Faster campaign production
Build campaigns in hours instead of days. Reusable modules and a visual CMS interface let marketers work independently.
A CMS for Your Marketo Email Templates
Let your marketing team manage email content, not code. Convert your Marketo templates into a content management system with protected structure and editable fields.
Marketo's email editor requires HTML expertise and familiarity with Marketo-specific syntax. Marketing teams wait on developers for simple content changes. Templates inject unwanted code when edited. Modular Mail is a no-code email template CMS that works alongside Marketo Engage. Define your email design system once, then let marketers manage content through simple fields—no coding required.
The Problem
Common Marketo Email Editor Challenges
Marketo Engage is powerful for automation and lead management, but the email editor creates friction for marketing teams. Here is what teams run into:
Developer Dependency
Marketo templates require HTML and CSS expertise, plus familiarity with Marketo-specific syntax like mktoModule and mktoContainer. Not every marketing team has developers, and not every developer knows email design. An email CMS removes this bottleneck.
Template Updates Do Not Propagate
When you update a Marketo email template, existing emails do not inherit those changes. Every email must be manually re-approved. A CMS approach separates content from structure so template updates apply consistently.
Editor Injects Unwanted Code
Marketo's editor adds extra line breaks, non-breaking spaces, and formatting tags during editing. Teams report spending hours troubleshooting spacing issues and cleaning up HTML. Content fields prevent this by keeping editing separate from code.
Limited Drag-and-Drop
Marketo's drag-and-drop is restricted. Users report modules showing red strikethrough symbols, being unable to reorder sections, and needing to build templates entirely in HTML. True visual editing requires external tools.
Outlook Rendering Problems
Emails that look perfect in Gmail appear broken in Outlook due to Microsoft Word's rendering engine. Teams spend hours adding MSO conditionals and VML markup. Pre-tested modules eliminate this cross-client testing burden.
Slow Production Cycles
Creating emails in Marketo requires too many clicks and constant developer involvement. Companies using third-party tools report 90% reduction in change requests and campaigns shipping in hours instead of days.
The Solution
How an Email CMS Solves Marketo Limitations
Modular Mail is a CMS layer that sits alongside Marketo. You keep using Marketo for automation and sending while gaining a proper email design system with protected templates and editable content fields.
Content fields, not Marketo syntax
Marketers edit text, images, and links through simple content fields. No mktoModule syntax to learn. No HTML to troubleshoot. The CMS interface shows exactly what can be edited.
Protected template structure
Your email design system stays locked. Developers define the module structure once, and that structure cannot be broken by content editors. No more extra line breaks or formatting tag injection.
Your design system, your rules
Define global tokens for colors, fonts, spacing, and typography. Your brand guidelines are built into the system. Every email stays on brand without relying on Marketo's limited styling options.
Clean HTML for Design Studio
Export production-ready HTML that works with Marketo's Design Studio. Add your tokens and dynamic content after import. The code is optimized for email clients with no cleanup required.
Pre-tested modules
Every module is tested across Outlook, Gmail, Apple Mail, and mobile clients. No more MSO conditionals or VML workarounds. Preview responsive behavior in the editor, then export with confidence.
Marketing independence
With a central library of approved modules and one-click Marketo export, marketing teams update campaigns without developer help. Production cycles shrink from days to hours.
How It Works
Email Template Management for Marketo in 3 Steps
Set up your email design system once, then build campaigns without developer help. Here is how Modular Mail works with your Marketo workflow.
1
Upload Your Design System
A developer uploads your master HTML template (or Figma design) and defines reusable modules using simple mm-editable tags.
No Marketo syntax required. Our team can help convert existing Marketo templates.
2
Build Campaigns Visually
Marketers select modules, fill in content fields, reorder sections, and preview. No HTML editing. No mktoModule syntax. The template structure stays protected while content is fully editable.
3
Export to Marketo Design Studio
One-click export generates production-ready HTML. Upload to Marketo's Design Studio, add your tokens and dynamic content, and send. Your emails will render consistently across all major email clients.
CMS vs Builder
When to Choose an Email CMS Over an Email Builder
Email builders like Knak, Stensul, and Stripo give users full creative freedom. An email CMS takes a different approach—and for many teams, it is the better fit.
Choose a Builder When...
- You want users to create new layouts from scratch
- Every campaign needs a unique design
- Creative freedom is more important than consistency
- You do not have established email templates yet
Choose a CMS When...
- You have established templates that should not change
- Brand consistency is a priority
- You want to limit what content editors can modify
- Speed matters—assembling modules is faster than building from scratch
- You need to eliminate the risk of layout errors and broken designs
- Multiple people create campaigns and you need guardrails
The core difference: In a builder, users construct emails. In a CMS, templates define the structure and users fill in content. If you have invested in your email design system and want to protect it while letting marketing move fast, a CMS is the right choice.
Benefits
Why Teams Add Modular Mail to Their Marketo Stack
Keep using Marketo for automation and lead management. Add Modular Mail for email template management that marketing teams can actually use.
Email design system support
Define your design tokens once: colors, fonts, spacing. Your email design system stays consistent across every campaign and team.
Production-ready HTML
Export clean, accessible code that works with Marketo Design Studio. No manual cleanup or HTML troubleshooting needed.
Mobile-responsive email templates
Preview responsive behavior across desktop, tablet, and mobile. Every module is pre-tested for cross-client compatibility including Outlook, Gmail, and Apple Mail.
ESP-agnostic export
Export to Marketo, Salesforce, Klaviyo, or any ESP. Your templates are portable. No vendor lock-in.
Marketing team independence
Content editors update campaigns through simple fields. Developers set up the system once and focus on strategic work.
