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Task guide

Create and design an Email Blast

Choose single or portfolio design behavior, use live responsive preview, understand autosave, and hand off to the correct audience and delivery path.

15 to 35 minutesFor users designing a property campaignIntermediateLast verified October 5, 2026

Outcome

You have a polished, mobile-ready property email, for one listing or a whole portfolio, saved and ready to send.

Navigation path

Email Blasts > New email blast or Draft > Composer

Access

Included with any paid CREBuilder plan. Saved drafts and send history stay listed if a subscription lapses.

On this page

Before you start

Data, sources, and access to prepare

  • One completed document for single-property mode or at least two for multiple-property mode
  • Current property images, metrics, broker profile, and listing links

Choose the composer mode before designing

Single property

Best for
One sale, lease, or BOV listing
Design behavior
Four templates, section controls, gallery selection, property metrics, inline content, and optional website CTA

Multiple properties

Best for
A portfolio or selection of at least two listings
Design behavior
Fixed portfolio hero and property cards, with shared colors, fonts, and eligible property website links

Hidden controls are intentional

Portfolio mode does not expose the single-property template, section, gallery, or metrics controls. Use the mode that matches the actual message rather than looking for hidden settings.

Choose a single-property or multi-property campaign.
Choose a single-property or multi-property campaign.

Build and preview the campaign

  1. 1

    Confirm source properties and method

    Email Blast composer header and Send with area

    Verify the selected document or documents and whether Send with is CREBuilder Mail or Download / other apps.

    Expected result: The campaign structure and delivery boundary are correct before content work.

    If this step does not work

    If the wrong source was selected, return to the hub and start the correct draft. Do not disguise it by editing only the title.

  2. 2

    Write the subject

    Composer > Subject line

    Enter a specific subject of no more than 300 characters.

    Expected result: Preview shows a clear, audience-appropriate subject.

    If this step does not work

    If the subject exceeds the limit or lacks context, shorten it before audience work.

    Email Blast composer showing subject, preview, sending method, and campaign mode controls.
    Create a campaign and choose Single-property or Multi-property before editing content and building the audience.
  3. 3

    Write the message

    Composer > message controls

    Enter the intended introduction or portfolio message.

    Expected result: Preview updates with the campaign message.

    If this step does not work

    Remove unsupported or ambiguous claims before audience work.

  4. 4

    Apply available design controls

    Composer > Design

    Configure only the controls offered for the current mode.

    Expected result: The visual hierarchy supports the message without hiding required facts.

    If this step does not work

    If a control is absent, check whether the campaign is in portfolio mode.

    Edit the campaign content and apply the change.
    Edit the campaign content and apply the change.
  5. 5

    Review campaign content

    Composer > Preview

    Inspect images, metrics, links, broker identity, and footer context.

    Expected result: Every visible campaign element is current and relevant.

    If this step does not work

    Correct the source property or campaign control for the first mismatch.

  6. 6

    Open each responsive preview

    Composer > Preview width selector

    Switch between Desktop and Mobile.

    Expected result: The preview renders at each supported width.

    If this step does not work

    Reload the composer if a preview mode does not render.

    Switch to the mobile preview to check how the campaign reads on a phone.
    Switch to the mobile preview to check how the campaign reads on a phone.
  7. 7

    Read the full preview

    Composer > Full preview

    Open the full preview.

    Expected result: Content, cropping, links, spacing, and footer remain readable at both widths.

    If this step does not work

    If content is clipped or a link is unavailable, correct the source property or design before proceeding.

Understand autosave, recipients, and delivery

Draft to outcome

Design is autosaved, but recipient files and delivery require separate explicit actions.

  • Edit campaignDraft autosaves after about 1.2 seconds
  • Draft autosaves after about 1.2 secondsBuild and review audience
  • Build and review audienceHosted preflight and send
  • Draft autosaves after about 1.2 secondsDownload HTML

Important draft boundaries

  • A current-property workflow can resume its draft.
  • An imported recipient file is never stored with the draft and must be re-imported after reload or later return.
  • A matched audience handoff opens context but does not insert or send until the user explicitly reviews and inserts it.
  • Download HTML contains design, not a recipient list or a delivery event.
  • There is no in-app campaign scheduling control. Send now through hosted Mail or schedule in an external platform after downloading HTML.

Download HTML for an external email platform

Already using another email platform? Download your finished design and send it from there. This is also the way to reach a list larger than the 500-recipient CREBuilder Mail limit, or to schedule a send for later. Finish the same property and design review before you download.

  1. 1

    Select the HTML method

    Composer > Send with > Download / other apps

    Select Download / other apps.

