In this article:
We are delighted to introduce content blocks and design layouts to approved email and marketing email content in Shaman.
Content blocks in Shaman can be easily created, added, recycled and reused across email campaigns and can also be shared to other Shaman accounts via Hub.
In this article we take a look at how to create a content block. (If you are looking for new to content blocks and design layouts, we recommend you to take a look here.)
How to create and export a content block
Once you have logged in to Shaman and clicked the "Approved email icon" from the menu on the top of your screen, you will see different tabs for email templates, email fragments, template fragments, content blocks and design templates.
Select the “Content Blocks” tab and click the “New button” to get started.
You will then see a pop-up message prompting you to complete the obligatory information for your content block comprised of the below fields:
Name - A free text field to add a name for your content block. This is an obligatory field.
Brand - Select a specific product for the content block.
Language - Select a language for the content block.
Then click "Create" once you have completed this information.
Good to know!
Only one product can be selected per content block.
You will be redirected to the "Overview" page of your content block.
General:
Name
Library tags (check out this article for more information)
Brand
Language
Based on: (How was the content block made, from scratch, from design template, duplicated from another content block, etc)
Status: Content blocks in Shaman can be either “Draft” or “Live” status. These statuses refer to whether the content block has been set to live in Shaman or if it remains in draft status. If the content block is “live”, it is available to be added to email content.
Good to know!
This status only exists in Shaman, as a way of managing which content is ready to be shared to other email content.
History: With Email Versions History in Shaman, you see the full story of all versions previously created for a specific email template or fragment at a glance. You have complete visibility on what is happening with your email content and can effortlessly keep track or revert back to any previously saved versions, giving you further freedom (and peace of mind!) in the content creation process.
Each time an email template or fragment is edited and saved by you or a member of your team, in the HTML editor by clicking “Done”, Shaman will save a new version of the email.
Take a look at this article for further information.
Where used: In this section you can see at a glance every email template or fragment that the content block has been added to.
Design step: Completing the design of the content block
To start working on the design of the content block, click the "Design" tab at the top of the screen.
Before being directed to the email editor, your design template gallery will appear. Here you will be able to see all available design templates for the content you are creating relating to the Product/brand you are working with.
You have two options:
Create a content block using a design template as a base - Simply click on the design template you wish to use to select it. You can also click the zoom icon to preview the design template before selecting it, or search using the filter box at the top of the screen to find a specific design template.
Once you have selected the design template you wish to use, you will be directed to the email editor. A copy of the design template will be generated in the email editor, ready for you to edit as you wish.
Create a content block from scratch, (a completely blank canvas) - click the “Start without template” button in the top right corner. You will then be redirected to a blank canvas in the email editor to start building your email content.
You can now start working on adding content to your content block. You might want to take a look at these articles to give you some inspiration!
Once you have finished creating the content block, click the “Done” button in the top right-hand corner.
Test step: Testing the content block
The inbox preview feature within the “Test” tab allows you to test your approved email content through a number of different email clients and devices.
MLR step: Exporting a content block as PDF
In the MLR step, you can create an MLR document for your content block or link to an existing content block (depending on your account settings). Check out this article for more information.
You can also download a PDF of the content block, or send a PDF of the content block to your email inbox.
Export step: Setting the content block to live
If the content block is in draft status, you will see the option to "Set to live". You can simply click “Set to live! To make the content block available to add to email content.
In the following section “Available for use” you can determine where to publish the block - to the approved email builder, marketing builder, landing page builder or all of the above.
Once you have clicked “Set to Live”, you will see that the status has changed to "live", which means we are ready to move on to the next step: adding a content block to your email fragment or template.
How to add a content block to an email fragment or email template
Let´s imagine that you have created a new email fragment or template, have completed the email details, and are now in the email editor ready to add a content block to your email fragment or template.
From the menus on the right-hand side, select the blocks menu. Find the custom block icon and simply drag and drop that icon onto your email canvas.
You will notice that a gray placeholder custom block has been added to the email canvas. To add your own content block to the email canvas instead, click the select placeholder button from the menu on the left-hand side.
You will then see all content blocks available, simply click on the content block you wish to use to select it. You can also filter using the date dropdown options available (start date and end date as the names imply) or click the zoom icon to preview the content block before selecting it, or search using the filter box at the top of the screen to find a specific content block.
Once you have selected the content block you wish to use, it will appear on your email canvas where the custom block placeholder was previously. You can begin to edit the content block as you wish.