Email remains one of the most effective ways associations communicate with members. It’s also one of the areas where expectations around design, accessibility and usability continue to rise.
So, it’s a fair question —and one we hear often.
The short answer is that it’s a deliberate choice. One that gives you more flexibility, better outcomes, and the freedom to use best-in-class tools that best suit your team— rather than trying to offer a one-size-fits-all solution.
And as we head into 2026, it’s a decision more associations are starting to understand and appreciate.
Membes AMS includes a fully integrated communications module, letting you segment contacts, personalise content, send targeted communications and track results — all via your single, trusted source of member data.
But when it comes to designing emails, we’ve chosen not to build our own drag-and-drop editor.
Why? Because email design is a specialised discipline — and it’s one where many associations already have established tools, templates and expertise in place.
Rather than limiting customers to a single built-in editor with fixed layouts and constrained capabilities, Membes supports an open, flexible approach. Associations can design emails using the tools that best suit their needs, then deliver them through Membes AMS with confidence.
Design trends move fast, and what looked sleek two years ago can seem old-fashioned today.
Most built-in email editors inside AMS platforms are locked into static templates and limited code structures. They simply can’t keep up with the modern, accessible, mobile-responsive designs your members see every day from major brands.
Membes enables your association to stay current. You can paste modern HTML from dedicated email design tools like BeeFree, Stripo, or your agency’s own work, giving you complete control over layout, branding, accessibility and performance.
By separating email design from email delivery, associations can:
There’s a reason many marketing and communications teams rely on specialist design tools. These platforms focus solely on email creation and continually invest in improving usability, performance and accessibility.
At Membes, we focus on what we do best: securely managing member data, automating workflows, supporting segmentation and personalisation, and providing reliable delivery and reporting.
Design where it makes sense. Deliver through a platform that understands your members.
Working with HTML no longer requires deep technical knowledge. Modern email builders offer simple export options, often with one-click HTML generation.
Once a design is ready, simply copy the HTML into Membes AMS, preview it, apply segmentation and send — all within the system. Clear guides and videos in the Membes User Guide walk through this process step by step.
For many associations, this approach proves faster and more reliable than rebuilding templates inside a constrained editor.
Many associations have already invested in professionally designed email templates that reflect your brand and meet your accessibility standards. So why rebuild them in a restricted editor?
With Membes AMS, you don’t have to. You can keep using these exact templates across your website, email campaigns, and external platforms, ensuring brand consistency without duplication of effort.
It also makes collaboration with designers and agencies simpler, as they can continue working with the tools they know best.
Adding a drag-and-drop editor to an AMS might sound convenient but the reality is, it’s expensive to build and even more expensive to maintain at a high standard.
Those costs are often passed on to all customers, whether they use the feature or not.
By keeping the core platform focused and flexible, Membes can keep your subscription fees more affordable — while letting you choose how to invest in your email design. You get more for your money, and more freedom to choose tools that suit your team.
Membes AMS is built on the principle that the best results come from using the right tool for the job. That’s why our platform is designed with openness and interoperability in mind.
Want to create modern, branded, on-message emails in 2026? Use the best email design tool available. Then drop your HTML into Membes AMS and deliver them through a secure, centralised platform that’s built for associations.
No compromises. No roadblocks. Just more freedom to create value for your members.