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Email Marketing Glossary.

Clear, no-fluff definitions of every email marketing term that matters—from open rates to double opt-in. 

 

Responsive Email

A responsive email is designed to automatically adapt its layout to the recipient's screen size, so it looks good and stays readable on desktop, tablet, and mobile.

Also known as: mobile-friendly email, mobile-responsive email

A large share of emails are opened on phones, so an email that only looks right on desktop is an email half your audience struggles to read. Responsive design fixes that by adapting to whatever screen it lands on.

How does responsive email work?

Responsive templates use flexible layouts and media queries so elements resize, stack, or reflow based on screen width — a two-column layout on desktop might become a single column on mobile.

Why does responsive email matter?

Mobile accounts for a large portion of opens. Emails that render poorly on mobile get deleted, hurting engagement and, over time, deliverability.

Responsive email best practices

Design mobile-first, use a single-column layout where possible, keep CTAs large and tappable, use legible font sizes, and always test across devices and clients before sending.

Related terms

Subject Line Call to Action (CTA) Preheader Email Template Personalization Dynamic Content

Related reading from Drip

9 Mobile-Friendly Email Examples Every Marketer Needs to See 8 Jaw-Dropping E-Commerce Email Design Examples

Frequently asked questions

What is a responsive email?
A responsive email automatically adapts its layout to the recipient's screen size, so it stays readable and looks good on desktop, tablet, and mobile devices.
How does responsive email design work?
Responsive templates use flexible layouts and media queries so elements resize, stack, or reflow based on screen width. For example, a two-column desktop layout may collapse to a single column on mobile.
Why is responsive email important?
A large share of emails are opened on mobile devices. Emails that render poorly on small screens get deleted, which hurts engagement and, over time, your deliverability.
What are responsive email best practices?
Design mobile-first, favor single-column layouts, keep calls to action large and tappable, use legible font sizes, and always test across multiple devices and email clients before sending.
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