Skip to main content

Adding Sections and Content to Your Emails

How to add new sections and content to your emails using the Alvéya email builder — choosing a layout, dropping in content elements, adding images from Media Storage, editing your copy, and duplicating or saving sections for reuse.

Once you've opened an email or template in the Alvéya email builder, you can add as many sections as you need — a two-column feature, a single image block, a heading with text beside it, whatever your email calls for. This guide walks you through adding a new section, filling it with content, and a few shortcuts that make building emails much faster.

Step 1: Add a New Section

  1. In the top-left toolbar of the email builder, click the "+" (Add Element) icon. This opens the Elements panel on the left side of your screen.

  2. Scroll down the panel until you reach Layouts. This is where you choose the structure of your new section — for example:

    • Text & Image — a ready-made pairing of text on one side and an image on the other.

    • 1, 2, 3 or 4 columns — empty columns you can fill with any content you like.

    • Split layouts like 1/3 : 2/3 or 1/4 : 3/4 — useful when you want one column narrower than the other.

  3. Click and hold the layout you want, then drag and drop it into the email exactly where you'd like it to sit. You'll see it slot into place between your existing sections.

💡 Not sure which layout to pick? A 2-column layout is the most versatile — image on one side, text on the other is a classic newsletter pattern that reads beautifully on both desktop and mobile.

Step 2: Adjust the Section Settings

When you drop a new section in, the Edit section panel opens on the right. You don't need to touch most of it, but two settings are worth checking:

  • Column Layout — you can still change the number and width of columns here if you change your mind.

  • Background colour — new sections sometimes arrive with their own background colour. If it doesn't match the rest of your email, remove the background colour (or set it to match your email background) so the new section blends in seamlessly.

Step 3: Add Content to Your Section

Your new section will show "Drop content here" placeholders in each column. To fill them:

  1. Scroll back up to the top of the Elements panel where you'll find the content elements — Text, Image, Button, Logo, Divider, Social, Video and more.

  2. Drag the element you want into the column where you'd like it to appear.

  3. Repeat for each column until your section has everything it needs.

Step 4: Add an Image

When you drop an Image element in, it arrives with a placeholder. Here's how to swap it for your own image:

  1. Click the image to open the Edit image panel on the right.

  2. Press the trash can icon next to the placeholder image to remove it.

  3. Click Add Image.

  4. Your Media Storage will open. Select the image you want (or upload a new one using the Upload button), then press Insert media.

💡 While you're in the Edit image panel, it's worth adding a short description in the Alt text field — it helps subscribers using screen readers, and it displays if the image doesn't load in someone's inbox.

Step 5: Amend the Copy

Click directly into any heading or text block to start typing. A formatting toolbar appears at the top of the screen where you can change the heading level, font size, bold, italics, alignment, and add links. Replace the placeholder wording with your own message, and you're done.

Time-Saving Shortcuts

Hover over any section in your email and a small toolbar appears above it. Three icons here will save you a lot of time:

  • Duplicate

    if an existing section already has the layout you need, duplicate it instead of building a new one from scratch, then just swap the content.

  • Delete (trash can)

    Remove any sections you don't need.

  • Save section —

    save a favourite section so you can drag and drop it into future emails. Perfect for a footer, offer block, or signature layout you use again and again.

Save Your Work

When you're happy with your email, click Save Template in the top-right corner. You can also click Preview at any time to see how it will look in your subscribers' inboxes — including the mobile view.

⚠️ Keep an eye on the save status next to the Back button. If it says "Not Saved", your latest changes haven't been stored yet — click Save Template before leaving the builder.

That's it — you now have full control over the structure and content of every email you send.

If you get stuck at any point, reach out via live chat or submit a support request and we will guide you through.

Related Articles
Did this answer your question?