How to Add and Format Text in Templates
Why This Matters
Text is the foundation of every email template and landing page you create. Whether you're writing a product announcement, a newsletter, or a promotional campaign, knowing how to add and style text effectively helps you communicate clearly with your contacts while maintaining your brand's visual identity.
The editor gives you complete control over how your text looks - from choosing fonts and colors to creating headings and lists. Understanding these text tools will help you create templates that are easy to read, visually appealing, and properly structured for both email clients and accessibility.
Before You Begin
Make sure you've opened a template in the editor and have at least one row added to your canvas. Text content blocks need to be placed inside rows and columns to work properly.
Step-by-Step Instructions
1. Add a Paragraph Text Block
Paragraph blocks are your main tool for adding body text to your templates.
Click the Content tab in the sidebar, then drag a Paragraph block from the sidebar onto your canvas. Drop it into any column within a row. The paragraph block appears with placeholder text that you can immediately start editing.
Click inside the paragraph block and start typing. Your text replaces the placeholder content automatically.
Why this matters: Paragraph blocks are designed specifically for body text and offer better formatting control than older text tools. They handle copy-paste operations cleanly and work consistently across different email clients.
Time: Less than 1 minute to add and begin editing text
2. Add Headings with Title Blocks
Title blocks create properly formatted headings (H1, H2, H3) that improve both accessibility and visual hierarchy in your templates.
Drag a Title block from the Content tab into your template. Click inside the title block and type your heading text.
To change the heading level, click the title block to select it, then look in the sidebar under Content Properties. Find the "Title" dropdown and choose H1 (largest), H2 (medium), or H3 (smallest).
Why this matters: Title blocks create semantic headings that screen readers can navigate, making your emails more accessible. For landing pages, proper headings also improve search engine optimization. Different heading levels create clear visual hierarchy that guides readers through your content.
Time: 1-2 minutes per heading
3. Format Text with Bold, Italic, and Underline
Make specific words stand out using character formatting options.
Select the text you want to format by clicking and dragging your cursor across it. A formatting toolbar appears above the selected text with buttons for bold, italic, underline, and strikethrough.
Click the formatting button you want to apply. You can combine multiple formats on the same text (like bold and italic together).
Why this matters: Strategic use of bold and italic text draws attention to important points and makes your content easier to scan. However, use these formats sparingly - too much emphasis dilutes their impact.
Time: A few seconds per text selection
4. Change Text Color
Customize text colors to match your brand or create visual emphasis.
Select the text you want to recolor using your cursor. In the formatting toolbar that appears, click the color button (usually marked with an "A" icon). A color picker opens showing recently used colors and a full color selector.
Click a color from your recent colors, or click the color wheel to choose a custom color. You can also enter a specific color code if you have one.
Why this matters: Consistent color usage reinforces your brand identity. Make sure text colors have enough contrast against their background for readability - very light text on white backgrounds or dark text on dark backgrounds can be hard to read.
Time: 30 seconds per color change
5. Adjust Font, Size, and Styling
Control the appearance of entire paragraphs or titles through the sidebar properties.
Click anywhere in the paragraph or title block (you don't need to select specific text). The sidebar shows Content Properties for that block.
Find the Font Family dropdown and select your desired font. Below that, use the Font Size controls to adjust text size. You can also adjust Font Weight (Regular or Bold), Alignment (left, center, right), and Line Height (spacing between lines).
Why this matters: Entire paragraphs usually share the same font and size for visual consistency. The editor applies these settings to the whole block, making it faster than formatting individual words. Note that in paragraph blocks, these settings affect all text in the block - you cannot mix different font sizes within one paragraph block.
Time: 1-2 minutes to style a text block
6. Create Bulleted and Numbered Lists
Lists make information easier to scan and understand.
Drag a List block from the Content tab into your template. Click inside it and start typing your first list item. Press Enter after each item to create the next line.
To switch between bulleted and numbered lists, click the list block to select it, then look in the sidebar under Content Properties. Find "List type" and choose between Ordered (numbered) or Unordered (bulleted).
You can also adjust list style, spacing between items, and for numbered lists, choose which number to start from.
Why this matters: Lists break up long text blocks and make your content more digestible. They're especially effective for feature lists, step-by-step instructions, or highlighting multiple benefits.
