How to Send an Email Newsletter in Gmail

We’ve all seen it: someone sends a mass email but forgets to BCC the recipients. It’s a reminder that Gmail isn’t really built for large-scale email sends. Yet, many people still find ways to make it work for email marketing. There are Chrome extensions and full-featured apps that allow you to run email campaigns directly from Gmail.

But did you know Gmail actually has built-in email newsletter templates? It’s a hidden feature, but once you know where to look, it can be a game-changer for small-scale email marketing. Here’s how to get started.

Table of Contents:

• How to Send an Email Newsletter in Gmail
• Gmail Newsletter Tips
• Should You Use Gmail for Email Marketing?

How to Send an Email Newsletter in Gmail

There are two easy ways to send an email newsletter using Gmail:

1. Use Gmail’s built-in newsletter templates
2. Create a newsletter in Google Docs

While Gmail isn’t the ideal platform for email marketing, it can work for small projects like sending out a community update or a school fundraiser announcement. Here's how you can make your newsletters look professional.

How to Use Gmail’s Newsletter Templates

If you have a work or school Gmail account, you can customize Gmail’s built-in templates and use the mail merge feature to send newsletters. Unfortunately, if your email ends in @gmail.com, you won’t have access to this feature. Here’s how to get started:

1. Click Compose to create a new email.
2. Click the Select a layout icon at the bottom of the message box.
3. In the popup, click Default styling to customize your layout.

You can then edit the following:

• Logos, Colors & Fonts: Upload your logo, pick a theme color, and select a font.
• Footer Details: Add your business name and address.
• Links: Include links to your website or social media accounts.

Once your layout is customized, click Save changes, and Gmail will apply your branding to all default layouts.

4. Select your desired layout, click Edit layout, and customize it with text, buttons, images, and content blocks.
5. When finished, click Insert to place your newsletter in the email.
6. To send the newsletter to multiple recipients, click the Use mail merge icon, check the Mail Merge box, and click Continue.
7. Finally, in the popup, click Send all.

Creating a Custom Gmail Newsletter Template

If you’re not a fan of Gmail’s default templates, you can create your own:

1. In the Compose window, click the Select a layout icon.
2. Go to the My layouts tab and click New layout.
3. Customize your layout and click Insert when you’re ready to use it.

How to Send a Newsletter Using Google Docs

Alternatively, you can create a newsletter in Google Docs and copy it into Gmail:

1. Go to docs.google.com and click Template gallery.
2. Choose a newsletter template or create your own.
3. Customize the content, then copy the newsletter.
4. In Gmail, click Compose, paste your newsletter into the email, and use the mail merge option to send it to multiple recipients.

Gmail Newsletter Tips

Here are some tips to keep in mind when sending newsletters from Gmail:

• Customize Your Design: Gmail’s editor offers more customization than you might think. Check out guides on Google Sites for more advanced formatting options.
• Double-Check Links and Images: Make sure everything is correct before sending.
• Test Your Newsletter: Use Gmail’s mail merge feature to send a test email to yourself before hitting "send all."
• Schedule Your Send: Scheduling your emails ensures they arrive when your audience is most likely to read them.
• Make It Mobile-Friendly: Check how your newsletter looks on different devices to ensure it displays correctly, especially on mobile.

Should You Use Gmail for Email Marketing?

In short, probably not—Gmail is not built for robust email marketing campaigns. Here’s why:

• Limited Personalization: Gmail doesn’t offer the same level of customization as dedicated email marketing platforms.
• Basic Contact Management: There’s no audience segmentation or advanced list management.
• No Analytics: You can’t track open rates, click-through rates, or other key metrics.
• No Testing Capabilities: A/B testing isn’t an option.

However, Gmail can work in a pinch for small-scale campaigns, like one-time events or simple announcements. But for regular, ongoing email marketing, you’ll want to switch to a dedicated tool. Good luck!