Updated newsletter template for enhanced engagement and modern look

[nicolebrennan]

At a glance

comment: # We want to update our newsletter templates on Gov Delivery so that it reflects our updated product look and increases engagement with our audience. The refreshed design and content strategy should incorporate our latest brand guidelines, improve call to action (CTA) placements, and be optimized for mobile and cross client compatibility. This will help drive higher CTRs and overall better user inaction with our newsletters.

Background
Our current newsletter has served us well, but with evolving design trends and engineering updates it is time for a refresh. The goal is to update the template to be more visually appealing, engaging, and effective at converting readers. This update will require collaboration with design and content teams.

Acceptance Criteria

We use DRY behavior-driven development wherever possible.

The new template reflects the current product look and adheres to updated brand guidelines (colors, fonts, etc)

The layout is modern and clean, emphasizing content readability and visual hierarchy

CTAs are prominently placed and styled to attract user interaction

The template allows for easy customization of CTA text and links

The template renders correctly in mobile and has been tested and confirmed to work in major email clients (Gmail, Outlook, Apple mail)

Incorporates interactive elements

Design to facilitate tracking of engagement metrics

Scenario:

Given
when
...

then...

Preview Give feedback

1. [a thing happens]
2. Design update: Create high fidelity mockups of the new template
3. Ensure mockups incorporate updated brand guidelines and modern design elements
4. Code/set up the template on GovDelivery, ensuring compatibility with dynamic content
5. Implement responsive design practices for mobile optimization
6. Redesign CTA elements to be visually prominent and appealing
7. Explore and integrate hover states, etc where supported by the platform
8. Test the template across various email clients (gmail, outlook, apple)
9. Validate that dynamic content placeholders are rendering correctly
10. Run AB tests with a sample audience if possible, to measure engagement improvements
11. Update the internal documentation to detail how to configure an use the new template
12. provide training or guidelines for content creators on how to best leverage the new design
13. Scheduole a review session with M&O team
14. Incorporate feedback and finalize the templates
15. Roll out the updated template
16. Monitor performance metrics and father final feedback before prod deployment if possible

Additional Notes

Please attach any design screenshots, test logs, or stakeholder feedback to this ticket.

Shepherd

• UX shepherd: Nicole Brennan
• Design shepherd: Nicole Brennan
• Engineering shepherd: Nicole Brennan

Background

Security Considerations

Required per CM-4.

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Process checklist

• Has a clear story statement
• Can reasonably be done in a few days (otherwise, split this up!)
• Shepherds have been identified
• UX youexes all the things
• Design designs all the things
• Engineering engineers all the things
• Meets acceptance criteria
• Meets QASP conditions
• Presented in a review
• Includes screenshots or references to artifacts
• Tagged with the sprint where it was finished
• Archived

If there's UI...

• Screen reader - Listen to the experience with a screen reader extension, ensure the information presented in order
• Keyboard navigation - Run through acceptance criteria with keyboard tabs, ensure it works.
• Text scaling - Adjust viewport to 1280 pixels wide and zoom to 200%, ensure everything renders as expected. Document 400% zoom issues with USWDS if appropriate.

[nicolebrennan]

Current newsletter template screenshot: