Use the Keap Email Builder for Broadcast Emails – Keap Max Classic

This article covers how to use the Keap™ email builder to create and customize broadcast emails, including available content blocks, body settings, image tools, the audit checker, saving templates, and the AI Assisted writing tool.

Create a Broadcast Email

A broadcast email is a single message sent to an entire contact list at the same time. It is the best option for sending the same message to everyone simultaneously — such as a monthly newsletter — or for messages that require frequent updates.

Navigate to Comms, then select Email Broadcasts.

The screenshot above shows the Email Broadcasts option in the Keap Comms section.
Select Create email broadcast, then select Email broadcast NEW.

The screenshot above shows the Create email broadcast button and Email broadcast NEW option.
Select Create content to open the email builder.
Choose a starting template from one of the following tabs:
- Gallery — Starter and modern templates. Hover over a template card and select Preview to preview it, or Select template to begin customizing.
- My Templates — Emails previously saved as reusable templates. Saved templates do not include a subject line or preview text.
- Sent — Recent sent email broadcasts. Hover over a template and select Select template to begin customizing.
- Drafts — Emails saved as drafts when Save and exit was selected. Hover over a draft and select Select draft to continue editing.

Content Blocks

The side panel in the email editor includes tabs for Content, Blocks, Body, Images, Uploads, and Audit. The Content tab provides access to all available content blocks.

The Keap email editor side panel showing the Content tab selected with the available content block types listed including Columns, Heading, Text, Image, Button, Divider, HTML, Menu, Social, Timer, Video, Signature, and Appointments.

The screenshot above shows the Content tab in the Keap email editor side panel.

Note: The email editor auto-saves work every 30 seconds.

Drag blocks from the Content tab into the email canvas to add new elements. Select a block to configure it using the panel on the right or the floating menu. For Text blocks, select inside the block and begin typing directly.

The following content blocks are available:

Columns — Add multiple columns to the email layout.
Heading — Add a heading at levels 1 through 6.
Text — Add text with merge fields, hyperlinks, and emojis. Supports font, color, and alignment customization.
- The Spam Content Risk Check runs when Save and exit is selected.
Image — Add images from the image library, upload a new image, or search a stock image library with royalty-free images from Unsplash, Pexels, and Pixabay.
- Image files must be under 10 MB. JPG, GIF, and PNG formats are recommended for broad email client support.
- Select Apply Effects to resize, crop, add stickers, add a frame, and more.
Button — Add a button with customizable colors and styles. Button action types include:
- Open Website — Sends recipients to a specified web page.
- Email Address — A mailto link that opens the recipient's default email client when selected.
- Phone Number — A phone number link that can be tapped on mobile devices.
Divider — Adds a horizontal divider line with spacing.
HTML — Add custom HTML to the email.
- Important: Custom HTML may affect how the email renders on different devices. Test all emails before sending.
Menu — Add a navigation menu.
Social — Add social media icons linked to social channels.
Timer — Add a countdown timer as an animated GIF image.
Video — Add a YouTube or Vimeo video thumbnail that links to the video. Thumbnails are generated automatically from the video URL.
- The video must be public for the thumbnail to display correctly. Private videos will not generate a thumbnail.
Signature — Merges the signature from the user profile. Multiple signatures can be added to a single email.
Appointments — Add an appointment booking link by connecting a calendar to Keap.

Affiliate Merge Fields

Affiliate record information can be merged into the email body, subject line, and preview text. This feature is only available in Keap Ultimate.

Note: The affiliate password merge field is not available for merging.

The Keap email editor merge field selector showing the available affiliate merge fields including affiliate name, site ID, and other record fields available in Keap Ultimate.

The screenshot above shows the affiliate merge fields available in the Keap email editor for Ultimate accounts.

Saved Blocks

The Keap email editor Blocks tab in the side panel showing the saved custom blocks available for reuse in the current user's email designs.

The screenshot above shows the Blocks tab in the Keap email editor side panel.

Custom blocks can be saved and reused across email designs. Saved blocks are only visible to the user who saved them.

To save a block, select a row in the email canvas and select the save button at the bottom-right of the row.

The Keap email editor canvas showing a selected row with the save block button visible at the bottom-right used to save the row as a reusable block.

The screenshot above shows the save block button on a selected row in the email canvas.

After selecting save, enter a category name and optional tags to organize the block and make it searchable.

The Keap save block dialog showing a category name field and an optional tags field used to organize and label the saved block for future retrieval.

The screenshot above shows the save block dialog with the category name and tags fields.

Body Settings

The Keap email editor Body tab in the side panel showing global style settings including text color, background color, content width, alignment, font family, font weight, link color, and link underline.

The screenshot above shows the Body tab in the Keap email editor side panel.

The Body tab controls global style settings that apply to all elements in the email:

Text Color
Background Color
Content Width
Content Alignment
Font Family
Font Weight
Link Color
Link Underline

Images Tab

The Keap email editor Images tab in the side panel showing a stock image search interface with royalty-free images from Unsplash, Pexels, and Pixabay available to add to the email.

The screenshot above shows the Images tab in the Keap email editor side panel.

The Images tab provides access to a stock image library with millions of royalty-free images from Unsplash, Pexels, and Pixabay. Search and add images directly to the email design from this tab.

Uploads Tab

The Keap email editor Uploads tab in the side panel showing previously uploaded images with a search field used to find specific images by name.

The screenshot above shows the Uploads tab in the Keap email editor side panel.

The Uploads tab stores all previously uploaded images. Use the search field to find specific images by name.

Audit Tab

The Keap email editor Audit tab in the side panel showing accessibility checks with flagged issues including missing image alt text, missing button links, and missing image URLs.

