Introduction: In this support article, we'll explain how to create a newsletter and edit its settings. To send a newsletter, you'll need a Report and a recipient list with email addresses.
Preparation:
Which report do I want to use for my newsletter? Learn how to create a Report here!
Is my recipient list complete? You can always add recipients later, but preparation is key!
Step-by-step guide:
- Step 1: Navigate to the 'Media Monitor' module and select 'Newsletters' from the menu on the left. Then click on 'Schedule Newsletter'. Choose the relevant Report and give your newsletter a Title.
Note! You can only select one Report at a time. If you want to create more newsletters, create a separate one.
- Step 2: Choose whether to receive the newsletter with the content of the report or an email with the report in PDF.
Note! You can also choose both, but then you'll receive two different emails.
Under 'Content', you can choose between 'Newsletter', 'PDF', or 'with custom template'. For sending a custom template, please refer to the following support article: Newsletter Template Editor.
Under 'Select localization', you can select the localization for newsletters. This choice affects the formatting of dates and numbers in your newsletter. You can choose between Dutch, English, German, or French.
Under 'Set the maximum number of words per message', you can improve readability by adjusting the maximum number of words per article received in a newsletter.
-
Step 3: Under 'Frequency', select a day and time to send the newsletter to the selected recipients. Don't forget to select 'Make email recurring?' to create a daily/weekly newsletter.
- Step 4: Under 'Recipients', enter the email addresses of the newsletter recipients.
Note! Separate the email addresses with a comma! You can add more recipients by clicking on the '+' symbol.
Add a 'Note' to your newsletter with a public link to your report. Navigate to your Report, click on 'Share', and select 'Public URL'. Copy the link and shorten it if necessary. For example: 'Here's the weekly newsletter with weather updates! View the report here: https://obi41.nl/mr38bs99'
With a public URL in the note, recipients can easily view the report without logging in. Handy, right?
- Step 5: Double-check everything in the 'Preview' to ensure it's correct! If you see anything that's not right, click on 'Edit' to make adjustments. Click on 'Create Newsletter' to finalize your newsletter!
Edit the newsletter template
This article describes how you can easily create beautiful newsletter templates in Spotler Engage in your own (or your client's) branding.
The following topics are covered:
- What is the newsletter editor?
- Where can I find the newsletter editor?
- How is the default template structured now?
- How do I change the default template?
- What other settings can I do in the newsletter editor?
What is the newsletter editor?
With the handy newsletter editor, you can easily create a good and responsive newsletter template in your or your client's branding. Upload your own corporate colors, logo, contact information and social media links. You can also edit button colors, title colors and background colors.
Where can I find the newsletter editor?
The newsletter editor can be found under 'Newsletters' in the Media Monitor. If you click on 'Newsletters' on the left and then click on the 'Edit template' button at the top right, you will be taken to the newsletter editor.
How is the default template structured now?
To start with a proper basic template, we have put a default template in the newsletter editor. You can of course customize this template to your liking. You can read more about this below.
In the standard template we have taken into account the following elements:
- A header showing the logo + date of the newsletter
- The title and possible notes of the newsletter
- The title of the query and the associated messages
- For each message we also show the title, publication date, content, author and source, sentiment and reach of the message
- Link to the report to which the newsletter is linked
- Unsubscribe option
All yellow areas are parameters and are automatically filled with the appropriate data. For the template, it is important to put the parameters in the right place so that the system knows where you want the information to be displayed. It is also possible to not show certain parameters. Perhaps automatic sentiment is a less important part of a newsletter and you would not want to show it. So is it possible to remove it so that it is not shown.
How do I change the standard template?
The Media Monitor already has a default template set up. You can customize this template to your organization's own corporate identity. All elements, such as the logo, colors and fonts, in the template are customizable. Click on the element you want to modify and replace it with the new element.
The following describes how to customize the most important elements (image, color and font) of the template:
-
Customize images
Click on the Spotler logo and then the image settings will open on the left side of the screen. Next to 'image', click on 'select' to replace the current image.
It is possible to upload an image directly, or use an external image through a URL link, or use an image from the stock library.
-
Customize font
You can change the font by clicking on the block containing a piece of text. Then select the piece of text you want to change. On the left side the settings of that text block will open. Here you can change all the properties of that text block.
Click here for a Help Center article on Web safe fonts and why they are important.
-
Customize colors
For each element (a header, footer, button, etc.) it is possible to adjust the background color. This is possible by clicking on the respective element and then changing the color on the left side.
What other settings can I do in the newsletter editor?
In the newsletter editor, you can go either way with the design of your template for the newsletters in Media Monitor. Above we discussed the basic adjustments, but there are many more elements you can use to design your template.
On the left side of the newsletter editor you will find the settings. The settings block is structured as follows:
- Elements
- Content
- Structures
- General
Elements
Here you will find elements you need to create a message, such as text and images. An element is always placed in a row. These elements are available:
Content
Here you will find the following:
- Standard formats of blocks that you can use to set up your message. Such as a block with a title, text and button.
- Saved blocks. It is possible to develop and save your own blocks.
You will see the following:
- A search bar. Find your blocks easily with the search function.
- A dropdown menu that is acts as a filter. Do you want only saved blocks to be shown or just general blocks?
- A visual representation of all your available blocks.
Structures
With these components you determine the structure of the template. Read how exactly this works in this article.
General
Here you do the settings that generally apply to your message. A number of options such as the colors can also be customized separately for each element if desired.
- Page title: the page title is what is displayed in the tab of your browser. For the digital accessibility of your web page, it is better to change this title to a more specific description. This makes it easier to switch tabs by voice, for example.
- Template width: by default this is set to 600 pixels. For email, we also recommend this so your reader doesn't have to scroll from left to right. But this editor is going to be useful for Web pages at a later date. There it is common to apply a larger width.
- Font: you can choose between different web safe fonts.
- Text color: specify the text color of your house style with a HEX code or use a color picker by clicking on the color area.
- Content background color: the default background color is white. But you can choose any color, such as light blue:
- Background color: by default the background color of your message is white, but you can apply any color.
- Enable background image: moving the slider to the right gives you options for setting a background image. Read more about this under the heading: Set background image.
- Link color: make a link stand out by giving it a different color than your default text.
- Link underline: use the slider to determine whether links are automatically underlined or not.
- Content padding: this means the space of the content relative to the background. Suppose you change the padding at the top, the content shifts down.