Time: 2-3 minutes to create and format a list
7. Add Links to Text
Turn any text into a clickable link that takes readers to a webpage, email address, or phone number.
Select the text you want to turn into a link. In the formatting toolbar, click the link button (usually a chain icon).
A link dialog opens. Choose the link type:
- Web Page URL: Enter the web address (like https://yourwebsite.com)
- Email: Enter an email address to create a mailto link
- Phone: Enter a phone number to create a click-to-call link
You can also choose whether to underline the link. Check the "Underline Link" box if you want the link to be underlined (recommended for accessibility).
Click outside the dialog or press Enter to save the link.
Why this matters: Links drive action in your templates. Clear, visible links (especially underlined ones) help contacts know what's clickable and improve your email accessibility. Always include clear calls-to-action with obvious links.
Time: 30 seconds per link
8. Adjust Text Alignment and Spacing
Fine-tune how your text is positioned and spaced for better readability.
Click a paragraph or title block to select it. In the sidebar under Content Properties, find the Alignment options (left, center, right, justify).
For spacing, look for Paragraph Spacing (space between paragraphs) and Line Height (space between lines of text). Adjust these using the + and - buttons or by entering a specific value.
Why this matters: Proper spacing makes text easier to read, especially on mobile devices. Center alignment works well for headings and short calls-to-action, while left alignment is best for longer body text. Adequate line height prevents text from feeling cramped.
Time: 1 minute to adjust alignment and spacing
Questions and Answers
Q: Can I use different font sizes within the same paragraph?
A: No, paragraph blocks apply font size to all text within that block. If you need different sizes, use multiple paragraph blocks or title blocks. This limitation helps maintain visual consistency and cleaner formatting.
Q: How do I choose which fonts to use in my templates?
A: Stick to web-safe fonts for email templates to ensure they display correctly across all email clients. For landing pages, you have more flexibility. When in doubt, common fonts like Arial, Helvetica, and Georgia work reliably everywhere.
Q: What's the difference between H1, H2, and H3 headings?
A: H1 is your largest, most important heading (typically used once per template for the main title). H2 creates section headings, and H3 creates sub-section headings. This hierarchy helps both human readers and screen readers understand your content structure.
Q: My text looks different in preview than in the editor - is something wrong?
A: This is normal. The editor shows extra outlines and controls that don't appear in the final version. Always use preview mode to see the actual appearance. Some email clients may also display fonts slightly differently, which is why testing is important.
Q: Can I copy and paste text from Microsoft Word?
A: Yes, but be careful. Word adds hidden formatting that can cause issues in emails. For best results, paste as plain text first (use Ctrl+Shift+V or Cmd+Shift+V), then reformat using the editor's tools. This prevents formatting conflicts.
Q: How do I make my links stand out more?
A: Use contrasting colors for links and keep the "Underline Link" option checked. You can also make link text bold or place it inside a button for maximum visibility. Make sure link text clearly describes where it leads (avoid generic "click here" text).
Q: What's the ideal line height for body text?
A: A line height between 1.4 and 1.6 (140%-160%) works well for most body text. This provides enough breathing room between lines without making text feel too spread out. Titles can use tighter line heights (120%-140%).
Q: Can I highlight text with a background color?
A: Yes! Select the text and look for the highlight or background color option in the formatting toolbar (often next to the text color button). This adds a colored background behind selected words, useful for emphasizing key points.
Q: Why can't I create a list inside my paragraph block?
A: Lists use a separate content block for better formatting control. End your paragraph block, add a List block, then add another Paragraph block if you need more text after the list. This separation gives you more precise control over list styling.
Q: How do I remove formatting from text?
A: Select the formatted text and click the same formatting button again to toggle it off (like clicking Bold to remove bold). Some editors also have a "Clear Formatting" button. If you're having trouble, delete the text and retype it fresh.
Q: What happens to my text formatting on mobile devices?
A: Most text formatting transfers to mobile automatically. You can also create mobile-specific adjustments by switching to Mobile Design Mode in the toolbar, then adjusting font sizes and spacing specifically for phone screens.
Q: Should I use all caps for headings?
A: Use all caps sparingly. While it creates emphasis, text in all capitals is harder to read in large amounts and can feel like shouting. If you do use all caps, consider increasing letter spacing slightly to improve readability.
Guide Type: How-To Guide
Estimated Time: 8 minutes