The screenshot above shows the Audit tab in the Keap email editor side panel.

The Audit tab flags common issues before the email is sent. It checks for:

Missing alternate text for images
Missing links in buttons or menus
Missing image URLs

Preview and Test the Email

The Keap email editor toolbar showing the three-dot menu open with Send a test and Preview options visible, and the Save and exit button.

The screenshot above shows the three-dot menu and preview options in the Keap email editor toolbar.

Select Send a test from the three-dot menu to send a test email to a specified address.
Select Preview to see how the email will render in common email clients and on mobile devices.
Select Save and exit to save the email as a draft to return to later.

The Email Broadcast Spam Content Risk Check scans for spammy content and the Audit tool checks for errors before sending.

Save as Template

Email designs can be saved as reusable templates. Select Save as template from the three-dot menu to save the current email for reuse in future broadcasts.

The Keap email editor three-dot menu showing the Save as template option used to save the current email design as a reusable template.

The screenshot above shows the Save as template option in the email editor three-dot menu.

Export HTML

Select Export HTML from the three-dot menu to download the email as an HTML file for external use or collaboration.

The Keap email editor three-dot menu showing the Export HTML option used to download the email design as an HTML file.

The screenshot above shows the Export HTML option in the email editor three-dot menu.

Additional options in the three-dot menu:

Share feedback — Submit in-app feedback to the Keap product team.
Learn more — Quick access to this help article.

AI Assisted Writing Tool

Note: The AI Assisted tool is available in Keap Pro, Max, and Ultimate. It is not available in Max Classic.

The AI Assisted tool is available in the following block types: Button, Heading, and Text.

The Keap email editor showing a Text block selected with the AI Assist button visible in the floating toolbar used to open the AI writing tool.

The screenshot above shows the AI Assist option in the Keap email editor floating toolbar for a selected block.

Select inside a supported block and choose the AI Assist option to open the tool.

The Keap AI Assist tool panel showing options to select a tone and generate AI-suggested text for the selected block in the email editor.

The screenshot above shows the AI Assist tool panel with tone and text generation options.

Select a tone and choose from the AI-generated text suggestions to insert content into the block.

The Keap AI Assist tool showing a list of generated text suggestions with different tones available for the user to select and insert into the email block.

The screenshot above shows the AI Assist generated text suggestions in the Keap email editor.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does this article cover?

This article covers how to use the Keap email builder to create and customize broadcast emails, including content blocks, body settings, image tools, saving blocks and templates, the audit checker, and the AI Assisted writing tool.

Can templates be searched by name and subject line?

Legacy emails in My Templates, Sent, and Drafts can be searched by template name and subject line. New templates can currently only be searched by template name. New drafts and sent emails can be searched by both template name and subject line. This feature is not available for Keap Classic. For more information, see searching My Templates in Keap.

Can broadcasts be sent from a custom email address?

Yes. Any email address from a validated domain can be used as the sender address.

Can custom merge fields be used in the sender address with a non-validated domain?

No. Emails using a non-validated domain in the sender address merge field will not be delivered. Validate the domain in Settings to ensure delivery.

Can it be confirmed that an email with a custom merge field sender will be delivered?

Since merge field values may change before the email is sent, check the Email Reports after sending to confirm delivery.

Can custom merge fields be used in the sender address in the Automation Builder?

No. Custom merge fields in the sender address are only available in Email Broadcast at this time.

Can emojis be added to the body of the email?

Yes. The emoji picker is available in the floating menu for Heading and Text blocks.

Can legacy templates be used in the new email builder?

No. Legacy templates are not compatible with the new email builder. For more information, see the legacy email builder transition guide.

Can a contact be tagged when they select a link in the email?

Yes. Up to 10 tags can be applied to the same link. For setup instructions, see how to add a tag when a link is clicked in Keap.

Can a hosted file download be added to the email?

Yes. A File block can be dragged into the email template to add a hosted file download link.

Can custom merge fields be used in the email body?

Yes. Custom merge fields can be added to the email body.

Where are global font and style settings?

Global font and style settings are in the Body tab of the right-side navigation panel in the email editor.

Are all fonts supported across all email clients?

Not all fonts are supported by all email clients. The following web-safe fonts have the broadest support across Outlook, Gmail, Apple Mail, and other clients:

Arial (sans-serif)
Verdana (sans-serif)
Tahoma (sans-serif)
Trebuchet MS (sans-serif)
Times New Roman (serif)
Georgia (serif)
Garamond (serif)
Courier New (monospace)
Brush Script MT (cursive)

Is A/B testing available in the new email builder?

A/B testing is not currently available in the new email builder. To share feedback on this feature, use the Share feedback option in the three-dot menu within the email editor.

Can a video be embedded directly in the email?

Videos cannot play directly inside an email due to size and security limitations. The Video block generates a clickable thumbnail from a YouTube or Vimeo URL that links to the video when selected.

Are YouTube Shorts URLs supported?

Yes. YouTube Shorts URLs are supported in the email builder's Video block.

Why do styling options differ between Text and Heading blocks?

Default email templates are not updated as frequently as new blocks. The styling options in default templates differ from those in new Text and Heading blocks created by users. This difference is expected.

Can a broadcast be sent to the entire contact list at once?

Yes. Navigate to Contacts, select All contacts, then select Send Broadcast at the bottom of the page.

The Keap Contacts page showing all contacts selected with the Send Broadcast button visible at the bottom of the page used to send a broadcast to the entire contact list.

The screenshot above shows the Send Broadcast button with all contacts selected in the Keap Contacts list.

For Max Classic, navigate to CRM, then Contacts. Run an empty search with no criteria to bring up all contacts. Select all contacts, then select Send a Broadcast from the Actions dropdown.