    Expected result: The card shows No setup needed and the main button changes to Download HTML.

    If this step does not work

    If the main button still reads Send, select Download / other apps again.

  2. 2

    Inspect the desktop preview

    Composer > Preview > Desktop preview

    Select Desktop preview.

    Expected result: The campaign appears at desktop width for review.

    If this step does not work

    Correct the source property or campaign design when the desktop layout is wrong.

  3. 3

    Inspect the mobile preview

    Composer > Preview > Mobile preview

    Select Mobile preview.

    Expected result: The campaign appears at mobile width for review.

    If this step does not work

    Shorten or adjust the campaign content when the mobile layout is difficult to read.

  4. 4

    Open the full preview

    Composer > Preview > Full preview

    Open Full preview.

    Expected result: The complete campaign is available from its introduction through the footer.

    If this step does not work

    If the preview does not render, close it and retry before downloading.

  5. 5

    Read the complete campaign

    Composer > Full preview

    Inspect the complete message, image crops, property links, broker information, and footer.

    Expected result: Every visible campaign element is accurate and readable at the selected width.

    If this step does not work

    Close the preview, correct the first mismatch, and inspect the result again.

  6. 6

    Download the HTML file

    Composer > Download HTML

    Select Download HTML once.

    Expected result: The browser downloads a file ending in -email.html and CREBuilder reports Email HTML downloaded.

    If this step does not work

    If CREBuilder asks for a subject, complete the Subject line. If an error appears or the file is absent, read the error and check browser download permissions before retrying.

  7. 7

    Open the downloaded file

    Browser downloads > saved -email.html file

    Open the saved -email.html file.

    Expected result: The browser displays the exported campaign design.

    If this step does not work

    If the file is absent, check the browser download result before requesting a replacement.

  8. 8

    Compare the saved design

    Browser > opened -email.html file

    Compare the downloaded campaign with the reviewed composer.

    Expected result: Images, wording, links, broker details, and footer match the intended announcement.

    If this step does not work

    Return to the composer to correct a mismatch, then download and inspect the replacement file.

  9. 9

    Import the design into your email platform

    Your approved external email platform

    Import the checked HTML file into your external email platform.

    Expected result: The imported design is ready for that platform's own preview and delivery review.

    If this step does not work

    Use the external platform's test-email tools to check rendering again.

  10. 10

    Complete the external sending checks

    Your approved external email platform

    Complete your external platform's sending checklist before sending or scheduling.

    Expected result: The audience, consent, unsubscribe, sender identity, test email, and delivery method have been reviewed in the system that owns the actual send.

    If this step does not work

    A CREBuilder download is not evidence that any recipient received an email. Follow the external platform's controls for scheduling and delivery results.

Your platform sends it

The download is the finished design. Your external platform supplies the recipient list, handles scheduling and sending, and reports its own delivery results.

Recover design and mode problems

A control described for single property is missing

Likely cause: The campaign is in multiple-property mode, where the portfolio layout is fixed.

  1. Confirm the selected property count.
  2. Use portfolio colors, fonts, message, and property cards.
  3. Start a separate single-property campaign when detailed sections are required.
Recipient file disappeared after returning

Likely cause: Imported files are intentionally not stored with drafts.

  1. Re-import the original file.
  2. Review its count and provenance again.
  3. Do not assume the old audience is still attached.
The requested property website link is unavailable

Likely cause: Listing Hub is disabled, a source property is unpublished, or link status could not be confirmed.

  1. Read the composer availability label.
  2. Publish every included property when appropriate.
  3. Retry status before enabling the CTA.
  4. Do not paste an unverified public link into campaign content.
You need a scheduled send

Likely cause: CREBuilder Mail does not currently expose campaign scheduling; it sends when you select Send.

  1. Send when the campaign is ready.
  2. Or choose Download / other apps and set the send time in your email platform.

Final verification

  • The selected property or properties, subject, message, images, metrics, broker details, and links match the intended campaign.
  • Desktop, Mobile, and Full preview show the complete campaign with readable content and the intended image crops.
  • The draft has finished autosaving before you leave the composer.
  • For CREBuilder Mail: continue to the audience and preflight guides. Designing or saving the draft does not send it.
  • For Download HTML: inspect the saved -email.html file against the preview, then complete the sending checks in your external email platform.
Correct the displayed recipient, allowance, content or consent issue before sending.
Correct the displayed recipient, allowance, content or consent issue before sending.

Your next OM, done this afternoon

Turn your property facts, photos and financials into a polished, branded offering memorandum. Most brokers finish in 30 to 90 minutes.

No credit card required.

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