HTML for email

any standards to follow?

[newnewbie1]

Are there any HTML standards that I should be following when creating an HTML formatted email?

Like... How wide should I make it? What is a good page size? Can I use stylesheets?

[jpjones]

Hi,
Just my observations -

How wide should I make it?

Good question. I would suggest using tables to format it to "100%", and try for a "liquid layout".
Failing that, you could assume that most users are running on at least 800x600, and will open the email to full screen, and so base your email on that.

What is a good page size?

You could make it as long as you want, but consider the following:
You don't want the email to be too big or those recievers on dial-up modem may have to wait a long time for the email to download off of their server. Some people won't be amused if the rest of their email gets held up by a large email they may not (or may) be expecting.

Can I use stylesheets?

Yes - most modern email clients supporting HTML will render them as per a browser.
You have two choices
- include the stylesheet in an external file, which means that the user will have to be connected to the internet when they view your file. They may see the page without stylesheet formatting for a few seconds while the stylesheet downloads.
- include the stylesheet formatting in the head tag. This will increase the size of the initial email download, but the formatting will be visible straight away.

Other points to note:
Any images are best off being directly referenced to a webserver. The user will have to be connected to the internet to view the email correctly. Note, you can also make use of this to track the viewing of your email....

Any embedded javascript in the email could well be removed or altered by spam/virus detection programs on the client PC, or on their company server. Don't rely on it. You may have better success putting all javascript into an external file.

Hope thats' of some help,
JP

[WibbleWobble]

you could assume that most users are running on at least 800x600, and will open the email to full screen, and so base your email on that.

Could you? I don't know anyone who opens emails to full screen. Many windows users simply read emails in the preview pane of OE, and many more simply don't resize the opened email window. Both of these make the actual visibility something in the realm of 400 to 600 pixels, at an estimate.

By that token, there can't be any failing that note; if you want users to read the email, it really has to be 100%, so that they don't have to actively do any resizing to read it. You'd lose a large number of potential readers that way, I almost gaurantee it.

[jpjones]

I don't know anyone who opens emails to full screen.

Well you now know of one person who does ;)

I've just looked at two HTML emails I've received today, and they are both set at a width of just under 650 pixels wide. Depth can be as long as you want to set it.

Looking at the behaviour of 10 people I have seen in different offices recently shows that all of them use their email client opened full screen, with the preview pane open.

For some hard facts - looking at website logs shows:
1% at 640x480
41% at 800x600
48% at 1024x768
3% at 1152x864
5% at 1280x1024
2% at Non Standard Resolutions

The above based on a sample of approx. 500 people.

if you want users to read the email, it really has to be 100%, so that they don't have to actively do any resizing to read it.

I'd actually agree with that. I just like to consider more than one way of doing things. Go with a fluid design if possible, with a sensible minimum width based on a 800x600 email client with an open preview pane.

JP