3 Email Design Trends for Content Marketers to Use in 2022

Marketers expect another busy year with the customer at the center. So, naturally, email remains a key engagement tool in their arsenal. But gave 40% With marketers already reporting budget cuts for their email strategies during the pandemic, it won't be an easy feat.

This is exactly why the perfect email design will contribute to a successful email engagement strategy in 2022. So let's take a look at three design trends that will dominate this year.

1. Minimalist Email Design

With inbox information overload, simple design strategies prevail. Minimalist emails work because they promise intense focus on the core communication task.

They don't frustrate the reader with messy messages. These simple designs provide clear, sharp copy that your audience can easily read – making them more likely to take an action, like converting to a subscriber, making a purchase, etc.

@Imkevin_monk via @CMIContent says minimalistic #email design doesn't frustrate readers with cluttered messages. Click to Tweet Here's why minimalist email design works:

Messages are not lost in a distracting gazillion. Communicate one or two action items needed for best results.

Cleverly plotting an audience that is constantly struggling with too much information in their lives.

attention and communicate quickly and clearly.

Allows the reader to quickly understand the e-mail. No one wants to read through complicated messages that take time to understand, especially on mobile devices.

Provide a more relaxed brand experience than noisy designs that can feel overwhelming.

Force content marketers to focus on the two to three key messaging elements needed for readers to take action.

Some of the best practices for minimalist email design include:

Use strong subject line acts like a hook.

Do not use (or use sparingly) jargon or industry dialect.

Make content scannable, especially buttons call to action (CTA), and link.

Use color wisely, relying on brand colors rather than stand-alone colors or contrasting color schemes.

Use whitespace.

Create visual hierarchy that's easy to follow and understand.

Use icons instead of text.

Check out this email from G2, the peer-reviewed company. Notice how it follows the minimalist design philosophy. Space makes email easy to see, and design makes information easier to understand.

Negative space makes #email catchy, says @imkevin_monk via @CMIContent. Click to post The CTA is also a simple button that can be easily seen at the bottom of the email.

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2. Design emails in dark mode

With the increasing use of devices in dark mode, this trend is evident in email design. Email in dark mode is easy on the eyes, especially in low light. They also consume less battery on the reader's device as it does not require a backlight.

With the increasing use of devices in dark mode, it's only natural that @imkevin_monk via @CMIContent said this trend has come to #email design. Click to Tweet From a psychological perspective, dark mode can signal that email is important. This is also a great way to prevent distractions and encourage readers to focus on the email.

Here are a few tips to follow when creating dark mode emails:

Design your light mode email first, then convert it to a dark mode version. It is important to maintain consistency across all devices.

Use dark text on a white background to create contrast between the content and the background.

Do not use colors that are too bright or dazzling as they will make the content difficult to read.

Avoid red elements on a black background as it can be difficult to read for people with eye problems such as astigmatism.

Design #emails in dark mode by starting with light first, @imkevin_monk said via @CMIContent. Click to Tweet Here's a great example of a dark mode email we sent at my company Email Uplers. I've included the light version to show how similar the color scheme and design are. Easy-to-use content in both modes and outstanding CTAs.

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3. Design micro-interactive emails

Designing emails with micro-interactions can enhance engagement without significantly straining email load times. These small animations or interactions occur when the reader interacts with an element on the screen.

Microinteractions can guide the reader through the email. They can also be used as a visual feedback mechanism. For example, when a reader clicks a CTA button, it will act lightly to communicate the action that occurred. This signal can prevent readers from skipping or making mistakes.

A microinteraction fulfills three important functions:

Provide feedback when readers trigger an action and communicate status visually.

Help readers navigate between pages or sections and see the results of their actions.

Enhance the feeling of direct manipulation, which improves the reader's experience.

Some of the best practices for micro-interactions in email design include:

Use two to four micro-interactions in an email.

Includes elements that cater to human emotions.

Minimize load time and integrate with server requests.

Ensure micro-interactions work and contribute to the overall user experience.

Test micro-interactions under different conditions to make sure they work as intended.

Keep any micro-interactions simple and consistent in an email or even within a campaign if possible.

Here's a prime example from men's wellness company Harry's. They have created a simple and interactive puzzle. Readers are asked to answer three simple questions by clicking on their preferred option. There are no wrong answers and the quiz matches them with the most suitable scent. The use of micro interactions Creates a remarkable way to engage readers, while also being able to drive sales and customer experience.

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Look forward

Email design evolves as new trends emerge. In 2022, it's important to think about how your audience interacts with your email content — the device they use, how they scroll, and what elements they click on. If you offer an attractive design, they are more likely to pick up your brand email more often than many other emails from content marketers in their inbox.

Check out this infographic from Email Uplers to dig deeper and list all the design trends that will dominate 2022. 6 Email Design Trends for 2022