Hi Melissa -- oh my gosh!!! Your video was a LIFESAVER. I spent about two hours trying to figure this out -- downloaded chrome extensions that didn't work, was fooling around with HTML under the "inspect" tab in the email, you name it, I did it. I was about ready to give up when I found your video. It works perfect for my purpose and I am SOOOOO grateful. I know the video is three years old, but just wanted you to know that it's still so valuable - thank you!! 💗
When I tried to link the PDF it forced me to have text displayed - I couldn't link it with the PNG (even when I had the PNG clicked / highlighted). Any suggestions?
Shoot, sorry Cassie, I'm just seeing this now. Were you able to figure it out? If not, send me a DM on instagram (@melissazimmermannva) and I'll see if I can help you out!
Hi Emma! I haven't had an issue, however, I always build my email lists with organic connection before sending newsletters, so my email address is familiar to their inbox.
It seems like a lot of work to email it to them only to have them have to click somewhere to take them to another page to use the CTA buttons. Is there a video where I can embed the file into the email and the CTA buttons work right from the open email in front of them?
Sorry for the delay, Amanda. Unfortunately, there is not a way to do that in a free email system like gmail. However, you can absolutely do that in a paid service like MailChimp or FloDesk. This tutorial is meant to be a sort of work-around in order to stay within gmail, which is free.
Sorry for the delay, Rose. Unfortunately, there is not a way to do that in a free email system like gmail. However, you can absolutely do that in a paid service like MailChimp or FloDesk. This tutorial is meant to be a sort of work-around in order to stay within gmail, which is free.
Hey Valeria, sorry for the delay in my reply. I hope you've been able to find a solution since you commented. If not, I would ask what the size is of your image, first.
TYSM Melissa, this was very helpful! I've always wondered how these email marketing templates are added to an email. I'm also glad you mentioned to use the png file instead of a large pdf print file.
Great video. You mention you'll show how to change/add the name of the recipient but then don't do it - how do you do this please? I'm saving it as PNG and then *|FNAME|* comes up :( please help
Sorry Justin, just seeing this now. When using the Canva template in gmail, you will not be able to change the "FNAME" within the png unless doing it manually for each one. You COULD do a mail merge, within Gmail Streak, and have the person's name added in the email body, above the image. However, if you want it right in the newsletter, that will need to be done in a newsletter system like MailChimp or FloDesk.
I'm sorry Ashley, I'm not sure! That seems strange. Did you find a solution? If not, feel free to email me at melissazimmermannva@gmail.com and I'll try and help you troubleshoot.
Sorry for the delay in my reply, Teri! Did you get it to work? My suggestion would be to try dragging to select, if that makes sense. Versus clicking to select. Let me know and feel free to email me at melissazimmermannva@gmail.com if you are still stuck.
You are BRILLIANT! No one else knows how to do this but you and you showed us who's boss! OMG I love it!! Yay!! Thank you so much for this video. I knew it was possible but didn't exactly know how to do it. Your step-by-step made it so easy. You are a blessing! Woo hoo!!
Anyone else experiencing that the Mobile version is blurry? It looks super nice on the computer version - but doesnt at mob. I tried cropping in all the different versions - JPG, PNG. Same same. Dont want it as an attached PDF file. But directly in the mail when they open. Just created my own canvas in size, and then put in pictures and text. Very basic and simple. No links, videoes etc.
Hey Maria -- what size & resolution did you use for your graphic? It's possible that, because you're not using it as a PDF, some of the quality is being reduced. Maybe try saving the graphic as a PDF and doing a test send to see if that shows up as clear.
Thanks, that was helpful up to a point but the finished email shows the link to google drive, and the newsletter itself is only clickable if people first click the link. So the actual email is not live for clicks plus there's a clumsy-looking link.
