HTML Newsletter

I'm thinking of sending my next newsletter HTML, should I?

[Joker]

I'm thinking of sending my next newsletter HTML

Has anyone got a HTML Newsletter tips?
How do I cope with those users who can't read HTMl email
Is there anything I have to do for AOL users?
Can I send an HTML email using the sendmail function in perl? how?

[crash]

I have a client who sends html newsletters.

Personally, I can't stand them ;) and I have the html option turned off - plain text for me!

As for issues...

Keep the graphics to a minimum and use it to enhance the text, not surround it (write the text first then add graphics to add to it visually - but make sure the NL will stand on it's own without the graphics first)
Start it off with a basic text link to the site, before the html, for those who get a jacked version (the one I get from the client was completely unreadable for a bit and several I get from website/seo organization are totally horrifically unreadable - the link let's me view it online as intended)
AOL doesn't seem to have an issue with html and renders just fine as long as your code is fine.
I use pegasus mail (pmail.com) - I recommend getting that if you can't set your options to Text in your mail client, test it in every possibly way before the real mailing. Then test it again. Annoy friends and family often ;)

[hayluke]

I've given a lot of thought to this one too. It was discussed here a while ago:

[webmasterworld.com...]

Hope this helps..

[Joker]

Thanks for the replies all, have posted this elsewhere and got pretty much the same response.

I will stick with text for the immediate future, maybe I will revamp my newsletter signup to include HTML/Text question in the future.

I have noticed that ebay and amazon are now sending me HTML emails, which prompted the question.

[Brett_Tabke]

I completely agree with crash. HTML is a great way to get 50% of them -> /dev/null
There are so many viruses out there today, that if you are viewing html email on a regular basis, your system is a ticking time bomb.

What's there been in the last year? More than a dozen html/js borne viruses and exploits?

[chiyo]

I redirect all HTML email to a separate folder. I check it once a week, less often if Im busy. Latest analysis..

95% spam, advertising, or "newsletters" i didnt subscribe to (a few jokes of the day among the latter by the way)

4.5% "greeting cards" etc and design companies trying to show off and get our business.

.05% from companies/individuas we know or silly clients who thinks HTML will have more impact and get a quicker reply.

We used to browse the headers, but hardly ever open them - security concerns.

Nowadays if im busy and would prefer to read WMW than spam emails, it all goes straight to the trash can.

Forget about it.

[Robert Charlton]

>>plain text for me!<<

Ditto. I routinely delete html without reading it. Much too dangerous to open this stuff.

[DaveN]

Joker :

Create Two, Have a opt in/out - send a plain text email asking which they would prefer to receive, give examples on your website. it worked a treat for us

15 % HTML
85 % Text

The Text option was the default so our customers had to change if they wanted the HTML (takes up more bandwidth you see)

[Joker]

I've sent my newsletter plain text this time.

Its all very interesting reading, but I wonder if many of my newsletter subscribers will have HTML turned off, it is a joke shop newsletter, not a webmaster newsletter.

I have two newsletters, monthly subscribers and actual shoppers.

What I will do (at some future point) ask subscribers what they want HTML, or plain text.
To discover if my existing subscribers can receive HTML, I will simple send them one, those that view it get HTML in the future, those that don't will get plain text.

This should probably go in a new thread, All your Virus talk is scaring me!!!
Are HTML emails really so dangerous, aren't they just like plain old web pages or am I missing the point. I get loads of viruses sent to me I just delete them I've not been infected yet (am I just lucky), I have the preview pane on and I view HTML (I send plain text). I have to read HTML email because it may be a customer asking a question.

So am I very exposed, I have firewall, anti virus, and keep upto date with latest windows updates?

[cyril kearney]

If you are going to send a HTML Newsletter be sure to test it on an AOL account.

The decision on HTML or not is really driven by your user community. If you are aiming at older, set in their ways people with slow access (none of these are meant as negatives) you might choose text.

If you are aiming at younger, state of the art gamers with high speed access you might be better off choosing HTML.

Advice from webmasters that have to deal with delivery issues and view a high number of post each day is often skewed.

I view text as the lowest denominator where the acceptance of ugly is outweighted by the need to just communicate.

Beware my opinion is skewed too since I am always dealing with email meant to sell something.

[cfel2000]

Joker,

I work for a big company who have just moved to sending out HTML emails (against my advice). I have introduced two ways to cater for people who can't recieve HTML emails.

Firstly, give them the option of HTML or regular emails (I know it's obvious, but hay, it pays my wages).

Secondly, and this is clever, Send out the HTML email with and non-HTML email attached. Then in the HTML code place a comment saying that users that can read the comment should open the attachment. This will be invisible to people who can read HTML emails. Then add some line breaks so that the HTML code is pushed down.

[Eric_Jarvis]

the difference between browsing a web page and reading an html email is that there is a third party involved... a web host is likely to remove any site that contains malicious or dangerous script...with the email you are on your own

[chiyo]

yes, and email is much harder to trace. One of the reasons spam email is so popular is that its very difficult to trace the real sender, if not impossible. It really just needs an anonymous throw away email address, to cite just one of the many techniques. With a web site, it is easier to find those reponsible.

[Joker]

So should I be worried about HTML emails?

It might be a customer so I have to read then really.