HTML in Email

Howz it done so it shows & not as an attachment

[Putz]

I have a page I want to email to my list, but when sending it, it only shows as an attachment and when clicked on the attachment, it comes out as a text file.

How do I fix this challenge plez, if you know?

TIA

[Mardi_Gras]

What e-mail program are you using?

[Putz]

Netscape 7.02/ Outlook that came with my IE6.0

[Mardi_Gras]

I presume you mean Outlook Express and not Outlook?

Is that where the problem is occuring? Or in Netscape mail? Or both?

[mischief]

Maybe just uuencode it and send it as an attachment?

[Mardi_Gras]

If you're using OE, just go to the Insert menu (when your pointer is in the body of your message) and click Text from File. In the "Files of type" box, select HTML Files, and then find the file you want to add.

[Putz]

Problem is in both OE and Netscape.

What is meant by = Maybe just uuencode it and send it as an attachment?

Thanks 4 trying 2 help me, I appreciate your efforts..!

[outrun]

What I do is create the way I want my email to look like in html, then create a new email in Outlook, then click format -> Apply Stationary -> More Stationary and click on the html file I created, I have a template I use for all emails which seems to work fine for me.

regards
Mark

[outrun]

(not sure if my second one got throught) Ok now that I have read your email properly create a new email, format -> Apply Stationary -> More Stationary and click on the html file you want.

regards Mark

[Mardi_Gras]

create a new email in Outlook, then click format

Mark - do you mean Outlook Express? To send an HTML mail in Oulook Express, use the "Insert Text from File" command.

Outlook Express isn't a particularly good program to use for sending to mailing lists (neither is Outlook, or Netscape), but that's another thread...

[Putz]

ok, I'll bite, what email program should i be using 2 send to a list?

[Mardi_Gras]

ok, I'll bite, what email program should i be using

Well, it's not so much that you should be using a particular program - although I do have my favorites. but you should be using a program that allows you to:

1) send individually (not BCC'd to "unknown recipients")

2) Allows you to send true multi-part mail so users with HTML turned off get a special text version of your mailer

3) Allows for test sending to one or more addresses and allows you to preview the way messages addressed to different people will be delivered.

4) Optionally, you may want a program that will track "opens" so you can see what percentage of your list (or even which individual subscribers) have opened your mail.

[outrun]

To send an HTML mail in Oulook Express, use the "Insert Text from File" command.

Thanks for that Mardi_Gras, I didnt know that, but then again, I dont know very much.

regards
Mark

[Putz]

would u be so kind as to sticky mail me with your preferences 4 what you speak of...Mardi?

[Mardi_Gras]

Several pretty good options are Group Mail (free trial version lets you send up to 100 e-mails at a time - unlimited use); Mach 5 E-mailer (also has a pretty good free version to give you lots of chances to check everything out); and RocketMail. RocketMail differs from the other two in that it allows you to track opens down to the invididual user - good for seeing if you're getting filtered somewhere. But Rocketmail is much pricier than the other two at $250 and doesn't have nearly as user-friendly a trial version (seven days with a five-address per mailing limit).

They each have their strengths. Group Mail is really clean and easy to use with good preview and test mail functions; Mach 5 can access database files directly and "filter" to only send to certain recipients, and also has great preview functions; RocketMail, as mentioned, has some outstanding tracking capabilities. All three handle multi-part e-mails.

I would download a few and start trying them out - see what works best for you.

[Putz]

Mardi- your post just came up, so that was the why of the sticky mail, thank you.

I've checked out the info on the pages of both GM and M5 already, both seem rich in their qualities. Haven't looked at the other one yet, will do so in the morning.

Thanks for all your investment in 'learning me to knowing' how to best approach this subject, I appreciate your time and knowledge very much...!

Thanks again...you da man...!

[ShawnR]

"...Well, it's not so much that you should be using a particular program - although I do have my favorites. but you should be using a program that allows you to: ..."

I'm neither a Microsoft lover nor a Microsoft hater. Just thought I'd mention that you can do all that with Outlook, so if you already have MS Office Pro installed...

[chiyo]

Putz,

One thing to take into account is that you only have some control on how your emails are viewed in other people's software, due to how messages are decoded and users own preferences.

For example i would never see your HTML no matter what you do because i delete all HTML mail at the server. Other preferences mean people can specify that any HTML is only seen as an attachment, or read as a simple text file. If people use some free mail services any mails over a certain size get bounced or deleted. A few large images and those people wont see it either.

Some people here have said they have great success with HTML email over text email in certain industries, but like HTML in web pages, it is never delivered or formatted exactly as you like.

I dont know how many people are like me, but I've never seen an HTML email that was worth the download. In 99,9% of cases they are either advertising, unsolicited, or contain viruses. Thats who i now just delete them automatically.

PS I can highly recommend GroupMail.

[Mardi_Gras]

Just thought I'd mention that you can do all that with Outlook

ShawnR - while I would agree that with some versions of Office you can merge to Outlook, it is not (for whatever my opinion is worth :)) a great or even good alternative for sending mail to lists.

I use Outlook everyday and actually like it - I just don't think it stacks up well compared to programs dedicated to mass mailing.

Just my opinion - obviously yours differs :)

[ShawnR]

"...is not (for whatever my opinion is worth ) a great or even good alternative..."

Your opinion is worth a lot.

"... Just my opinion - obviously yours differs..."

Not necesarily. Just pointing out it is an option which deserves consideration. Whether I would recommend Outlook over a dedicate mass-mailing package depends on how frequently you do such mail-outs, the volumes, whether you already have Outlook installed or not, whether your intended recipients are already in your Outlook contacts, how familiar you are with Outlook, and other factors. Sorry my previous post was so brief that it ddi not convey my meaning.

Shawn

[Putz]

Thanks to all who have responded to my subject of discussion!

It's great to receive all this feedback from those who have something to contribute.

Try to understand that our list is very focused. While all your observations and opinions are well regarded by this writer, we have decided to send both an html and text file to those on our 7.5 million list.

Obviously, the graphic html is more desireable, as it conveys our message much better. It is a replicate of an engraved invitation that one would normally receive through the US post office mail, so from that aspect, it would be considered an 'unique' in the realm of email [our opinion].

I have checked out GM and it seems to be the software of choice in this situation, so that is what we will use.

Thanks again for your valued opinions and suggestions! I actually received more help than I anticipated, which is excellent, thank you ALL...!