html email troubles

html email troubles in microsoft outlook

[serena ann15]

I'm trying to send out an email blast for my company. I've written the html but whenever I try to send it through outlook, it just spits the code right back at me. (the same applies for any other mail service I try) I've set the options in mail format to be html. I've tried everything I can think of to make the code work. Anyone have suggestions besides purchasing the software to do it?

[BlobFisk]

If you create a mail and just paste your HTML in, Outlook will send this a text.

You need to go to the source of the email in Outlook. I've never tried this so I will throw this open to someone that has!

[Mardi_Gras]

>Anyone have suggestions besides purchasing the software to do it?

Purchase the software to do it.

Outlook can do bulk mailing but it certainly isn't designed to. You will make your life MUCH easier by using a program like GroupMail or Mach5 Mailer to do the job. They both offer free trials - I suggest you try them out.

If you are determined to use Outlook, I think the previous poster's remarks will put you on the right track. I use Outlook, but not for bulk mailing, so I can't be much help there.

[Never_again]

Wecome to WW.

You can't just cut and paste the html into Outlook. Outlook will just assume the html is a text file. You have to "cut and paste" the actual fully rendered page from a brower or your preview screen on your html editing program.

Here is how you do it. After you create your html, open the file in IE so you can see the completed file properly rendered. Then "select all" from the Edit menu item on the Toolbar. Then cut and paste this into Outlook.

[BlobFisk]

Ooops! Forgot!

Welcome to WebmasterWorld, serena_ann15!

[Mardi_Gras]

Well, far be it from me to not roll out the welcome mat ;)

Welcome to WebmasterWorld!

[serena ann15]

Thanks for all the help guys! I will try outlook one more time before looking into the software. I haven't looked at the software much because we're jsut a small non-profit and will not be sending it out to many people. at the same time, that'll probably really help cut the costs. thanks for the suggestions and for the software suggestions as well since there are just so many out there!

[12inch]

Hi serena_ann15,

If you use Outlook to send HTML emails, you can format your text, make it bold, create a link, insert an image. Unfortunately it's not compatible with the webmail clients like Hotmail and Gmail. Mistakes can easily be made, for example, putting all e-mail addresses in the to:field instead of the bcc:field. If you're sending your HTML newsletter to a lot of recipients, then it may take a long time for Outlook to send it or it could crash. Also you don't have a lot of control of what your HTML email looks like. If you write your own HTML code (actually see it as a small website) then you have more control.

Unfortunately Outlook doens't let you enter your own HTML code. This is possible in Thunderbird ( [mozilla.org...] ).

For example, start notepad and copy/paste this text in notepad:
<h1>Headline</h1>
<p><strong>This is a test</strong></p>
<p>This is another test</p>

Then go to file > save as ...
and choose a name, for example, test.html

Open up your Internet Explorer.
File > Send > Page via email ...
Then you see the page in HTML in Outlook. Now you can send it.

But if you want more flexibility, I recommend using Thunderbird or HotCast.

But there are much more things you have to pay attention to when you're sending a HTML e-mail. You can't just create a page in a WYSIWYG editor and copy/paste it and send it. That is bound to go wrong.

I wrote an article how to send HTML e-mail: Tips for creating and sending succesful and compatible HTML e-mail
( [anandgraves.com...] ). It deals with a lot of obstacles you run into, how to avoid them, a lot of tips and tools you can use to create more compatible HTML e-mail.

I've tested it in Hotmail, Yahoo, Gmail, Outlook and Thunderbird.

Anand

[edited by: tedster at 7:05 pm (utc) on May 10, 2005]
[edit reason] make links active [/edit]

[Mardi_Gras]

>But if you want more flexibility, I recommend using Thunderbird or HotCast.

As you note yourself in the link you provided, Hotcast does not allow sending of multi-part messages. Nor does it allow direct access to common databases - you must export your file to csv then import it into the Hotcast database.

While I appreciate that it is a program you are skilled with, there are simply much better alternatives on the market today.

[12inch]

Hi Mardi_Gras

I agree, those are downsides of HotCast and Thunderbird. I'm interested in the alternatives. Could you mention a few?

Anand

[Mardi_Gras]

I think the best right now (and keep in mind that "best" really depends on the needs of the individual user) is Mach 5. It offers multipart sending, easy previewing of both HTML and plain text, extensive merging capabilities, "do not send" lists, and direct access to common databases. The click of a button updates the database reference.

Group Mail Pro is also worth taking a look at. The newest version (in beta) will offer direct database access.

Both programs offer liberal free trials; you may want to give them a try. What is best for me, given my needs, may not be the best for you. But I think both of those are excellent programs and worth trying.

[cwarrent]

I also put forward Group Mail Pro.

Superb app. and should be able to do exactly what you need without costing a penny.

For (semi) professional broadcasts I would never recommend using outlook.

- Carlos