieve column-like layouts with creativity.

Hack 1: Leveraging Content Blocks for Columns 🧱

Mailchimp does not have a direct way to add columns, but by cleverly using Content blocks, we can create the illusion of columns:

Step-by-Step Instructions:

1. Insert a Content Block: Drag and drop a Content block where you want the columns to appear.

2. Split Content: Within the Content block, add HTML code to create tables or use inline styling for div elements to simulate columns:

   
     
   Column 1 Content
     
   Column 2 Content
   
   

3. Adjust Sizing: Use inline CSS to adjust column widths as needed. Remember, the sum of the columns' widths should be less than or equal to 100%.

4. Content Formatting: Format the text or images within each "column" to ensure they look aligned and balanced.

<div style="text-align: center;"> <img src="https://tse1.mm.bing.net/th?q=Mailchimp content blocks for columns" alt="Using Content Blocks for Columns in Mailchimp"> </div>

<p class="pro-note">🗒️ Note: Always test your email in the preview mode to check if the columns align correctly on different devices and email clients.</p>

Hack 2: Using Custom Code with Mailchimp's Code Editor 💻

For users comfortable with HTML and CSS, Mailchimp provides a Code Editor to fine-tune your email designs:

How to Use the Code Editor:

1. Navigate to the Code Editor: Within the email builder, select the gear icon and choose "Edit Code".

2. Implement Column Layout: Here, you have full control to write or paste HTML code:

   
     
   
       
   Column 1
       
   Column 2
     
   
   

3. Inline Styling: Ensure all styles are inline or within the <style> tag for maximum compatibility:

4. Responsive Design: Include media queries for better readability on mobile devices.

<div style="text-align: center;"> <img src="https://tse1.mm.bing.net/th?q=mailchimp custom code editor" alt="Mailchimp's Code Editor for Customizing Columns"> </div>

<p class="pro-note">💡 Note: While this method gives you full control, it requires knowledge of HTML and CSS. Ensure you test the email for compatibility across different email clients.</p>

Hack 3: Pre-Designed Column Templates 📁

If coding isn’t your forte, but you still want a quick way to add columns, explore Mailchimp's library of pre-designed templates:

Finding and Using Templates:

1. Template Gallery: Visit Mailchimp’s template gallery, focusing on those with layout options.

2. Customizable Columns: Select templates with built-in columns or drag and drop specific Content blocks into the template to simulate columns.

3. Adjust to Your Needs: You can modify these columns' content, spacing, and style to align with your brand or campaign goals.

<div style="text-align: center;"> <img src="https://tse1.mm.bing.net/th?q=mailchimp pre-designed templates with columns" alt="Mailchimp's Pre-Designed Templates with Columns"> </div>

Enhancing Your Email Layouts with Columns

Why Columns Matter:

• Visual Appeal: Columns break up text walls, making your email more visually digestible.
• Information Hierarchy: They help organize content, guiding the reader through your message.
• Responsive Design: Columns naturally adapt to different screen sizes, improving mobile experience.

Advanced Tips for Column Design:

• Spacing and Padding: Ensure there’s adequate padding between columns to avoid a cluttered look.
• Alignment: Keep content within columns aligned for a professional appearance.
• Consistency: Maintain a consistent column layout across your emails for brand recognition.

Best Practices for Using Columns in Mailchimp 📝

Here are some essential best practices to keep in mind:

• Test Across Devices: Use Mailchimp’s preview tool to check how your email renders on different screens.
• Keep It Simple: Too many columns can overwhelm your reader; stick to 2-3 columns for most campaigns.
• Accessibility: Ensure your columns don't compromise readability for those using screen readers or smaller screens.
• Content Hierarchy: Place your most important information in the left column, as this is often read first.

In conclusion, while Mailchimp might not offer a straightforward column feature, these hacks provide creative solutions to achieve your desired layout. Remember that experimentation and testing are key to perfecting your email design.

<div class="faq-section"> <div class="faq-container"> <div class="faq-item"> <div class="faq-question"> <h3>Can I add more than three columns?</h3> <span class="faq-toggle">+</span> </div> <div class="faq-answer"> <p>Yes, you can add more columns using custom HTML code, but remember that readability and design simplicity are crucial. Three columns might be the sweet spot for most email designs.</p> </div> </div> <div class="faq-item"> <div class="faq-question"> <h3>How do I ensure my columns look good on mobile devices?</h3> <span class="faq-toggle">+</span> </div> <div class="faq-answer"> <p>Use media queries in your CSS to adjust the layout for smaller screens. Generally, having columns stack vertically on mobile is a safe approach, and Mailchimp's responsive design should help with this.</p> </div> </div> <div class="faq-item"> <div class="faq-question"> <h3>Is there a way to save my custom column layouts for reuse?</h3> <span class="faq-toggle">+</span> </div> <div class="faq-answer"> <p>You can save email designs as templates in Mailchimp, which includes your custom column layouts, allowing you to reuse them in future campaigns.</p> </div> </div> </div> </div>