Hi Rose, unfortunately within Gmail, this is the only way I've found to have a pretty newsletter that is clickable. I do include instructions for making it clickable without showing the link. If you're looking for a different platform to send beautiful newsletters that have multiple clickable parts, I'd suggest a mail client like FloDesk or MailChimp. You can use my link for 30 days of free FloDesk and 50% off subscriptions if you'd like to try it out: flodesk.com/c/MZVA2020
@@MelissaZimmermannVA Thank you for your video. I do not see instructions for making the PNG clickable. When I upload the link to the PDF file it creates a link to the PDF file. The PNG file is not clickable only the link.
Don't HTML templates allow links in the actual email? Seems the extra step to go to the google drive version will throw people off - what's presented as a link (ex facebook icon) doesn't take the user to where the icon is communicating the user will go to.
An HTML template would be most ideal, of course. However, the vast majority of my clients (who this video was initially intended for) have no familiarity with HTML or using such within gmail. This is meant to be a work around "hack" for those not wanting to invest in a mail client yet.
For the purposes of the video, I left "FNAME" in there but, if wanting to change it with this method, it would need to be manually changed for each email. If you want to use functionalities like that, you'd need to either use Google Streak and have a basic email OR a newsletter building platform like FloDesk.
Hi Melissa thanks for sharing! I'm experiencing trouble when I put the link in the png, the link is added at the end of the image in the email, I have tried several times selecting the image, ctrl+K, adding the link, but it is added at the bottom then when people receive the file, it comes as a regular image with the link to the file in drive at the bottom line... not sure what am I doing wrong :(
Hmm, that's odd. I just triple checked and I'm still able to select the graphic and use cmd+K (mac) to link. Can you maybe try from a different browser? If it's still not working, feel free to email me: (melissazimmermannva gmail com) and we can maybe hop on a video chat to figure it out
@@MelissaZimmermannVA Hi Melissa and Andy Fit, First off, thank you for the tutorial. Unfortunately, I have the exactly same issue as Andy. The PNG file will not link to anything, which is odd. The only option is for a link below the picture (to the google drive pdf). Working on a windows with both Google + Microsoft Edge. No idea what I am doing wrong...Any further thoughts, please?
Thanks for your patience with my reply. Make sure you're clicking on a line above the graphic, then hold and drag down to select the entire graphic. (Not just clicking on the image) It will be blue highlighted when selected. Then, either click the link icon or CMD+K (or CTRL+K) and paste your link in the web address box then click OK. If it's worked correctly, you can tap on the image and you will see the link show up at the bottom. I just double checked in my own gmail and it works properly for me so let me know if there is something else we're missing. I'm happy to help troubleshoot further.
Hi Melissa - followed all your suggestions, however I'm struggling with a couple of aspects - the final email sent to my customers includes a pdf attachment; secondly when I click the PNG pic instead of taking me directly to my website, it's taking me to Google Drive where it opens the pdf copy, then I can click anywhere to get to my website! Could you please help me resolve these issues...much appreciated Audrey
Sorry for the delay, Audrey. The PDF shouldn't show as an attachment on the email at all as you're not attaching it. You're including the PNG as a graphic/photo and linking that png to wherever your PDF is hosted. If you have it hosted in Google Drive, that's where it will take them. If you have it hosted on your website, that's where it will take them. The PDF then has the multiple individual links in it. Hope that makes sense!
I really wish we had better functionality within email providers, like Gmail, but unfortunately, until that happens, this is our free work around. Of course, you could subscribe to a mail client like FloDesk and create a newsletter directly in there but it is not a free option.
Hey Melissa- thanks for the video! I was wondering if you could point me in the direct me to a tutorial (if you've done one or have the info) for creating this email using html code and the canva pdf?
Hi LaDonna! Sorry, I just am now seeing this comment! I'm not sure I full understand what you're looking to do. Can you send me an email and I can try to help: melissazimmermannva@gmail.com
Hi Melissa, thank you for posting. Is there a way for a hyperlink to go directly to a website rather than to the Google Drive PDF where it has to be clicked again before it goes over to website? I'm looking for any free option whether it Canva or another design system to send a promotional email with a link that goes directly to a website. Thank you so much. I really appreciate your help. 🙏🏼
So sorry for the reply delay. You would just link the png graphic, that you're inserting into the email, to your website instead of the Google Drive PDF.
