Content AI in the email builder

Overview

Content AI in the email builder helps you create high-performing emails faster by generating subject lines, body copy, calls-to-action, and complete email drafts. Instead of staring at a blank page, you describe what you need and the AI produces polished content you can use immediately or refine to match your brand. Whether you are building a one-off campaign, a drip sequence, or a transactional email, Content AI accelerates every step of the writing process.

Content AI text dashboard with generation stats and filter tabs for Social Planner, Blog, Funnel, Website, Email, and Conversation — Content AI text dashboard showing total words generated, cost tracking, and content filter tabs

Content AI text dashboard with word count stats and channel filters — Content AI text generation dashboard showing total words generated and activity across channels

Content AI in the email builder consumes word credits from your HoopAI plan. Each generation request uses credits based on the length of the output. Monitor your usage in Settings > AI credits.

Accessing Content AI in the email builder

Content AI is available anywhere you write text in the email builder:

Open Marketing > Emails and create a new email or edit an existing one
In the email builder, click on any text element (heading, paragraph, button)
Look for the AI icon in the text editing toolbar
Click it to open the Content AI panel

You can also access Content AI from the subject line field when composing your campaign settings.

Generating subject lines

Subject lines make or break your open rates. Content AI generates multiple options so you can pick the strongest one.

Open the subject line generator

In your email campaign settings, click the AI icon next to the subject line field.

Provide context

Tell the AI what the email is about. The more context you give, the better the results:

Email topic: What is the main message?
Audience: Who is receiving this email?
Tone: Professional, casual, urgent, playful?
Goal: Opens, clicks, replies?

Generate options

Click Generate to receive 3-5 subject line options. Each will use a different angle or approach.

Select or refine

Click on a subject line to use it, or click Regenerate for new options. You can also edit the selected line manually.

Subject line strategies the AI uses

The AI applies proven email marketing techniques:

Curiosity gap — creates intrigue without being clickbait
Personalization — incorporates merge fields like {{contact.first_name}}
Urgency — suggests time-sensitive language when appropriate
Benefit-focused — leads with what the reader gains
Question format — engages by asking something relevant

Generate subject lines in batches and save the best ones for A/B testing. Having 4-5 strong options lets you test what resonates with your specific audience.

Generating body copy

Content AI can generate complete email body sections or help you expand on bullet points.

Content AI list view showing all generated text content — All generated content list showing text outputs across different channels

Content AI image generation panel with prompt input and style options — Content AI image generation interface for creating visual content to accompany emails

Full email draft

Provide the AI with:

The purpose of the email (welcome, promotion, follow-up, announcement)
Key points to cover
Desired length (short, medium, detailed)
Tone and style preferences
Any specific offers, links, or deadlines to include

The AI generates a complete draft that you can drop into your email template and customize.

Section-by-section generation

For more control, generate content one section at a time:

Section	What to tell the AI
Opening hook	Email topic, audience pain point, desired emotional response
Value proposition	Product/service benefits, what makes your offer unique
Social proof	Type of proof to reference (testimonials, stats, case studies)
Call-to-action	What action you want, urgency level, incentive details
P.S. line	Additional hook, reminder, or secondary CTA

Expanding bullet points into paragraphs

If you have an outline but need fleshed-out copy:

Type your bullet points into the text element
Select the text and click the AI icon
Choose Expand to turn each bullet into a polished paragraph
Review and edit the output

Detailed view of a Content AI generated text output — Content detail view showing a specific generated text entry

Copy content button for reusing AI-generated text — Copying AI-generated content to use in your email campaigns

Generating CTAs

Strong calls-to-action drive clicks. Content AI generates CTA button text and surrounding copy. Input: Tell the AI what action you want the reader to take and what they get in return. Output examples:

“Book your free consultation” (service business)
“Claim your 20% discount” (e-commerce)
“See the full case study” (B2B)
“Reserve your spot — only 12 left” (event)

The AI adapts CTA language to match the tone and context of your email.

Personalizing with merge fields and AI

Content AI and merge fields work together to create emails that feel individually crafted at scale.

How to combine them

In your AI prompt: Reference the type of personalization you want. Example: “Write a follow-up email that references the contact’s service interest.”
In the output: The AI generates copy with natural insertion points for merge fields.
After generation: Insert the appropriate merge fields where the AI indicated personalization should go.

