Forum Moderators: phranque
Any input would be greatly appreciated
Thanks in advance as always,
Dazz
One of my reasons would be.. I don't like having to be online to read a newsletter, because I'll face a page with a bunch of broken images if I'm offline.
If you have an HTML version, make sure there's a plain text alternative as well.
My spam program rejects HTML (I checked and 99% of mail in HTML format to me was Spam)
People may unsubscribe becuase the newsletter is taking too long to download
People are, and will be increasingly wary of HTML email, becuase of the possibility of it including viruses. etc
Text advertising is just as effective as image based advertising.
There is more chance of something going wrong, and bad formatting at receiving end if you use HTML.
I know my view isn't shared by everyone.
Make it easy for people to opt out as well, no point in annoying someone for the sake of saying I have xyz number on my mailing list, even if it is a hobby newsletter.
Also make quadruply sure that if you say you'll send it out weekly/monthly that you exactly that, a lot of people will get excited about receiving your news (if it's interesting stuff) and expect it to arrive when you say it will.
Maybe this will help.
Regards
janine
I was thinking of monthly, I have got a life :) and it's only a hobby site so...
I will definately go with text, I don't need images but I wanted a couple of hyperlinks to various things.
Dazz
Aside from this personally I believe <HTML> is for web pages, not e-mails, and most other techies I know would agree. As to what Joe-User thinks...I'm not so sure, I haven't seen any reasearch on it.
Casualsub, I agree I don't like HTML emails either but I was just seeing what the general opinion was on the subject.
I have seen a few pages mentioning a program or whatever that controls the newsletter, but I don't think I need this.
What do I need to start a newsletter ?
Do I need anything special ?
Thanks
Dazz
Ps. Good luck with your newsletter.
The minute you set up an HTML newsletter, you lose that personal touch to a significant degree. You've created a formal thing, a bit of company-talk, something that is obviously many-to-1. You've brought a nifty and slick web page into an alien environment and a 1-1 voice can sound quite insincere. You lose relationship, the very thing you are hoping to build, and you are merely sending out a publication.
Plus you're asking the dial-up user to wait for a download at a time when they just want to sort through their messages. And they are particularly disposed to receiving those personal 1-1 correspondences, whether work related or part of their private life.
In short, an HTML email is an intruder. I say if your message needs a web page, then it probably belongs on a web page.
If your audience is small and with limited bandwidth, then plain text may be the right answer.
But a lot depends on what the hobby is. If you are talking about breeding dogs (a topic I know nothing about) then text might be okay.
If the hobby is painting (another topic I know nothing about) the need to present things visually might make html the choice.
I'd survey your target readership and be guided by them.
Cyril - I dont often agree with you (:-) (but that's what makes WMW such a good place!). your emails are always challenging and provide an alternative view.
you are also spot on re the type of email, and your example is very useful. Certainly a good case for use of HTML in emails - maybe people would like getting a nice daily photo or picture. Though the alternative of getting a text link every day and having the option of clicking on that to go to the Web is also worth considering.
Re: are url's clecikable in text emails. As far as I know, that has been the case for several years, certainly in Eudora or Pegasus which we use (and I am sure oulook express which maybe half the world uses!)
In fact, URL's are even more obvious on text only messages, as their blue highlighting does not have to compete against other colorful busy formatting..
Also, want to add my voice to the chorus and say good luck with the newsletter dizzly!
Excellent example, cyril. I have to agree that in certain circumstances there may be a place for html email.
>URL's are even more obvious on text only messages, as their blue highlighting
I use Eudora and the urls are VERY obvious. On the other hand, html email comes through as <link>
<link>
<link>
I filter on some terms used that are dead giveaways for html, such as "Click here." It works so well that I haven't had the need to try filtering on the html code itself.
diddlydazz, I've had good results in sending a minimalist email newsletter with links to an expanded web page(s) on the current topic. Some readers appreciate the larger fonts, formatting, and pictures of the web pages. Once they know your html "style" doesn't accost them with pop-ups and 400k of graphics when they click over, they're likely to go to the web to read. I know I read two newsletters that come to me that way... in fact, they're about the ONLY two that I even bother to open. Also, the archived web pages of the old newsletters make good spider food.
straight text - you can put anything more fancy on your website on the latest_news page.
Consider varying the frequency so that you send out news when you've got some, not once a month whether you've got news or not.
Make it easy for folks to unsubscribe - nothing worse than getting mail you're not interested in any more. And it gives *you* a more accurate idea of the number of subscribers who are really interested in what you're saying.
Ads. in the newsletter - hmmmm... keep them limited, at the end of the newsletter and maybe even restricted to ads. which would really interest the readers - like special offers.
hope that's food for thought.
Simon
Anybody heard or know anything about this?
People are creatures of habit, they like getting things at the same time, it falls within their routine.
