Build Responsive Email Templates with AI (No Coding Required for SMEs)

Why Email Template Design Shouldn’t Stop You From Launching

Email template design sounds scary. Responsive layouts. Mobile optimization. HTML. It’s the technical excuse most SMEs use to delay their newsletter.

“Our templates don’t look right on mobile.”

“We need someone who understands HTML.”

“This is too complicated.”

Here’s the truth: Email template design isn’t complicated. And you don’t need a developer. You need AI.

What is MJML?

MJML (Mailjet Markup Language) is a markup language that makes email template creation dead simple. Instead of wrestling with HTML tables and CSS hacks, you write clean, readable code that automatically handles responsive design.

The best part? It compiles into perfect HTML that works on every email client—Outlook, Gmail, Apple Mail, mobile, you name it.

Here’s a simple example:

<mjml>
  <mj-body>
    <mj-container>
      <mj-section>
        <mj-column>
          <mj-text font-size="24px" font-weight="bold">
            Welcome to our newsletter!
          </mj-text>
          <mj-text>
            Thanks for signing up. Here's what to expect...
          </mj-text>
        </mj-column>
      </mj-section>
    </mj-container>
  </mj-body>
</mjml>

That’s it. Simple, clean, and it automatically works on mobile and desktop.

The Game-Changer: ChatGPT Creates MJML Code

Here’s where it gets powerful: ChatGPT is really good at writing MJML code. You just describe what you want, and it generates production-ready templates.

Try asking ChatGPT or Claude something like:

“Write an MJML email template for a product launch announcement. Include a headline, featured image, product description, and a call-to-action button.”

They will generate complete MJML code you can use immediately. It handles responsive design, mobile optimization, and email client compatibility—all automatically.

How to Use AI-Generated MJML Templates

Step 1: Ask ChatGPT or Claude for MJML code

Be specific about what you want:

“Write an MJML welcome email for a SaaS product”
“Create an MJML promotional email with 3 product cards and pricing”
“Generate an MJML newsletter template with sections for featured article, recent posts, and footer”

The more detail you provide, the better the template.

Step 2: Copy the generated code

ChatGPT and Claude output complete, working MJML code. Copy the entire thing.

Step 3: Test it at mjml.io

Go to mjml.io
Paste the code in the left panel
See the preview on the right
The HTML is generated automatically

Step 4: Customize for your brand

Change colors, text, images, and button links to match your brand. MJML is easy to edit:

<!-- Change the color -->
<mj-button background-color="#FF6B6B">Click Here</mj-button>

<!-- Add your image -->
<mj-image src="https://yourimage.com/image.jpg" alt="Description" />

<!-- Update text -->
<mj-text>Your custom text here</mj-text>

Step 5: Download and use

The right panel shows the compiled HTML. Copy it and paste into your email platform (Mailjet, SendGrid, Brevo, etc.).

Why This Works So Well

AI is great at MJML because:

MJML syntax is logical and structured
ChatGPT understands responsive design patterns
It generates clean, maintainable code
The output is ready to use, not theoretical

MJML is perfect for email because:

Responsive design is built-in
Works on all email clients (Outlook, Gmail, Apple Mail, mobile)
No complex CSS or HTML tables
Easy to customize
Small file size

Together, they’re unstoppable.

Real Examples

Example 1: Newsletter Template

Ask ChatGPT: “Create an MJML weekly newsletter template with space for a featured article, 3 smaller articles, and social links in the footer.”

You get production-ready code with everything positioned perfectly.

Example 2: Promotional Email

Ask ChatGPT: “Write an MJML Black Friday email with a countdown timer banner, featured products, and urgency messaging.”

MJML handles the responsive layout. Looks great on every device.

Example 3: Welcome Series

Ask ChatGPT for multiple templates: one for confirmation, one for welcome, one for first offer.

All responsive, all professional, all working immediately.

Advanced: Iterate and Improve

Don’t like the first result? Ask ChatGPT for variations:

“Make this template more minimalist”
“Add social media buttons to this template”
“Change the layout to have a sidebar”
“Make this template wider/narrower”

ChatGPT will regenerate with your changes. Test it at mjml.io each time.

Avoiding Common Mistakes

Don’t: Wait for a designer. Design your own templates with AI.

Don’t: Use HTML email templates. They’re fragile and break across email clients.

Do: Use MJML with AI. Responsive, reliable, and ready to use.

Do: Test on mjml.io before sending. See exactly how it looks.

Your Action Plan Today

Open ChatGPT or Claude
Ask for an MJML email template for your next campaign
Copy the generated code
Paste it into mjml.io
Customize it with your branding
Copy the HTML and use it in your email platform

You’ll have a professional, responsive email template in 10 minutes. No designer needed. No expensive template builder. Just AI, MJML, and you.

The Bottom Line

Professional email design is no longer a barrier to good newsletters. Between AI’s ability to write MJML code and MJML’s built-in responsive design, anyone can create beautiful emails.

Your newsletter deserves to look great. Now you can make it happen.

Build your complete newsletter in 7 steps: