Serif Newsletter Welcome email template

A letter-like welcome for a writer's newsletter: a calm desk photo, a serif greeting, what arrives each Sunday as icons, an archive pick and a signed note.

Light shows the email as designed. Dark and Gmail show how email apps can change its colors.

17.9 KB, under the 102 KB where Gmail cuts emails

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<meta name="format-detection" content="telephone=no, date=no, address=no, email=no, url=no">
<meta name="color-scheme" content="light dark">
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<title>Serif Newsletter Welcome</title>
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<body class="ete-body" style="margin:0;padding:0;width:100%;background-color:#f1ece4;">
<!-- Made with emailtemplateexamples.com -->
<div class="ete-preheader" style="display:none;font-size:1px;line-height:1px;max-height:0;max-width:0;opacity:0;overflow:hidden;mso-hide:all;">One essay, a short reading list and a note from my desk, every Sunday morning. ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏ </div>
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<table role="presentation" width="100%" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" border="0" style="width:100%;">
<tr><td align="center" class="ete-px" style="padding:28px 32px 20px;"><span class="ete-heading" style="font-family:'Playfair Display', Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;font-size:24px;line-height:30px;font-weight:700;letter-spacing:-0.3px;color:#1a1714;">The Margin Notes</span><div class="ete-muted" style="padding-top:6px;font-family:Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;font-size:11px;line-height:16px;letter-spacing:2px;text-transform:uppercase;color:#776f66;">A Sunday letter about reading and writing</div></td></tr>
<tr><td align="center" class="ete-px" style="padding:56px 6.67% 44px;mso-padding-alt:56px 40px 44px;text-align:center;"><h1 class="ete-heading ete-ds-46" style="margin:0;font-family:'Playfair Display', Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;font-size:46px;line-height:50px;font-weight:700;color:#1a1714;text-align:center;mso-line-height-rule:exactly;letter-spacing:-0.5px;font-size:min(46px,7.67vw);line-height:min(50px,8.33vw);overflow-wrap:anywhere;word-break:break-word;">Welcome to the margins</h1><p class="ete-text" style="margin:0;font-family:Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;font-size:17px;line-height:27px;color:#3d3833;padding-top:16px;text-align:center;">Thank you for subscribing, {{first_name}}. Every Sunday you will get one short essay, a reading list and a note from my desk.</p><div style="padding-top:28px;"><table role="presentation" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" border="0" align="center"><tr><td align="center"><!--[if mso]><v:roundrect xmlns:v="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:vml" xmlns:w="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:word" href="https://example.com/latest" style="height:48px;v-text-anchor:middle;width:262px;" arcsize="4%" strokecolor="#8c2f1f" fillcolor="#8c2f1f"><w:anchorlock/><center style="color:#ffffff;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;font-size:16px;font-weight:bold;">Read the latest letter</center></v:roundrect><![endif]--><!--[if !mso]><!--><a class="ete-btn" href="https://example.com/latest" style="display:inline-block;background-color:#8c2f1f;border:1px solid #8c2f1f;line-height:48px;border-radius:2px;color:#ffffff;font-family:Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;font-size:16px;font-weight:700;text-align:center;text-decoration:none;padding:0 28px;-webkit-text-size-adjust:none;mso-hide:all;"><span class="ete-btn-text" style="color:#ffffff;">Read the latest letter</span></a><!--<![endif]--></td></tr></table></div></td></tr>
<tr><td class="" style="padding:0;"><img src="https://emailtemplateexamples.com/wp-content/plugins/ete-core/assets/template-images/newsletter-welcome-serif-hero.jpg" alt="An open notebook, glasses, a pencil and a phone on a bright white desk" width="600" height="400" class="ete-fluid" style="display:block;width:600px;max-width:100%;height:auto;border:0;outline:none;text-decoration:none;"></td></tr>
<tr><td class="ete-px" style="padding:8px 32px;"><p class="ete-text" style="margin:0;font-family:Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;font-size:16px;line-height:26px;color:#3d3833;text-align:left;">I started this letter to keep track of the lines I underline. Over time it became a place to think out loud about books, sentences and the slow work of writing them.</p></td></tr>
<tr><td class="ete-px" style="padding:8px 32px;"><p class="ete-text" style="margin:0;font-family:Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;font-size:16px;line-height:26px;color:#3d3833;text-align:left;">There is no schedule beyond Sunday and no pitch at the end. If a letter makes you think of something, hit reply. I read every answer, usually with my second coffee.</p></td></tr>
<tr><td class="ete-px" style="padding:28px 32px 12px;"><div style="font-size:0;text-align:center;"><!--[if mso]><table role="presentation" width="536" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" border="0"><tr><td width="178" valign="top"><![endif]--><div class="ete-icon-wrap" style="display:inline-block;vertical-align:top;width:33.33%;min-width:94px;max-width:100%;font-size:16px;text-align:center;"><table role="presentation" width="100%" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" border="0"><tr><td class="ete-icon-cell" style="padding:0 8px 16px;"><img src="https://emailtemplateexamples.com/wp-content/plugins/ete-core/assets/template-images/icon-book-b0503c.png" alt="" width="36" height="36" class="" style="display:block;width:36px;max-width:100%;height:auto;border:0;outline:none;text-decoration:none;margin:0 auto;"><p class="ete-heading" style="margin:0;padding-top:10px;font-family:Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;font-size:14px;line-height:19px;font-weight:700;color:#1a1714;text-align:center;">One essay</p><p class="ete-muted" style="margin:0;padding-top:4px;font-family:Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;font-size:13px;line-height:18px;color:#776f66;text-align:center;">Every Sunday morning</p></td></tr></table></div><!--[if mso]></td><td width="178" valign="top"><![endif]--><div class="ete-icon-wrap" style="display:inline-block;vertical-align:top;width:33.33%;min-width:94px;max-width:100%;font-size:16px;text-align:center;"><table role="presentation" width="100%" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" border="0"><tr><td class="ete-icon-cell" style="padding:0 8px 16px;"><img src="https://emailtemplateexamples.com/wp-content/plugins/ete-core/assets/template-images/icon-chat-b0503c.png" alt="" width="36" height="36" class="" style="display:block;width:36px;max-width:100%;height:auto;border:0;outline:none;text-decoration:none;margin:0 auto;"><p class="ete-heading" style="margin:0;padding-top:10px;font-family:Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;font-size:14px;line-height:19px;font-weight:700;color:#1a1714;text-align:center;">Replies welcome</p><p class="ete-muted" style="margin:0;padding-top:4px;font-family:Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;font-size:13px;line-height:18px;color:#776f66;text-align:center;">I answer them myself</p></td></tr></table></div><!--[if mso]></td><td width="178" valign="top"><![endif]--><div class="ete-icon-wrap" style="display:inline-block;vertical-align:top;width:33.33%;min-width:94px;max-width:100%;font-size:16px;text-align:center;"><table role="presentation" width="100%" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" border="0"><tr><td class="ete-icon-cell" style="padding:0 8px 16px;"><img src="https://emailtemplateexamples.com/wp-content/plugins/ete-core/assets/template-images/icon-mail-b0503c.png" alt="" width="36" height="36" class="" style="display:block;width:36px;max-width:100%;height:auto;border:0;outline:none;text-decoration:none;margin:0 auto;"><p class="ete-heading" style="margin:0;padding-top:10px;font-family:Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;font-size:14px;line-height:19px;font-weight:700;color:#1a1714;text-align:center;">No ads</p><p class="ete-muted" style="margin:0;padding-top:4px;font-family:Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;font-size:13px;line-height:18px;color:#776f66;text-align:center;">Only the letter</p></td></tr></table></div><!--[if mso]></td></tr></table><![endif]--></div></td></tr>
<tr><td class="ete-px" style="padding:12px 20px 0;"><div style="font-size:0;text-align:left;display:flex;flex-wrap:wrap;"><!--[if mso]><table role="presentation" width="560" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" border="0"><tr><td width="249" valign="middle"><![endif]--><div class="ete-stack" style="display:inline-block;vertical-align:middle;min-width:44.46%;max-width:100%;width:44.46%;width:calc((448px - 100%) * 448);font-size:16px;text-align:left;align-self:flex-start;"><table role="presentation" width="100%" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" border="0"><tr><td class="ete-cell" style="padding:4px 12px 16px;"><img src="https://emailtemplateexamples.com/wp-content/plugins/ete-core/assets/template-images/newsletter-welcome-serif-archive.jpg" alt="A mug of milky coffee on an open book with a pencil and cookies" width="225" height="225" class="ete-fluid-cap" style="display:block;width:225px;max-width:100%;height:auto;border:0;outline:none;text-decoration:none;width:100%;max-width:280px;margin:0 auto;"></td></tr></table></div><!--[if mso]></td><td width="311" valign="middle"><![endif]--><div class="ete-stack" style="display:inline-block;vertical-align:middle;min-width:55.53%;max-width:100%;width:55.53%;width:calc((448px - 100%) * 448);font-size:16px;text-align:left;align-self:center;"><table role="presentation" width="100%" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" border="0"><tr><td class="ete-cell" style="padding:4px 12px 16px;"><h3 class="ete-heading" style="margin:0;font-family:'Playfair Display', Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;font-size:19px;line-height:26px;font-weight:700;color:#1a1714;text-align:left;mso-line-height-rule:exactly;">Where to start</h3><p class="ete-text" style="margin:0;font-family:Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;font-size:15px;line-height:24px;color:#3d3833;padding-top:8px;">Five letters from the archive that explain what this newsletter is about.</p><div style="padding-top:16px;"><table role="presentation" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" border="0"><tr><td align="center"><!--[if mso]><v:roundrect xmlns:v="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:vml" xmlns:w="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:word" href="https://example.com/archive" style="height:48px;v-text-anchor:middle;width:208px;" arcsize="4%" strokecolor="#8c2f1f" fillcolor="#8c2f1f"><w:anchorlock/><center style="color:#ffffff;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;font-size:16px;font-weight:bold;">Open the archive</center></v:roundrect><![endif]--><!--[if !mso]><!--><a class="ete-btn" href="https://example.com/archive" style="display:inline-block;background-color:#8c2f1f;border:1px solid #8c2f1f;line-height:48px;border-radius:2px;color:#ffffff;font-family:Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;font-size:16px;font-weight:700;text-align:center;text-decoration:none;padding:0 28px;-webkit-text-size-adjust:none;mso-hide:all;"><span class="ete-btn-text" style="color:#ffffff;">Open the archive</span></a><!--<![endif]--></td></tr></table></div></td></tr></table></div><!--[if mso]></td></tr></table><![endif]--></div></td></tr>
<tr><td class="ete-px" style="padding:12px 32px 20px;"><p class="ete-text" style="margin:0;font-family:Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;font-size:16px;line-height:26px;color:#3d3833;">Write back anytime,</p><p class="ete-heading" style="margin:0;font-family:Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;font-size:16px;line-height:26px;color:#1a1714;font-weight:700;padding-top:6px;">Iris Penhallow</p><p class="ete-muted" style="margin:0;font-family:Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;font-size:14px;line-height:22px;color:#776f66;">Writer, The Margin Notes</p></td></tr>
<tr><td align="center" class="ete-px" style="padding:28px 32px 32px;"><p class="ete-muted" style="margin:0;font-family:Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;font-size:13px;line-height:21px;color:#776f66;line-height:20px;text-align:center;"><strong>The Margin Notes</strong><br>PO Box 214, Burlington, VT 05402</p><p class="ete-muted" style="margin:0;font-family:Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;font-size:13px;line-height:21px;color:#776f66;line-height:20px;text-align:center;padding-top:10px;">You get this email because you subscribed to The Margin Notes.</p><p class="ete-muted" style="margin:0;font-family:Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;font-size:13px;line-height:21px;color:#776f66;line-height:20px;text-align:center;padding-top:10px;"><a class="ete-link" href="{{unsubscribe_url}}" style="color:#776f66;text-decoration:underline;">Unsubscribe</a></p></td></tr>
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</td></tr>
<tr><td align="center" class="ete-muted" style="padding:20px 12px 0;font-family:Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;font-size:12px;line-height:18px;color:#776f66;">Made with <a class="ete-link" href="https://emailtemplateexamples.com/" style="color:#776f66;text-decoration:underline;">Email Template Examples</a></td></tr>
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Categories: Welcome Newsletter
Industry: Media and publishing
Type: Automated
Size: 17.9 KB, 600 px wide