So sorry for the reply delay. You would just link the png graphic, that you're inserting into the email, to your website instead of the Google Drive PDF.
Hi Stephanie! Sorry for the delay! I haven't used Outlook for a number of years but you *should* be able to use it the same way -- inserting the .png file as a main line photo in the email and linking it to an externally hosted PDF version.
this was not helpful i literally followed this video to an exact T and google says the PNG format is not supported. so not sure why everyone else had gotten results except me.
Hm, that's really strange. Maybe it was something in the file name of the png? It definitely still works for me. This may be something you need to contact Gmail Support for directly.
Sorry, team! Just seeing this now! To have it created as one, long graphic, you need to start with the Canva project as one file. I use approx 600 x 3000 px. It should only download as ONE image, not multiples in a zip file. Hope that helps!
Hi Melissa, thanks for your video. I have a question: how do you do in order to emded designs with a html codes? I tried it with gorgias extension but when I compose an email through the gmail, the desing can´t be viewed.
Sorry, I just am now seeing this comment! I'm not sure I understand the question? Can you send me an email and I can try to help: melissazimmermannva@gmail.com
Hi Melissa, Your video was quite interesting....Well I would appreciate if you could let me know how to send a newsletter through an official email ID (not the gmail ID)...? Regards, Uday Padhye
Hi Uday -- sorry for the delay. Can you tell me more about what you mean by sending "through an official email ID"? Do you mean a different platform than Gmail?
Sorry, team! Just seeing this now! To have it created as one, long graphic, you need to start with the Canva project as one file. I use approx 600 x 3000 px. Hope that helps!
So sorry for the delayed reply. This video is a bit on the old side now so the button name may have changed. You're just looking for the Share option and then grabbing the link that allows anyone with the link to view.
Hey Melissa, sorry for the delay in my reply. I hope you've been able to figure it out since your comment but if not, send me an email can we can troubleshoot together.
My apologies for the delay in my reply. Can you tell me more about what you're looking to do, I'm not sure I understand? Are you looking to turn a generic photo into an element within Canva?
Hi Melissa this is very helpful, thanks! The issue I'm having is around saving the PNG as one file (it's saving as multiple pages right now, not a combined image like in your template). Any thoughts on how to fix this? Does it have to be only one PNG doc?
Sorry, Giovana! Just seeing this now! To have it created as one, long graphic, you need to start with the Canva project as one file. I use approx 600 x 3000 px. Hope that helps!
Sorry, Ciara. I'm just seeing this now. We know that, with using this method, a click on the png in the email would open what you linked it to (in my suggestion, a PDF in your google drive) so maybe check the link you added to it?
This is generally helpful, thanks! I am using to send an eight-page newsletter I did in Canva. Everything works beautifully, for the most part. The only issue I've encountered is the .png is downloading out of Canva as individual pages (not a single file). The .pdf doesn't do this, only the .png. Is there a workaround for this? Thanks again!
Hi there! Glad it could help! Because PNG is a photo file format, it's always going to download as separate pages. Your work around would be to create it in one very long graphic OR to utilize PDF. However, of course, then it wouldn't work right in Gmail the same. Another option for newsletters of that size might be a mail client like FloDesk or MailChimp. (I have a discount code for FloDesk -- if you're interested, email me: melissazimmermannva@gmail.com. You can also try it free for 30 days!)
Oh my gosh, thank you so much! I've been trying to figure this out for work. It makes so much sense once you describe the process, but I was stumped. Of course, I'd love the links in my newsletter to be directly clickable, but this is better than nothing.
Hi Melissa--awesome video. Just tried this and found an issue. When I click on the .png, which then opens the .pdf in gmail preview, none of the clickable links seem to work in that Gmail preview window. Was surprised none of the other commenters had the same issue. Read that it could a safety feature implemented by Google to prevent viruses? Any knowledge on how to fix this? Seems to work just fine in your video.
