Odd Email Question - Customizing

[WeFoundEm]

Ok I have hated everything I have tried to do with the email my store sends out so, I found an html email template that I love.

My question is, is there a way to have ZC use this template for all emails sent by it, no matter if it is the newsletter, order confirmation, whatever.

If it is, how?

I get the feeling that the question is going to be a lot easier than the answer, sorry.

[kobra]

My question is, is there a way to have ZC use this template for all emails sent by it

If you have reviewed the contents of files in /emails
You should have noticed that they are full of variables that grab the appropriate content
You can add the content of the one you have found, rearrange where the variables are used etc...
You should pay attention to what one that does not/will not/can not receive this as html

[WeFoundEm]

ok so each type of email that ZC sends has to be customized separately, there is not a common "template" that they pull their style info from?

[kobra]

ok so each type of email that ZC sends has to be customized separately, there is not a common "template" that they pull their style info from?

That is why there are several with appropriate names

[DrByte]

If you look at the actual files you'll see that the styling is largely all handled in the top section ... You can easily replace the parts necessary for your own customizations.

Remember, email clients can't handle advanced things like CSS2 or CSS3, and display better using table-based layouts instead of complex divs with fancy positioning. Be careful how sophisticated you try to get, lest you end up with headaches.

[WeFoundEm]

Well I downloaded a template from an email marketing company and they "swear" it is compatible with almost everything, at least everything reasonably current, so I am hoping I am ok in that respect.

Off to editing I go I will let you know how this works out and will post the files if it actually works lol.

[kobra]

Well I downloaded a template from an email marketing company and they "swear" it is compatible with almost everything,

Probably designed to be utilized using their product and one that you and any shop owner should consider, as this is advertising
Not mush unlike standard mail and the associated cost of same

[WeFoundEm]

Well I figured at this point if nothing else at least it provides me a decent HTML base to work from, I have seen what the "final product" is supposed to look like so at least I know where I want to end up.

I have tried so many other things and the emails I have sent out has been a sore spot for me since day one, never could get them to look professional enough.

[kobra]

I have tried so many other things and the emails I have sent out has been a sore spot for me since day one, never could get them to look professional enough.

I reiterate - - Use one of the mass email services

[WeFoundEm]

Well I did check out Constant Contact and they seem reasonable however since I only have had one paying customer so far it seems a bit silly at this point. Plus they or none of the other services that I am aware of will send order confirmations, welcome letters, etc.

Basically what it boils down to is that being a single father and doing this just to make some extra money for now, I have managed to get a shopping cart, accounting program that sits on my server and integrates with ZC, an SEO Panel/Tools that also sits on my server and integrates with ZC, a year of hosting, and my domain name registered for a year and so far it has cost me exactly $1.

When the store gets to the point of being able to afford a mass mailing service of some sort and I have enough customers to make it worth while then it becomes more of a viable option. I am all for anything that means less time for me lol.