Design choices for Windows Outlook desktop app

Question

Hello!

I’m using Klaviyo to build a HTML email template for my client. They are a B2B business, and most of their users are opening emails with Outlook’s desktop app for Windows, and by now we know it renders email with Word and breaks all our designs.

I need to create a 50/50 section in my template and Klaviyo offers 3 ways of doing that : the split block, the table block and the 2 columns layout. Did some of you previously test which one is the least broken in the Windows Outlook app?

Or do you know a free tool that allows us to preview the email in the Windows Outlook app with accurate results?

Thank you so much everybody! 😊

retention · Accepted Answer

Hi ​@Rosie.Clément, welcome to the community!So the right answer depends on which Outlook version and on which platforms (Yes, it all matters!). My best suggesting is to use an inbox testing tool so you can preview and iterate. The two that I have used are:Litmus Email TestingEmail on AcidThere may be others, but these tools let you see what your email looks like on dozens (hundreds?) of different email clients and on different platforms. For example, Outlook on Windows Desktop can be different than Outlook on IOS, and different on Outlook 365 (on the web).However, to cut to the chase, I find using “Tables” the best method to control most look and feel as it gives you the most control over more settings to test and tweak. There are situation that you may require youdo it manually in HTML so that you can add additional Outlook specific coding to make it work (e.g. inline styles) - so you may consider going back to your HTML method to fine tune this for Outlook.Good luck, and let us know how it goes!

Rosie.Clément · Answer

Hello ​@retention!Thank you so much for your quick answer and for your tips!😊I’ll test the three types of 50/50 design with the two tools you suggested and will let you know how it went.Have an amazing rest of your day!

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