About this template

A welcome email for writers, essayists and small editorial newsletters. New subscribers chose a person, not a brand, so it reads like the first page of a letter rather than a product tour.

A desk photo with a notebook in soft window light sits under a serif greeting and a button to the latest letter. Two short paragraphs in the writer’s own voice explain why the newsletter exists and what to expect. Three small icons in red ink sum up the rhythm: one essay, replies welcome, no ads. A photo and text pair then points new readers to a few archive letters to start with, and the email ends with a handwritten style sign-off and the footer.

Warm paper tones, a classic serif for both headings and body, and one red ink accent keep it quiet and personal.

Rewrite the two paragraphs in your own words; they are the heart of this template.

Use it in your email tool

Click Copy HTML, or download the .html file.
In Mailchimp, Brevo, HubSpot or Klaviyo, start a new email with the custom HTML or code editor and paste it in.
Change the text, links and images. Map merge tags such as {{first_name}} and {{unsubscribe_url}} to the tags of your tool.
Send a test to yourself on desktop and phone before you send it to your list.

Sections in this email

Wordmark
Desk photo hero with greeting
Two letter paragraphs
Rhythm icon row
Archive pick with photo
Signature
Footer

Subject line ideas

Welcome to The Margin Notes
{{first_name}}, your first Sunday letter is on its way
A note from my desk, and where to start

Preview text idea

One essay, a short reading list and a note from my desk, every Sunday morning.