When it comes to making a memorable first impression, your email header is like a warm smile or a firm handshake—it’s incredibly important, yet a lot of people just don’t put in the effort.
The thing is, email headers are unmatched when it comes to growing brand recognition because they can establish consistency for your audience. Plus, they boost the attention paid to your emails, as they inform the reader of the email’s content and encourage them to read, share, and shop more.
Ultimately, email headers are a fruitful, low-cost way to draw in readers and convert them to customers, so it’s essential to learn how to make your email header stand out.
In this blog post, we’ll discuss:
- What are email headers?
- Why are email headers important?
- 10 examples of email headers.
- How to make your email header using Create templates.
Let’s get cracking.
What Are Email Headers?
Your email header is the horizontal banner that goes under your pre-header.
While your pre-header is just a brief snippet at the top of your email, your email header is easier to see. It stretches wide above the rest of your email, including the body and footer.
Why Are Email Headers Important?
Your email header is the first visual your recipients see when opening your email. Unlike the subject line and pre-header, your email header isn’t limited to text.
Since we process visuals 60,000 times faster than text, emails with graphics deliver a higher click-through rate (CTR).
So, email headers can have a major impact on whether a recipients reads, keeps, or deletes your email (not to mention the links they click on therein).
Plus, ever since the most recent Apple privacy update made it harder to gauge how many recipients opened emails, your email open rate is not as strong of a KPI as it used it be.
However, the number of clicks the content in your email receives—and the click-through rate (CTR) it produces—are better KPIs for determining how effective your email is.
10 Examples of Email Headers
Here are ten examples of email headers to inspire your next DIY email design:
1. Thank You for Subscribing
When a potential customer subscribes to your newsletter, offer emails, etc., use this template to show them your gratitude and increase their odds of retention.
2. Ladies Luncheon
Take note of how this email header template tells you what the rest of the email is about.
It cuts to the chase and makes an upcoming hotel event feel even more official, which fosters as much excitement as it does transparency.
Email newsletters are usually sent on a weekly or monthly basis. Most should stick to one email header with a centered logo icon and wordmark to establish consistency while reinforcing the value being delivered to subscribers.
4. Gameplan Greatness
Newsletters are one of the best ways for thought leaders to educate their audiences. By showing the audience that this email reads like mini blog posts, this email header template hits a home run.
Instant inspo.
5. Deal Sweetener
Of course, this holiday email header cracks the code for shoppers without using a nutcracker.
The fun candy canes and seasonal colors appeal to readers during the holiday season, and entices customers who are seeking a discount code.
6. Photo Finish
Photographers know better than anyone that if you use a beautiful photograph in your email header, your emails will perform better.
The neutral logo colors juxtapose the vivid imagery while promoting the brand’s creative talents for prospects and clients.
7. Day of the Red
Is red a dangerous color for an email header? Not if it’s on-brand and relevant for your audience.
Many cosmetic brands feature red in their logos and brand colors because of how easily it gets attention, as well as its association with lipstick.
8. The Best Things Are Free
Email headers aren’t always the best place to personalize your email, but this template makes it a simple and easy way for you to reward customers on-the-fly.
9. A-List Real Estate
Letting your visuals talk louder than your text is a pro move, especially with email headers.
And, in an industry like real estate, which is all about big moves, this template is likely to attract future homeowners.
10. Product Pros
For whatever reason, you might be compelled to leave photos out of your email header. Instead of displaying text on its own in your header, pair them with icons that serve as a symbol for your subject matter.
How to Make Your Email Header with Shutterstock Create
Step 1: Choose a Template
In Create, click File > Create new > Templates. Search “Email Header” in the Templates sidebar. Select your template to preview it in the tool.
Prefer to start from scratch? In Create, just click File > Create new > Blank Canvas instead. Choose the dimensions you want or enter your own using the boxes in the top-right corner.
Step 2: Add Fonts
Scroll through the Fonts menu to choose a text font. Or, peruse our countless font layouts for inspo by clicking the Text tab.
Step 3: Swap Photos
Click Images to type in specific keywords or upload your own with the Upload button. Choose where you want to pull images from, including your computer or the stock image library.
Click Graphics to browse thousands of graphics from the drop-down menu. Choose a shape from the list. We typed “rectangle” into the search bar. Select your favorite and drag to canvas.
With the shape still selected, click on the circle under Change color in the menu on the top left toolbar. A palette of colors will appear. Select a color that will stand out from the background.
Customize your text by clicking on Text to see a list of available typefaces you can use. Now, just center the text in the button and you have a CTA.
5: Download and Save
Click Download on the top toolbar and export your email header as a JPG, PNG, or PDF.
In the end, email headers keep email relevant with winning visuals. When you consistently tie brand elements into your email header, you’re creating a pattern that your audience picks up on.
After you see which ideas produce better results, decide on what you want to include in every email header you send.
Make sure to track the performance of each email you send, and revamp your email headers as needed. It could be the difference between a campaign that ends too soon versus one that transforms your future.
License this cover image mockup via SvetaZi, Suradech Prapairat, Gabriela Simon, yasminepatterns, and Shutterstock Create’s email template.
