Verb Integration Method

A more advanced, newer method called the Verb integration method, allows you to create structures and provide your own VerbML markup that will be rendered for each newsletter.

This is awesome because it extends the full flexibility of Verb's content management model to newsletters. A downside is that it is more difficult to set up.

To use the Verb integration method, you should go to the Verb tab and create a new collection that will represent your newsletter template. By convention, name your collection the plural form of the template name followed by the word Newsletters. Example: ABC Widgets Default Template Newsletters. Set the collection to be hidden and give it a permalink. This step is important because without a permalink and hidden, you will not be able to integrate this collection on the Add Template form.

Add as many structures as you would like to your collection. If you use nested collections, you must make sure that they are exposed via the Edit entries inline when editing parent? option, as you will not be able to access them otherwise. Indirectly, this means that you may not place file structures (including image and video) or collections inside nested collections, because these structures will not be displayed. In practice, this limitation doesn't seem to be much of a problem.

Create a HTML template file named according to the permalink that you created. Inside this file, you may access VerbML and PHP as normal, and all the structures you created will be available. Additionally, you must use the <v:yield /> tag to insert the contents of the body of the E-Mail as prepared on the campaign screen.

Your template will be rendered when the campaign is confirmed. If you would like to test your template, you may create a test campaign and go to its confirm page. Any refresh of that page will reload your template.

Creating a Template

To create a new newsletter template, click the Create New link at the top right corner of the Templates list:

An Add Template form will be displayed with the following fields:

1. Template Name - The name of the template. This will be displayed in the select box that prompts users to select a template on the Schedule or Begin New Campaign screen.

2. Integration Method - Choice of Simple or Verb integration method. Please see above discussion of the two available integration methods.

3. HTML Code - Displayed only if the Simple integration method is selected. This is the actual HTML code of the E-Mail template. All CSS should be inline. We recommend using tables for positioning, avoiding the use of floating <div> tags, and designing for a 510px width.

   For helpful guidelines on E-Mail template design, check out » this article from Campaign Monitor.

   Your code should include a <v:yield /> tag. This is where the body of the message will be inserted into the template. The <v:yield /> tag must be formatted exactly as such: <v:yield/> (without a space) will not work.

4. Collection - Displayed only if the Verb integration method is selected. This is the collection that you created to represent your template. See the discussion about the Verb integration method in the previous section for more information.

5. Footer - Text that will be inserted below the unsubscribe link. Generally this is used to include copyright information as well as a contact address. U.S. law generally requires that companies sending mass mailings include a contact address. Please contact your attorney or other advisor for specific information.

Click the Add List button to complete the process of adding the list.

Editing a Template

To edit a template, simply click the Edit icon next to that template in the Templates list:

This will open an Edit Template form with the same fields as above. Click the Save Template button to complete the process of editing the template.

Removing a Template

To remove a template, simply click the red Delete icon next to that template in the Templates list:

The template will be deactivated immediately.