AE Mailer (Email)

Creating Slices

• There is a single PSD file with multiple layer-groups that is used to create the slices for template mailers. The PSD file can be found here: data/CREATIVE/AT&T/TEMPLATES/AE 3.1 Templates/AE-3.1 PSD for Slicing/AE-3.1-Template.psd.
  • DO NOT save over the PSD file. Save PSD file in the CREATIVE directory of the job folder.

No-Image Mailers

• For AE Mailers where the client does not provide an additional image, the only slice that needs to be created is the header slice.
  • Crop the image to the first horizontal guide 133px from the top of page.
  • Copy the headline that the client has provided from word doc into PSD file. Use the styles for the headline and subhead (if applicable) that are provided in the PSD file. If the client does not provide a specific headline, use the subject line provided in the communications form.
  • Save the final slice by using the "Save for Web..." option in Photoshop. Save as a JPG, with the "Quality" setting at 75.
  • Final slice should be named with JOBNUMBER-header.jpg (i.e.: if the job number is 12345, the slice would be named "12345-header.jpg"). It is important to include the job number in the slices as we reference this number later in the AE Mailer tool to find old jobs.

Image Mailers

• When the client provides a photo that they would like to include, we generally place this in a cropped circle that lives on the right hand side of page (see template).
  • Use the path on the example image within the template to size and crop the client-provided photo.
  • Crop the image using the guides surrounding the image. The final size of an image slice. Final size should be: 175px x 225px
  • Save the final slice by using the "Save for Web..." option in Photoshop. Save as a JPG, with the "Quality" setting at 75.
  • Final slice should be named with JOBNUMBER-image.jpg (i.e.: if the job number is 12345, the slice would be named "12345-image.jpg"). It is important to include the job number in the slices as we reference this number later in the AE Mailer tool to find old jobs.

Buttons

• Occasionally a client will ask for a button. There is a PSD file to use as your template for this that can be found here: CREATIVE/AT&T/TEMPLATES/AE 3.1 Templates/AE-3.1 PSD for Slicing/xxxxx-button.psd.
  • Make sure there is 20px of space on the right and left of the text per AT&T brand guidelines.
  • Save the final slice by using the "Save for Web..." option in Photoshop. Save as a JPG, with the "Quality" setting at 75.
  • Final slice should be named with JOBNUMBER-button.jpg (i.e.: if the job number is 12345, the slice would be named "12345-button.jpg"). It is important to include the job number in the slices as we reference this number later in the AE Mailer tool to find old jobs.

Programming Email

• Folders for various default AE Mailer templates that should be used as a starting point for any template mailer can be found here: CREATIVE/AT&T/TEMPLATES/AE 3.1 Templates/AE-3.1 HTML Templates

Formatting

• There are template styles for body copy, subheads and hyperlinks. Make best attempt to mesh these with copy provided by client. Review with AE if questions.
• All special characters (en-dashes, regisitration marks, etc...) should be replaced with ASCII code equivalents
• Find and replace all smart quotes (curly) with dumb quotes (straight). Smart quotation characters are not supported.

Images

Keep all images linked to the "TEMPLATE_RESOURCES" folder. This will ensure that the images link correctly when the email template is loaded to the AE Mailer tool.

Solution Provider Versions

Often we are asked to provide additional versions of mailer for Solution Provider Partners. To do this we add the company name and a corresponding logo to the template:

SP and ASP Versions

• In the sign-off section of the email remove commenting from these lines:
[SENDER-alliance_company] and

<img src="TEMPLATE_RESOURCES/alliance-logo.gif">
• For Solution Provider (SP) Version use "alliance-logo.gif" for logo

Wholesale Version

• In the sign-off section of the email remove commenting from these lines:
[SENDER-alliance_company]
• Additional logo is added to the header slice, and new version of header slice will need to be created. This can be found in the PSD template.

Custom Templates

A few scenarios where we accommodate client-provided files are outlined below:

Client Provides Header Banner

Client will occasionally provide their own image and/or header. Many times this involves making some adjustments to the standard ae mailer template so that the client-provided creative does not clash. There are some examples of how we have handled these here: CREATIVE/AT&T/TEMPLATES/AE 3.1 Templates/AE-3.1 HTML Templates/Custom-Samples

Client Provides Finished Creative for Email (.PSD, .PDF, .AI file)

• Slice and build template from scratch following the client-provided creative.
• Replace any variable information with AE mailer elements ([SENDER-phone], [SENDER-email], etc...)
• Add the standard AE mailer legal paragraph that references how to "unsubscribe", and contains the unsubscribe link.
• Add [EMAILVIEWLOG] to the bottom of the markup (below </html>)

Client Provides Finished HTML Markup for Email

• Replace any variable information with AE mailer elements ([SENDER-phone], [SENDER-email], etc...)
• Add the standard AE mailer legal paragraph that references how to "unsubscribe", and contains the unsubscribe link.
• Add [EMAILVIEWLOG] to the bottom of the markup (below </html>)

Load Finished Mailer to AE Mailer Tool

• Login to the AE Mailer Web Portal with this URL: https://www.e-access.att.com/abgmas/imail/dispatcher?action=imail.login.verify&csp_ext=Y
  • Username: mktgrp
  • password: mktgr0up
• Go to "Admin" section
• Click "Create Template"
• Input client provided Campaign (Template) Name
  • Remove smart quotes, registration marks or non-standard characters
  • Shorten If necessary
  • "(Alliance-SP)", "(Alliance-ASP)" or "(Wholesale)" should be added to the Campaign Name for those versions (when applicable)
• Add client-provided email subject line
• REMOVE SPACE IN "POSTSCRIPT" AREA!!!!
• Click "Save"
• Load Mailer HTML
  • Click "Email Body". You will be taken to new page to attach HTML file.
  • Attach HTML file, and then click "Save & Continue"
• Load Mailer Images
  • In the "HTML Resources" Section, click "Add"
  • Attach image. Images need to be added one at a time.
• Preview the mailer by clicking "Preview" at bottom of page. Verify that all images are linked and everything appears okay.
• Send test by clicking "Send Test Mail"