Example

AI prompt: “Write a re-engagement email for a contact who hasn’t visited in 3 months. Reference their last service.” AI output:

Hi {{contact.first_name}},

It's been a while since your last visit with us for
{{contact.custom_field.last_service}}. We've made some
exciting updates since then and would love to see you again.

As a valued customer, here's an exclusive 15% off your next appointment.

The merge fields ensure each recipient sees their own name and service history, while the AI-generated copy provides the framework and tone.

AI-generated image result from Content AI — AI-generated image output ready for use in email campaigns

A/B testing AI-generated variants

Content AI is a powerful A/B testing companion. Generate multiple versions of the same email and let data determine the winner.

A/B testing workflow

Generate variant A

Create your first email version using Content AI with one angle or tone (e.g., benefit-focused, professional tone).

Generate variant B

Regenerate with a different prompt (e.g., urgency-focused, conversational tone). Save this as your second variant.

Set up the A/B test

In your campaign settings, enable A/B testing. Assign variant A and variant B. Set your test percentage (typically 20-30% of your list).

Define the winning metric

Choose whether the winner is determined by open rate (test subject lines) or click rate (test body/CTA).

Launch and learn

Send the test. After sufficient data, the winner automatically sends to the remaining list. Use the results to inform future AI prompts.

What to A/B test with AI

Element	Variant A	Variant B
Subject line	Curiosity-based	Benefit-based
Opening line	Personal story	Statistic/fact
CTA text	Action-oriented (“Book now”)	Benefit-oriented (“Get your free quote”)
Email length	Short and punchy (under 100 words)	Detailed with sections (200+ words)
Tone	Professional and authoritative	Warm and conversational

Brand voice consistency

Content AI produces better results when it understands your brand voice.

Configuring brand voice

Navigate to Settings > AI > Brand Voice
Define your brand’s tone (e.g., professional but approachable, witty but not sarcastic)
Add example phrases or sentences that represent your voice
List words or phrases to avoid
Save your brand voice settings

Once configured, Content AI across the platform — including the email builder — will reference these settings when generating content.

Manual voice guidance

If you haven’t set up brand voice globally, include voice instructions directly in your AI prompts:

Write in a warm, professional tone. Use short sentences.
Avoid jargon and corporate-speak. Sound like a helpful neighbor,
not a salesperson. Never use exclamation marks more than once per email.

For a comprehensive guide to configuring and maintaining your brand voice across all Content AI features, see Content AI overview.

Cost tracking and optimization

Understanding credit consumption

Each Content AI generation in the email builder uses word credits:

Subject line generation — minimal credits (short output)
Section generation — moderate credits (paragraph-length output)
Full email draft — higher credits (complete email output)
Regeneration — each regeneration uses additional credits

Content AI cost tracking dashboard — Cost tracking view showing AI credit consumption over time

Tips for minimizing credit usage

Write outlines and bullet points yourself, then use AI only to polish and expand
Save effective prompts as templates so you do not waste credits on trial and error
Use the AI for your first draft, then manually write variations instead of regenerating
Generate in batches during a dedicated content creation session rather than one-off requests

Tracking usage

Monitor your credit consumption in Settings > AI credits. Set up alerts to notify you when usage reaches a specified threshold so there are no surprises at the end of the billing cycle.

AI-generated email content should always be reviewed before sending. Check for accuracy, brand alignment, and compliance with email marketing regulations (CAN-SPAM, GDPR). The AI does not verify claims, offers, or legal requirements.

Common use cases

Welcome email sequences

Use Content AI to generate a 3-5 email welcome series. Provide context about your business, target audience, and the journey you want new contacts to take. Generate each email separately with instructions to build on the previous one.

Promotional campaigns

Describe your offer, deadline, and target audience. The AI generates urgency-driven copy with clear CTAs. Great for seasonal sales, flash promotions, and limited-time offers.

Re-engagement campaigns

Tell the AI about inactive contacts and what might bring them back. It generates win-back copy that acknowledges the gap and provides a compelling reason to re-engage.

Event invitations

Provide event details, value propositions, and logistics. The AI creates invitation emails with all necessary information presented in an engaging format.

Next steps

Content AI overview

Learn about Content AI capabilities across the platform.

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Content AI best practices

Proven strategies for getting the most from Content AI.

AI Overview

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Conversation AI

Voice AI

Content AI

Workflow AI

Use Cases

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AI Trust & Safety

Overview

Accessing Content AI in the email builder