HubSpot Email Template Management: Conquering Saved Sections and Modules for E-commerce Success
The HubSpot Community Asks: Where Did My Saved Sections Go?
Ever feel like you're playing hide-and-seek with your HubSpot email templates? You've diligently created saved sections, envisioning a streamlined workflow for your e-commerce campaigns. But when it's time to update them, figuring out where they're used can be a real headache. That's exactly the situation HubSpot user Bailey_Sykes ran into in the HubSpot Community. They asked: "Currently working on a project to overhaul our email templates and wondered if there is a way to see what saved sections are in use within the contents tab when editing? feel like it works for custom modules but not for saved sections - any ideas?"
For e-commerce businesses leveraging HubSpot for their customer relationship management (CRM) and marketing automation, maintaining consistent branding and messaging across all touchpoints is crucial. Email templates play a pivotal role in nurturing leads, promoting products, and driving sales. Efficiently managing these templates can significantly impact your revenue operations (RevOps) and overall success.
The Straight Answer: Not Exactly Ideal
Unfortunately, the news isn't great. As community expert karstenkoehler pointed out, HubSpot's saved sections are treated more like copy-pasted snippets than dynamically linked elements. "No, there isn't, unfortunately. Saved sections are essentially just something you paste from a clipboard but that doesn't reference back to its origin (like a module). There isn't any way to see where save sections were used."
Think of it like this: once you save a section and then paste it into multiple templates, those copies become independent. Changes to the original saved section won't automatically propagate to the templates where you used it. This can lead to inconsistencies, version control nightmares, and a lot of manual updating – a significant time drain for busy e-commerce teams. This is especially problematic when you are creating an online boutique website and need to maintain brand consistency across all customer touchpoints.
The Module Workaround: A Centralized Solution
Bailey_Sykes followed up with a smart question: "Do you know of a way around this at all? is there an easy way to save a section as a module for example?"
Karstenkoehler confirmed there's no direct conversion from saved sections to modules. However, he suggested the correct workaround: using modules from the start. Modules offer centralized control. When you update a module, those changes reflect across all templates where the module is used. This is a game-changer for e-commerce businesses that need to quickly update product information, promotions, or legal disclaimers across numerous email templates.
How to Create and Use Modules in HubSpot
Here’s a quick guide to get you started:
- Navigate to the Design Manager: In your HubSpot account, go to Marketing > Files and Templates > Design Tools.
- Create a New Module: In the design manager, click File > New file. Select Module and choose whether you want a global module (editable from anywhere) or a regular module (editable only within the template). Global modules are ideal for elements that need to be consistent across your entire e-commerce brand.
- Design Your Module: Use the drag-and-drop interface or code editor to create the module's layout and content. You can add text, images, buttons, and other elements. Consider creating modules for product highlights, promotional banners, or customer testimonials.
- Add Fields: Make your module dynamic by adding fields that content creators can easily update. For example, you could add a text field for the product name, an image field for the product image, and a rich text field for the product description.
- Use Your Module in Templates: Open the email template where you want to use the module. In the content editor, drag and drop the module into the desired location.
- Edit Module Content: Click on the module to edit its content using the fields you defined. When you update a global module, the changes will automatically be reflected in all templates where the module is used.
Benefits of Using Modules for E-commerce Email Templates
- Consistency: Ensure consistent branding and messaging across all your email templates.
- Efficiency: Save time by updating content in one place and having it automatically reflected everywhere.
- Scalability: Easily manage and update your email templates as your e-commerce business grows.
- Version Control: Eliminate the risk of using outdated content in your email campaigns.
Beyond Modules: Optimizing Your HubSpot E-commerce Workflow
While modules are a powerful tool for managing email templates, there are other ways to optimize your HubSpot e-commerce workflow:
- Integrate with ESHOPMAN: ESHOPMAN provides a built-in storefront and e-commerce functionality directly within HubSpot. This allows you to seamlessly integrate your product catalog, customer data, and marketing automation efforts.
- Use HubSpot Workflows: Automate your email marketing campaigns based on customer behavior, purchase history, and other factors. For example, you could create a workflow that sends a welcome email to new customers, a thank-you email after a purchase, or a re-engagement email to inactive customers.
- Personalize Your Emails: Use HubSpot's personalization tokens to address customers by name, recommend products based on their past purchases, and tailor your messaging to their specific needs.
- A/B Test Your Emails: Experiment with different subject lines, content, and calls to action to see what resonates best with your audience. HubSpot's A/B testing tools make it easy to track your results and optimize your campaigns.
Conclusion: Embrace Modules and Streamline Your E-commerce Email Marketing
While HubSpot's saved sections can be useful for quickly reusing content snippets, they lack the centralized control and version management capabilities that are essential for effective e-commerce email marketing. By embracing modules and integrating with tools like ESHOPMAN, you can streamline your workflow, ensure consistency across your email templates, and drive more sales for your online store. Consider this when selecting an ecommerce website builder and hosting solution.