Hi Austin, my apologies for the reply delay. Honestly, I haven't come across this issue -- I don't have a Gmail Preview Window that presents anywhere. With the emails I send, the png is a direct link to the PDF hosted elsewhere, like google drive or a website; no preview comes up anywhere. Perhaps it's a security feature on the particular computer or browser you're using?
Just found an answer to this. You must select your png ( must be in BLUE when you sélect) as you want to and the link. I was having the same issue, as i was just adding a link to the image and it was opening the image, but not the clickable file.
Hey Melissa, thx for this! Question - everything works perfectly, except when I receive the email, the PNG image is not clickable, just a hyperlink that was created in Drive. I've tried to select the PNG in Gmail, and I get a box around it to link, but it doesn't highlight in blue like yours did. Could that be the issue?
Hi there! So sorry for the delay -- maybe you've figured it out already? Yes, it's likely that you need to select the whole image by clicking outside the image and dragging up, rather than just selecting it to link it. Try that and let me know!
Sorry, Marina! Just seeing this now! To have it created as one, long graphic, you need to start with the Canva project as one file. I use approx 600 x 3000 px. Hope that helps!
Hey Ann, sorry for the delay in my reply. I'm not sure why it wouldn't show you a shareable link. You could try using the "Share" option instead and copy the link from there (making sure that you change the permissions from restricted to anyone with link) however, if you're using a Google suite from within a business with very high safeguards, that might be preventing you from sharing outside your organization.
My understanding is that you will download both a PNG version and a PDF version of the template. Then you paste the PNG into the email and link it to the PDF. The reasoning it seems is that if your newsletter will have different links to different things in it, that it is far more difficult to do the linking to each of them right in the email. So you would have the PDF that has all the links embedded. Like she said, using the image in the email guarantees that no matter how the recipients open the email, it always looks the same. Then when they open the PDF (which may look different depending on how they access it) they can access and use the different links. Hope I haven't muddy the waters more for you.
Hi Melissa, I appreciate your tutorial and did all of the steps, but gmail keeps saying "oops something went wrong" and check your network and not letting me send the email, even though I can send other emails and nothing appears to be wrong with the network. Do you have any advice on what might be going on or how to fix it so I can send this beauty out at last?
Hey Laine, sorry for the delay in my reply. I hope you've been able to figure it out since your comment. I'm not sure why it would be doing that. My advice would be to do the ol' close out of everything, clear cache & cookies, then try again.
This was so helpful, thank you. Do you have any tutorials about doing exactly this but embedding video? I tried the exact method with the mp4 but it wouldnt load and it popped up as a mp4 player and I was unable to scroll like a typical newletter.
Sorry for the delay! Unfortunately, in an email, you won't be able to embed a video. A free workaround would be uploading a screenshot of the video play screen and linking that to the actual video (that would be uploaded elsewhere, like Drive)
Hi Tony, Thanks for your patience with my reply. Make sure you're clicking on a line above the graphic, then hold and drag down to select the entire graphic. (Not just clicking on the image) It will be blue highlighted when selected. Then, either click the link icon or CMD+K (or CTRL+K) and paste your link in the web address box then click OK. If it's worked correctly, you can tap on the image and you will see the link show up at the bottom. I just double checked in my own gmail and it works properly for me so let me know if there is something else we're missing. I'm happy to help troubleshoot further.
Unfortunately you can't :( For the newsletter, it's just one larger PNG canva file. (PS I follow you on IG and have some of your stickers on my water bottle!)
@@MelissaZimmermannVA Omg small world much! That is awesome! I was so stoked when I came across your vid haha :) I will check out the newsletter option! I was juts adding pages oops lol. Thanks for responding so quickly! You are awesome!
But for deliverability this is not a good idea. Using one large graphic in lieu of more text will hurt your email reputation score. You might end up in SPAM. It's a shame that canvas embed code for email newsletters is IFRAME which is not supported in by basically any major email provider.
You're so right, Steve. This isn't the ideal situation but, for those wanting pretty newsletters without a budget for something like FloDesk, it's a temporary fix. I would love to see Google create a free newsletter creation system that would integrate with Streak.
