⚠️ Beta feature: Availability and functionality may vary. To request access, email product@contactmonkey.com or contact your Customer Success Manager.
CoAuthor is ContactMonkey's AI email builder. Describe the email you want in plain language and CoAuthor generates a professional, mobile-friendly layout directly in the Email Builder — no drag-and-drop required.
Requirements
- Email Collaboration must be turned off for your organization.
- CoAuthor will be available on Grow and Enterprise plans.
- CoAuthor is enabled organization-wide. It cannot be turned on or off for individual users.
How It Works (At a High Level)
When you submit a prompt, CoAuthor:
- Interprets your request, including any counts, constraints, or specific instructions you include
- Builds or edits the layout directly in the Email Builder
- Applies safety rules to avoid designs that break when emails are forwarded
- Applies responsive layout best practices — see Accessibility and Mobile Standards below for more information
- Enforces accessibility standards, including descriptive alt text and touch-friendly button sizes
- Summarizes what changed so you can review and adjust before sending.
How to Create an Email with CoAuthor
- Open an existing email draft or create a new email in the ContactMonkey Email Builder
- Click the sparkle icon (✨) on the left side to open CoAuthor
- Type a description of the email you want (see prompt examples below)
- Click Send, OR
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Shift+Enter(Windows) -
Shift+Return(Mac)
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- Review the generated layout. Replace any placeholder images and verify all links
- Type follow-up prompts to refine the email until it's ready
How to Write Effective Prompts
Include these details for the best results:
- Audience — who will receive the email (e.g., all employees, managers, a specific region)
- Purpose — what the email is for (announcement, newsletter, invitation)
- Sections — what content blocks you need
- Counts — exact numbers where relevant (e.g., "3 employee spotlights")
- Dates — any deadlines or effective dates
Examples
- "Create a company announcement about our new remote work policy effective March 1. Include a summary, 3 key changes, and a button linking to the full policy."
- "Draft a monthly employee newsletter with: CEO note, 3 team highlights, upcoming events, and a 3-column footer with contact info."
- "Add an image and a button below it, encouraging employees to complete the annual security training."
How to Edit a Specific Part of Your Email
You can make general edits or target a specific element.
General edits (no selection needed):
- "Add a hero section at the top."
- "Add a benefits reminder section."
Targeted edits:
- Select a section, block, image, or button in the editor
- Type your edit request
- "Change this background color to #0B1F3B."
- "Make this heading shorter."
- "Replace this button text with 'Review the policy'."
Tips and Best Practices
- Start broad, then iterate. Ask for the overall structure first, then follow up to refine wording and visuals.
- Paste must-keep copy exactly as written. When accuracy matters — legal language, policy text, executive quotes — include it verbatim in your prompt so the AI preserves it.
- Call out constraints explicitly. State dates, section counts, and required links upfront rather than adding them in follow-up prompts.
- Specify multi-column layouts directly. For spotlights, stats, or footers, describe the layout you want (e.g., "a 3-column section with headshots, names, and a one-line bio each").
Accessibility and Mobile Standards
CoAuthor automatically applies the following best practices:
- Descriptive alt text on all images
- Buttons sized at minimum 44×44px for touch targets
- Heading structure (H1 → H2 → H3)
- Forwarding-safe design patterns to prevent broken layouts across email clients
Applying Your Brand
Full brand automation may not be available during the beta period. In the meantime:
- Include brand requirements in your prompt (hex color codes, font names, button styles)
- Ask the AI to apply a specific palette: "Use our primary color #0052CC for all buttons."
- Review final styles before sending
Troubleshooting
The output is close but not quite right
Ask for a targeted change: "Keep the structure, but rewrite the intro to be more concise."
I need content inserted in a specific place
Reference the location in your prompt: "Add this section below the 'Upcoming Events' heading."
The email doesn't match our brand
Provide explicit styles in your prompt (hex codes, font names), then ask: "Apply these styles consistently throughout."
Frequently Asked Questions
Does CoAuthor replace the drag-and-drop features?
No. It works alongside the existing Email Builder. You can generate, then fine-tune manually.
Can I use it for external marketing emails?
CoAuthor is optimized for internal employee communications.
What AI model powers this feature?
The current beta uses Claude Haiku.