Create Great Email Header Images

You’ve probably already taken a look at our guide to Great ActionBar Backgrounds, and if so, you’ll be happy to know that creating great email header images is just as easy.

Below you’ll see the image we’re using in our emails. It’s a simple 500 pixel wide by 100 pixel high PNG-formatted image. It contains our branding and a little bling. That’s really all you need. If you choose not to add an email header image, it will be replaced with a hyperlink to your website, using your site name as the link text.

Our email header image

Here’s what the image looks like in a shared email (screenshot from Gmail). The text at top (“Tim Barkow says”) is the sender’s message. The text in the dashed box is the message, with a link back to your site. The About text below is your site description (change this via the Site Settings menu link).

Sample email sent via HeyIndie send-to-a-friend

Here’s another example email.

Shared email from SMITH magazine

That’s all there is to it. Adding an email header image adds extra punch to your shared emails, but be assured that even without an image, these messages will outperform simple text emails every time.