by Bob Mortensen | Share +
As we all know HTML email is a relatively inexpensive way of reaching many people. It's fast and the results are measurable. These are the reasons we all get so much spam. Virtually everyone can send HTML emails the trick is to send them better then everyone else. To do this you must consider the way your email look visually, they way they are coded and they manner upon which they are sent. All these factor in to a professional email campaing.
First of all An HTML email is just a simple one page web site. That's all it really is. So if you can code your own websites then you can code your own HTML email. Of course there are certain guidelines you need to follow that are different than those for websites. You knew there was a catch, didn't you.
The catch is HTML emails have to be viewable in a variety of email clients. These clients include desktop programs like Microsoft Outlook and Mozilla Thunderbird. Then once you know your HTML emails are viewing properly on desktop email programs you have to make sure they will appear properly in web based email programs like Gmail, Yahoo and Hotmail etc. And if that was not enough there are smart phones to content with. To accomplish the goal of cross compatibility you have to follow certain guidelines not just for creating your HTML emails but for delivering them too.
HTML Coding Checklist;
Keep it simple, focus on the message not your creativity.
- Images should be hosted on your publicly accessible web server. This means using absolute image paths in your HTML
- Use tables for your content containers. Email programs use different HTML rendering engines and table are the most compatible.
- Keep your email at a maximum width of 600 pixels. Think small for best compatibility.
- Test your email before sending. Your email will display differently in all the different email programs like Outlook, Outlook 2007, Outlook 2003, Outlook Express, Thunderbird, Apple Mail, Eudora, Lotus, Gmail, Yahoo!Mail, AOL, AOL Web, Hotmail, MSN, Comcast, Earthlink, ect. If you can't or won't test in all these then use a bulk email delivery company like MailChimp to test the email for you.
- Don't be a spammer. We all hate spam so don't become one yourself. This means don't use spammy words like "Viagra" or V14GR4" you will probably get sent straight to the junk box or not even make it to your recipient.
- Style sheets don't work. Use inline styles. Web based email programs will strip out most css so it does not conflict with their own css.
If you follow these basic rules your email campaigns should reach most of your recipients and portray your company in a safe, professional manner.
A Website Re-design
A Website Re-design
Voeller & Associates
The Invention of a brand
Figments Studio
Brand Invention
The Do’s and Dont’s for sending effective bulk email campaings.
Vehicle Advertising
Why vehicle advertising has the best ROI.
Embrace new technologies to streamline your operation.
Website Useability
5 ways to meet user expectations
Search Enging Rankings
The basics priciples of SEO and SEM.