Template conversion service
Our team converts your existing Marketo templates or Figma designs into a modular CMS system. Get started in hours, not weeks.
Comparison
Marketo Editor vs. Marketo + Email CMS
See how adding an email CMS layer improves your Marketo email production workflow.
| Feature / Workflow | Marketo Native Editor | Marketo + Modular Mail Recommended |
|---|---|---|
| Template editing | Requires HTML and Marketo syntax knowledge | Simple content fields, no coding |
| Template structure | Can be broken by non-technical users | Locked structure, protected layouts |
| Brand consistency | Manual enforcement, easy to drift | Design system enforced automatically |
| Code quality | Editor injects unwanted tags and spacing | Clean, optimized HTML output |
| Cross-client rendering | Requires manual Outlook fixes | Pre-tested modules render everywhere |
| Production speed | Requires developer for most changes | Marketing self-service, no bottleneck |
Use Cases
Who Uses an Email CMS with Marketo?
Marketing teams, agencies, and enterprises who want to manage email content without developer bottlenecks while keeping their Marketo automation intact.
Enterprise Marketing Teams
Create campaigns without waiting on developers. Update content, swap images, and launch faster while maintaining brand consistency across teams and regions.
A B2B enterprise needs to launch 30+ email campaigns per quarter across multiple product lines without relying on their development team for every content change.
Agencies Managing Marketo Accounts
Build templates for clients, convert them into a managed content system. Clients edit content fields while your template structure stays protected. Fewer revision cycles, faster delivery.
A digital agency managing Marketo for multiple enterprise clients needs to deliver on-brand emails quickly while reducing back-and-forth on simple content changes.
Decentralized Marketing Teams
Field marketing and regional teams create localized campaigns without Marketo access or coding skills. Central ops maintains brand control while local teams move independently.
A global company with regional marketing teams needs to let local marketers create campaigns in their language while ensuring every email matches global brand standards.
Why Modular Mail
A CMS for Your Marketo Email Design System
Modular Mail gives you a proper content management layer for email. Your developers define the template structure once, then marketers update content through simple fields. No more waiting on developers for routine changes.
Think of it like a website CMS, but for email. Templates define what can be edited. Content editors fill in the fields. The design system stays protected while content stays flexible.
- Visual content editing Intuitive interface for marketers, no Marketo syntax required
- Design-safe editing Only content is editable, preserving layouts and brand guidelines
- Clean HTML export Production-ready code for Marketo Design Studio
- ESP-agnostic freedom Export to Marketo, Salesforce, Klaviyo, or any platform
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I continue using Marketo Engage with Modular Mail?
Yes. Modular Mail is ESP-agnostic. You build your emails in Modular Mail and export clean HTML that you upload to Marketo's Design Studio. You keep using Marketo for automation, scoring, and sending.
How does this work with Marketo's Email 2.0 editor?
Modular Mail generates HTML that you import into Marketo. You can use it with Email 2.0 or the classic editor. After import, you add your Marketo tokens and dynamic content as usual.
Do I need to learn Marketo template syntax?
No. Your developer sets up the template structure once using simple mm-editable tags. Marketers never see mktoModule, mktoContainer, or any Marketo-specific syntax. They just fill in content fields.
How long does it take to set up a template?
It varies by template complexity—from a few hours for simpler designs to a day or two for templates that need restructuring. We'll help you scope this during onboarding so there are no surprises.
Can non-technical users really build emails without breaking them?
Yes. Only the text, images, and links are editable. Layout and styles are locked by the developer. No more extra line breaks, spacing issues, or formatting tag injection.
What if I need help converting my Marketo templates?
Our team offers template conversion services. We can convert your existing Marketo templates or Figma designs into a modular CMS system. Most conversions are completed within a few days.
Do Marketo tokens work with exported HTML?
Yes. Modular Mail exports clean HTML that works with all Marketo features. You add your tokens, snippets, and dynamic content after importing the HTML into Design Studio.
How is this different from Knak or Stensul?
Knak, Stensul, and Stripo are drag-and-drop email builders—they give users full creative freedom to construct emails from scratch. Modular Mail is a CMS. Think of it like WordPress (CMS) vs Wix (builder). In a builder, anyone can change layouts, add sections, move elements anywhere. In a CMS, the template defines the structure and users fill in content fields. Choose a builder when you want creative freedom for every campaign. Choose a CMS when you have established templates and need consistent, on-brand campaigns with protected structure. The CMS approach is faster for day-to-day use and eliminates the risk of layout errors or brand drift.
Does Modular Mail have drag-and-drop editing?
Yes, but it works differently than typical email builders. You can drag and drop pre-approved modules to build your email, reorder sections, and remove components. However, you cannot drag elements anywhere or construct layouts from scratch—the template structure stays protected. This gives you the speed of drag-and-drop without the risk of breaking layouts or going off-brand. It is much faster than building from scratch because you are assembling from a library of tested, approved modules rather than designing each email.
Can I preview emails on mobile and test across email clients?
Yes. Modular Mail includes responsive preview modes so you can see exactly how your email will render on desktop, tablet, and mobile devices. All modules are pre-tested for compatibility with Gmail, Outlook (including Windows Outlook with MSO conditionals), Apple Mail, and other major email clients. You catch rendering issues in the editor before exporting to Marketo.
Does Modular Mail support Marketo landing pages?
Modular Mail currently focuses on email templates. For landing pages, you would continue using Marketo's landing page editor or other tools. We are exploring landing page support for future releases—contact us if this is a priority for your team.
What about template updates?
Unlike Marketo where template updates do not propagate to existing emails, Modular Mail separates content from structure. Update your template once and future emails inherit the changes automatically.
Ready to Solve Your Marketo Email Challenges?
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