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Jen_Wason1
Jen_Wason1
Level 2
March 29, 2018
Question

Editing templates

  • March 29, 2018
  • 6 replies
  • 16364 views

We are new to Marketo and creating our first sets of emails. We are frustrated with what appear to be the limitations of the templates. Are we only permitted to use the modules already available in a given template? We can't add additional modules? I am so accustomerd to using MailChimp to design emails, I just can't believe Marketo is this inflexible -- we must be missing something.

We also are unable to edit the dimensions of any photos we add from our local computer or the design studio.

Any help anyone can offer us newcomers is welcome!

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    6 replies

    J
    Community Advisor
    JDNelson1Community Advisor
    Community Advisor
    March 29, 2018

    It looks like you're working within a template, not creating one. From Design Studio you can find the Email folder with the Templates sub folder. When you create a new template from there you start from raw html. Modules can be fully designed and customized using variables and can be re-used many times per email. The platform really is expansive, so make sure to look around. Here's a doc that can help:

    Building Templates: Create an Email Template - Marketo Docs - Product Documentation

    Template module syntax: Email Template Syntax - Marketo Docs - Product Documentation

    Jen_Wason1
    Jen_Wason1Author
    Level 2
    March 29, 2018

    Thank you so much for your response! Unfortunately, we are not well-equipped to create emails from scratch using HTML, especially not in the short-term. I just can't believe that a basic set of modules is not available for all email templates, as in MailChimp or other tools. Sounds like our best option right now is to the find a template that contains as many modules as we might need.

    But is there a reason why we would not be able to edit image dimensions? Those options are greyed out when we select an image from our computer or the design studio.

      J
      Community Advisor
      JDNelson1Community Advisor
      Community Advisor
      March 29, 2018

      When you enabled Email 2.0 did you enable the template picker? There are a bunch of starter template to use there. From there, if you edit the raw HTML to 'make it your own' you can then save that as a new template in design studio and continue to expand on it in the future. If, when you create a new email you don't see the template picker, there's an option in admin to enable that.

      Email Template Picker Overview - Marketo Docs - Product Documentation

        T
        Tom_Kerlin2
        Level 7
        March 29, 2018

        Hi Jen,

        Here is product doc guide that expands on modules: Email Template Syntax - Marketo Docs - Product Documentation

        Yes, it's possible to add more modules but you may need make edits in the email template itself and adhere to Marketo's email template syntax.

        Tom Kerlin
        Dan_Stevens_
        Dan_Stevens_
        Level 10
        March 29, 2018

        Jen, your best bet is to find an agency - or a self-service provider like Knak - and have the appropriate templates created for your specific use-cases.  The ones that Marketo provides haven't been tested fully across all devices, clients (especially Outlook) and are quite limited/dated.  Have a look at the all-in-one template that I posted in this discussion thread: Re: Moving off Marketo Designer

          Joe_Reitz
          Joe_Reitz
          Level 8
          March 30, 2018

          Adding to the great advice Dan provided above, Email Monks or Grazitti are also great options for fast turn around (and low prices). Both of those agencies are based in India and can turn templates around overnight for less than a couple hundred bucks each. They know Marketo 2.0 syntax really well. 10/10, would outsource again.

          If it doesn't look cool, you're probably doing it wrong.
            A
            Anonymous
            September 12, 2018

            As a software developer, I agree completely with your opinion.

            Marketo's interface is full of marketo specific syntax that is cumbersome and restricting.  They have no error messaging, so you really have no ability to debug any error that pops up when attempting to build a template.  This is maybe the worst CMS I have ever used. 

            Grégoire_Miche2
            Grégoire_Miche2
            Level 10
            September 12, 2018

            Well, Marketo is not a CMS

            And not a development tool neither.

            -Greg

              A
              Anonymous
              September 12, 2018

              If Marketo were classified in software development terms, it is a CMS, just like Wordpress or Drupal.  It is designed for small mom and pop businesses that don't really have the ability to do marketing on their own.  It lacks enterprise features or tools that allow for a great degree of customization.

              But, I'll agree it is not a development tool. 

              Denise_Greenb12
              Denise_Greenb12
              Level 6
              September 13, 2018

              Hi Jen,

              I agree with Dan Stevens that your best bet is to find an agency - or a self-service provider because the Marketo-provided templates are not tested often do not pass the test of display compatibility with different email platforms. I have a designer I always use when my clients need email templates built - in part because she tests all her templates in Litmus. It sounds like Joe Reitz has some good referrals too. You need someone who knows Marketo as well as email design and development.

              Denise

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