How to customize HTML email templates that impresses your audience (Part 03)

Crafting Remarkable Email Templates

In the first two parts of the series, we learnt to make text based edits, use variables, add logos and a lot more. Here are the links to the first and the second parts of the series if you've missed it.

We did not exploit the real potential of Zoho Bookings email customization feature in them. You can design a completely new email template that represents your brand in every way. Check out the below sample email.

To do that, you need to know HTML or take help from someone who knows it. That is not the case with our users. So, we are suggesting a shortcut. There are online tools where you can choose an email template, tweak the code (as we discussed in the second part) and download its html code. Import that code to Zoho Bookings' email editor and you have the best email template you need.

For this article, we have used one of those tools named Beefree.

Using Beefree to edit your email templates

Estimated Completion Time - less 20 minutes

Notes

Beefree is one of several editors in the market. Feel free to use an editor which is comfortable for you.
You can create up-to ten different HTML templates in the free plan.
*IMPORTANT* Hosting images on beefree consumes bandwidth. In the free plan, you get 50 GB. Your beefree account gets locked if you cross the limit. Go through this document to see if 50 GB is sufficient for you.
It is mandatory to sign up with a business email. If you don't have one, create one here.
In the FREE plan you'll have 'Powered by BEE' branding at the bottom of your email templates. You can only remove this with a premium subscription.

Steps

Login/Sign up for a Beefree.io account with your business email.
Now click on create new.
Click on 'Create a new email.'
You can start from scratch or pick a pre-designed template to tailor it to your needs.
Make your changes accordingly.
Embed all the required details you wish the customer to know. Refer to the table below
After your customizations, check if 'Saved' text appears. Now click on Exit.
You'll be prompted to export once you exit. If a pop up doesn't show, click on the export button.
Click on the 'Copy the HTML.'
Click on 'Copy the HTML code.'
Navigate to Zoho bookings' HTML editing dashboard, paste it and click 'Save'.
Refer to this video for a step by step guidance.

Additional notes: Variable Names and IDs that you can embed in your email.

Variable Name	Variable ID
Business
Business Name	%businessname%
Business Contact Number	%businesscontactnumber%
Staff
Staff Name	%staffname%
Staff Email	%staffemail%
Staff Contact Number	%staffcontactnumber%
Staff Timezone	%stafftimezone%
Service
Service Name	%servicename%
Service Description	%service_description%
Appointment
Appointment ID	%appointmentid%
Appointment Time	%appointmenttime%
Appointment From Time	%appointmentfromdate%
Appointment From Date	%appointmentfromtime%
Appointment To Date	%appointmenttodate%
Appointment To Time	%appointmenttotime%
Appointment Old From Date	%oldappointmentfromdate%
Appointment Old From Time	%oldappointmentfromtime%
Appointment Old To Date	%oldappointmenttodate%
Appointment Old To Time	%appointmenttotime%
Booking ID	%invoiceid%
Booking Summary URL	%invoicesummaryurl%
Booking Timezone	%customer_booking_time_zone%
Booking Start Time	%customer_booking_start_time%
Appointment Reschedule URL	%rescheduleurl%
Appointment Cancel URL	%cancelurl%
Booknow Link	%booknowlink%
Notes	%notes%
Customer
Customer Name	%customername%
Customer First Name	%customer_first_name%
Customer Last Name	%customer_last_name%
Customer Email	%customeremail%
Customer Contact Number	%customercontactnumber%
Video Conferencing
Meeting Info	%meetinginfo%
Meeting Key	%meeting_key%
Meeting Joinlink	%meeting_joinlink%
Meeting Startlink	%meeting_startlink%