[VIDEO + Guide] How to send an email with Kartra

Follow Along: Create and Send an Email Step-by-Step

Step 1: Access the email builder

1. Log into your Kartra account.
2. Navigate to the Marketing section on the left-hand sidebar.
3. Click on Emails & SMS to open the email management section.
4. In the top-right corner, click + Email/SMS to create a new broadcast.
   • Tip: Kartra’s broadcast builder also supports SMS, but this guide focuses on emails.

Step 2: Select a broadcast type

1. Choose "Email" to create an email broadcast.
2. Pick a Template:
   • Plain Text Template: A simple, no-frills email resembling a personal note.
   • Rich Text Templates: Pre-designed templates with visual elements for more polished emails.
   • Custom Templates: Your previously saved designs (shown with a "heart" icon).
3. Click Create to generate the email.

Step 3: Craft and test your email content

1. Open the Email Builder:
   • In the Message tab, click Edit message to open the editor.
   • The template you chose in Step 2 is preloaded.
   • You’ll see placeholders for the subject line and body content.
2. Use Kartra AI to Save Time:
   • Click Generate with AI in the editor.
   • Enter a clear prompt explaining your email’s purpose. For example:
     • Prompt Example: “Write a short promotional email offering 30% off my course for two days only. Encourage recipients to click through to my sales page.”
   • Select the tone (e.g., professional, friendly) and the desired language.
   • Review the AI-generated content. Edit or regenerate it if needed.
3. Personalize Your Message:
   • Add variables like the recipient’s name to make the email feel personalized.
   • For example, use a greeting like "Hi {first_name}," where {first_name} dynamically pulls from your contact data.
   • Include your own links, calls to action, or any images/media if desired.
   • Important: If adding variables or links, double-check they are correctly configured before sending.
4. Send a Test Email to Yourself:
   • Use the "Send Test Email" feature in the editor.
   • Enter your own email address to see how the email will appear in an inbox.
5. Check the Following in Your Inbox:
   • Formatting (Does the layout look good? Is it mobile-friendly?).
   • Content (Are there typos or errors?).
   • Links (Do all links redirect to the correct destination?).
6. Finish any final changes in the email editor.
7. Click Actions > Save & Exit in the top right of the editor when you're done.

Step 4: Define the email sender and recipients

1. Set the Sender Name and Email:
   • Choose the name that will appear in the recipient’s inbox (e.g., "Becky from Kartra").
   • Use a professional email address (e.g., [email protected]). Avoid placeholder emails like "[email protected]."
2. Update the Reply-To Address:
   • Ensure this field points to an active inbox where recipients can respond.
   • Pro tip: Using your business domain email increases credibility and deliverability.
3. Remove Default Recipients:
   • By default, the email is set to "Only Me." Remove this placeholder.
4. Set Audience Criteria:
   • Start with a primary list, such as your Master Mailing List.
   • Add filters for segmentation, like:
     • Tags (e.g., “Cart Abandonment”).
     • Purchase history or engagement metrics.
     • Example: If sending a promotional email, target users who abandoned their cart for a specific product.

Step 5: Optional – Add automations

• If needed, click + Automationto add follow-up automation rules:
  • Example: Tag recipients who open the email.
  • Example: Add recipients who click a specific link to a new sequence.

Step 6: Schedule or send immediately

1. Click Send / Schedule in the top right corner to open sending options:
2. Send Now: Click the “Send” button to dispatch the email immediately.
3. Schedule Delivery:
   • Choose a specific date and time for your email.
   • Verify your Kartra account's time zone settings to ensure accurate scheduling.

Next: Monitor email performance

After sending, go to Marketing > Emails & SMS > Analytics to review the broadcast analytics:

• Delivery Metrics: Number of emails successfully sent.
• Open Rates: Percentage of recipients who opened your email.
• Click Rates: Percentage of recipients who clicked a link.
• Total Revenue: Amount earned from sales through a click in the email.

Bonus Tip: Sending emails to specific individuals

You can also send emails to one or just a few people using Kartra. This is ideal for personal follow-ups or high-priority communications.

1. Navigate to your Contacts:
   1. Go to Contacts > All contacts in Kartra.
   2. Select the individuals you want to email.
2. Email the Selected Leads:
   1. Click the envelope icon in the top-right corner of the contacts table to launch the email editor.
   2. Follow the same process as above to write and send the email.