Sending Email in HTML format

Want to know how...

[Neysa40]

I am new to the "Wonderful World of web-development", and have recently created a website that is purely for entertainment, no money involved. I would love to send my "fans" an HTML formatted email to notify them every once in a while when I have updated my site. I personally would love for all emails to be in HTML format because they are so much easier to read and navigate. Right now I use a free email service and would like to know how to send a fully-formatted HTML email, but I don't know how. I tried testing it by sending one to myself, but the pictures don't come up, and neither does the background... My "Newsletter" contains a background image, a table, and some JavaScript rollovers,... Any hints/tips on how to send an email in HTML format? (ps)if you're a fan, check out my site, it's a Tribute to Dale Earnhardt :)

[url snipped, but the url for this very cool site is in the profile ~ Marcia]

(edited by: Marcia at 3:58 am (gmt) on July 11, 2001

[grnidone]

Welcome to the forums Neysa!

The thing with html formatted email is that you are assuming everyone can read it. There are some people who just don't have the bandwidth to download pictures, neato looking text, etc because they have a slow modem or computer.

There are also people who get their email on their PDA's and more recently, on their wireless phones. An html email may look cool, but you may end up alienating people on your list. I suggest if you do offer a newsletter or want people to know about new stuff on your site that you *ask* which type they would like to have: plain text or html format.

Most will prob choose the html format, but at least you asked in the beginning. Those that do have dog slow connections will be grateful!

I don't have an answer for how to make that the html email happen, but I have poked a few other people to see if you can get an answer.

-G

PS Check your stickey mail. It is in the menu above the blue line at the top of the screen. Thanks.

[Marcia]

Neysa, there should be documentation with your email program.

I'm in full agreement that you should offer a choice between HTML and plain text for a mailing list. Some people refuse all HTML mail for security reasons.

If you're using a remote email list service, not all of them support HTML mail. Yahoo groups doesn't, but topica.com does.

I get some of the mail on one of my lists in HTML, and occasionally it comes in unreadable, so I have to remove the formatting. The biggest problem area I've seen is the blue text link on black background, which is always hard to read.

It's nicer to give a choice, some people just like to scan their mail as quickly as possible.