> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://help.dscout.com/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://help.dscout.com/private-panels/studies/email-editor.md).

# Email editor

All emails go through the email editor before you can send it out to panelists so you can make the necessary changes, if there's any. It's divided into three parts: **Email Subject**, **Merge Tags**, and **Email Body**.

## Email Subject

This part is straightforward. You can just type the subject of the email on the **Email Subject** textbox.

![](https://content.gitbook.com/content/T7fhyut5rrQHwe5QRGot/blobs/sIj4UNAXFP7OZ2s2N95J/37062775862164)

## Merge Tags

Merge tags are dynamic fields that are automatically filled out with the recipient's [panel properties](/private-panels/panel-management/panel-properties.md) when sent. These can be used when you'd like to personalize the email or when panel properties are mentioned in your email. Here's how you can use it:

{% stepper %}
{% step %}
Click the drop-down button below **Merge Tags**.
{% endstep %}

{% step %}
Select the panelist properties that you'd like to add as a merge tag from the drop-down options.
{% endstep %}

{% step %}
Your selected merge tag will be added to your clipboard. Paste it in your preferred location. You can paste it within the **Email Body** or **Email Subject**.
{% endstep %}

{% step %}
The merge tag will be enclosed in curly brackets {} to set it apart from regular text.

![](https://content.gitbook.com/content/T7fhyut5rrQHwe5QRGot/blobs/rr9GPYM8p5UJ4w5DNVt5/37062735673748)
{% endstep %}
{% endstepper %}

### Unsubscribe and consent management links

Every email Private Panels sends already includes unsubscribe and "right to be forgotten" links in the default footer, so you don't need to add them yourself.

If you want those links somewhere else in the email, use the **{unsubscribe\_link}** merge tag. The merge tags drop-down in the email editor doesn't list it—you'll only find it in the drop-down when you're editing an HTML email template. For more on that, read [Email templates](/private-panels/emailing-and-sms/email-templates.md).

Keep these in mind:

* Each panelist's consent link is unique to them. Private Panels builds the right link for every recipient when the email sends.
* Don't copy a consent link out of one email and paste it into another. A copied link still points at the original recipient, so anyone who clicks it opts out that person instead of themselves.
* The merge tag adds a full sentence with both links, not a bare URL. You don't need to write your own link text around it.

To see what panelists get after they click, read [Panelist consent and opt-in](/private-panels/panel-management/panelist-consent-and-opt-in.md).

## Email Body

Here, you can either load an email template or write a custom one. Once you've loaded or written the email body, you can add basic formatting to the text. Your custom email footer, found at the bottom, will also be previewed here. If you don't have a custom footer yet, you can follow our [Custom branding](/private-panels/organization-settings/custom-branding.md) guide to create yours.

![](https://content.gitbook.com/content/T7fhyut5rrQHwe5QRGot/blobs/Bqu0TJmL9u08IZFbT4Sr/37062735674388)

## Loading an email template

Email templates are used for routine emails such as Welcome and Thank you emails. You can create an email template by following our [Email templates](/private-panels/emailing-and-sms/email-templates.md) guide. If you already have email templates, you can load it in the email editor by following the steps below:

{% stepper %}
{% step %}
Click the **View Email Templates** button within the email editor.
{% endstep %}

{% step %}
The **Select a template** pop-up will appear. Click the drop-down field in the pop-up then select the template you'd like to use from the options.
{% endstep %}

{% step %}
Then, click the **Use Template** button.

![](https://content.gitbook.com/content/T7fhyut5rrQHwe5QRGot/blobs/G9c6ZPkCsEDK55Q4ACTW/37062735676180)
{% endstep %}
{% endstepper %}

## Adding basic text formatting

You can change the font style and color of the text within the **Email Body** of the email editor. You can do this by highlighting the text you want to format so the formatting options will pop up. Select the text formatting you'd like to use by clicking it.

### Font Style

The font styles supported are **bold**, *italicized*, and underlined. You can click the buttons on the pop-up formatting options to change the text style or use the keyboard shortcuts: Ctrl+B (bold), Ctrl+I (italicized), Ctrl+U (underlined).

![](https://content.gitbook.com/content/T7fhyut5rrQHwe5QRGot/blobs/9idYBPfbip48kJS0Ky5n/37062775864340)

### Font Color

Follow the steps below to change the font color:

{% stepper %}
{% step %}
Once the text you'd like to format has been highlighted, click the **A** button from the pop-up formatting options.
{% endstep %}

{% step %}
Click the rectangle on the drop-down that appears.
{% endstep %}

{% step %}
You can select the color from the pop-up.

![](https://content.gitbook.com/content/T7fhyut5rrQHwe5QRGot/blobs/a0WrjdjarSI33hCjrzNm/37062735677844)
{% endstep %}
{% endstepper %}

You can select a color in three ways:

* **Color picker** - use any of the colors currently present in your screen. To use this, click the color picker button then click the color present on your screen that you'd like to use.\
  ![file-2a2rsWr3yT.png](https://content.gitbook.com/content/T7fhyut5rrQHwe5QRGot/blobs/SJ5uPzATOGg74tu3rJm0/37062735678996)
* **Slider and gradient** - use the slider at the bottom to select the color you'd like to use. Then, click anywhere on the gradient to select the shade of the chosen color that you'd like to use.\
  ![file-CBwgjSj5bx.png](https://content.gitbook.com/content/T7fhyut5rrQHwe5QRGot/blobs/n3is8zT74N6AuEWxfbP0/37062735685524)
* **Color code** - use the color's RGB, HEX, or HSL code. You can set the code you'd like to use by clicking the code button until your preferred color code is selected. Then, type the color's code on the textbox/textboxes above the button.\
  ![file-67xsPIXff7.png](https://content.gitbook.com/content/T7fhyut5rrQHwe5QRGot/blobs/pEthHbEegvj0PrGSS5uD/37062775870996)

## Creating links

You can turn any text within the email's body into a hyperlink by following the steps below:

{% stepper %}
{% step %}
Highlight the text, then click the **Link** button from the pop-up formatting options.
{% endstep %}

{% step %}
A textbox will appear below or above the pop-up formatting options. Paste the link on the textbox.
{% endstep %}

{% step %}
Hit enter on your keyboard.

![](https://content.gitbook.com/content/T7fhyut5rrQHwe5QRGot/blobs/3AtxfS9WxKM7Mdrt7VSq/37062735686804)
{% endstep %}
{% endstepper %}

## Adding and managing elements (including images)

By default, the added element in the email body is text. There are seven other elements that you can include in the email body: **Screener Button, Dscout Study Button, Scheduling Button, Session Spot, Session Location, Session Confirmation Button, and Images.**

You can add elements by clicking the **+** button that appears when you hover your mouse cursor on any part of the email body. Then, select the element you'd like to add from the drop-down options.

![](https://content.gitbook.com/content/T7fhyut5rrQHwe5QRGot/blobs/ixTMPxH8AyxD5GsUZGxN/37062775874452)

The location of the added element can be changed by clicking the **Tune** button that appears when you hover your mouse cursor over the element. You can click the up and down arrows to move its location up or down, respectively. The **X** button will delete the element.

![](https://content.gitbook.com/content/T7fhyut5rrQHwe5QRGot/blobs/nWJZ1CMLyXh0ROBKhgRU/37062775875348)

{% hint style="info" %}
**Note:** Private Panels was previously managed outside of Dscout, so you may see a different logo and URL in some places. If you have any questions, contact <support@dscout.com>.
{% endhint %}


---

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