Simplify Email Development with MJML: A Beginner’s Guide

Introduction:

Building responsive and visually appealing HTML emails can be a challenging task. However, with the advent of MJML (Mailjet Markup Language), the process has become much simpler and more efficient. In this article, we will explore the basics of MJML and how it can revolutionise your email development workflow.

What is MJML?

MJML is an open-source framework designed for creating responsive HTML emails. It simplifies email coding by offering a specialized markup language and pre-built components. With MJML, you can easily build responsive email templates without dealing with the complexities of cross-client compatibility and responsive design. It streamlines the email development process and helps you create visually appealing emails that render consistently across different email clients.

Benefits of Using MJML

MJML offers several advantages for email development.

First, its responsive design capabilities automatically adjust emails to different screen sizes and email clients. This ensures that your emails look great on any device.

Second, MJML features a simplified syntax that reduces the amount of code required to create emails. This saves time and effort during the development process.

Third, MJML provides a library of pre-built components like headers, footers, buttons, and columns. These components can be easily customised and assembled, allowing you to create professional-looking emails quickly.

Finally, MJML ensures cross-client compatibility. It takes care of the intricacies of rendering emails consistently across various email clients. This means that your emails will display correctly and consistently, regardless of the email client used by the recipient.

Overall, MJML simplifies email development by offering responsive design, a simplified syntax, a library of components, and cross-client compatibility, making it a powerful tool for creating effective and visually appealing emails.

Getting Started with MJML

To get started with MJML, follow these steps:

1. Installation: Start by installing the necessary tools for working with MJML. You can use npm (Node Package Manager) to install MJML globally on your system. Run the command npm install mjml -g to install MJML.
2. Setup: Once MJML is installed, you can start using it. Open a text editor or an integrated development environment (IDE) to begin creating your MJML email templates.
3. Basic MJML Email Template: Create a new file with a .mjml extension and start writing your MJML code. MJML uses its own markup language, which is similar to HTML but with specific tags and attributes for email development.
4. Utilize Pre-built Components: MJML provides a range of pre-built components that you can incorporate into your email template. These components include headers, footers, buttons, and columns. Use these components to structure and style your email content.
5. Build and Export: Once you have completed your MJML email template, save the file. To generate the corresponding HTML code from your MJML, run the command mjml your-template.mjml -o output.html in the command line, replacing "your-template.mjml" with the filename of your MJML file.
6. Testing and Sending: Open the generated HTML file in a web browser to preview the email template. Test it across different email clients and devices to ensure it displays correctly. You can then use the HTML code in your email marketing platform or service to send the email to your recipients.

By following these steps, you can quickly set up MJML, create an MJML email template using the provided components, and generate HTML code ready for testing and deployment.

Advanced Features and Customisation

MJML offers advanced features that enable further customisation of email templates.

One notable feature is conditional rendering, which allows you to show or hide specific content within an email based on certain conditions. This feature is valuable for personalising email content or tailoring it to specific segments of your audience. By using conditional tags and attributes in your MJML code, you can control which parts of the email are displayed to different recipients.

Additionally, MJML provides integration capabilities with various email service providers or sending platforms. This means you can seamlessly use the email templates generated with MJML within your preferred email marketing tools. Integration allows for a smooth workflow, enabling you to efficiently design, code, and deploy your emails directly from MJML to your email service provider or sending platform.

These advanced features of MJML give you the flexibility to create dynamic and personalised email templates while seamlessly integrating with your existing email infrastructure. It empowers you to deliver tailored content and enhance the effectiveness of your email campaigns.

Best Practices and Tips

To use MJML effectively, consider the following best practices and tips:

1. Optimize Email Performance:

• Keep your email templates lightweight by minimising the use of unnecessary code and large image files.
• Use inline CSS styles instead of external stylesheets to ensure better compatibility across email clients.
• Test your emails for loading speed and optimize where needed to ensure a smooth user experience.

2. Ensure Compatibility:

• Test your email templates across different email clients and devices to ensure they render correctly. Use testing tools or services that provide email client previews.
• Use fallbacks for email clients that may not support certain features or CSS properties. This ensures a consistent experience even in less advanced email clients.

3. Design Visually Appealing Emails:

• Use the built-in pre-designed components provided by MJML to maintain consistency and save development time.
• Pay attention to typography, colors, and visual hierarchy to create an aesthetically pleasing and engaging email.
• Use images wisely, optimising them for faster loading and ensuring they enhance the overall design.

4. Keep Accessibility in Mind:

• Make your emails accessible to individuals with disabilities by including alt text for images and using semantic HTML.
• Ensure proper contrast between text and background colors for readability.
• Test your emails using accessibility tools or assistive technologies to identify and address any accessibility issues.

4. Stay Updated with MJML:

• Stay informed about the latest updates, new features, and best practices of MJML by following the official documentation, blog posts, and community forums.
• Participate in the MJML community, ask questions, and share insights with other users to enhance your understanding and proficiency.

By following these best practices and tips, you can maximize the effectiveness of MJML, optimize email performance, ensure compatibility across email clients, and create visually appealing and engaging emails that resonate with your audience.

Conclusion:

MJML offers a game-changing solution for email developers and marketers, simplifying the creation of responsive HTML emails. By leveraging the framework’s responsive design capabilities, simplified syntax, and pre-built components, you can streamline your email development workflow and deliver engaging emails that render consistently across various email clients.

Bonus Section :

Complete Demo in next Blog.