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Email Newsletter Format: HTML or TextMario Sanchez An email newsletter is probably the most effective way to communicate with your target audience. One of the main considerations before you create and deliver an email newsletter is what format to use: HTML or Text. Until a few years ago, some email programs couldnt handle HTML. Nowadays that is not an issue, since most email programs are HTML compatible: AOL versions 6 and higher, Internet Explorer versions 4 and higher, Microsoft Outlook and Outlook Express, Eudora, Yahoo Mail, and Hotmail all support HTML. HTML email newsletters can easily be managed and sent using services like Constant Contact or Vertical Response. Using HTML for your newsletter can be a plus from a usability perspective. Studies conducted by usability guru Jakob Nielsen show that most people prefer HTML newsletters because their enhanced layout makes articles easier to read provided that the design of the HTML newsletter is clean and simple. The same design guidelines recommended for web pages also apply to HTML email newsletters. However, HTML newsletters are often confused with unwanted advertising, since HTML is the format of choice for marketers trying to sell their wares and services through email messages. For this reason, text email newsletters are still popular, since their plain, no frills look helps differentiate them from advertising. Text is also the format of choice for those who use a free service like Topica or Yahoo! Groups to administer their mailing lists and deliver their email newsletters, since these free services usually dont support HTML. If you use text, remember that you wont be able to use formatting tags, such as bold or underline, and that you must create hyperlinks by adding the prefix http:// before the URL or the prefix mailto: before the email address, if you want to create an email link. The approach I prefer is a hybrid between HTML and text. I compose my email messages in HTML, but using only text. HTML allows me to use simple formatting tags like bold, underline and italics, and a nice, screen-friendly font. I use a lot of white space to facilitate scanning, and include only a summary of each article, with a link to the full article which is hosted on my website, since most users dont like to read long articles in the body of email messages. My email newsletters, therefore, are similar to the table of contents of a magazine, in the sense that they give readers a broad overview of the current editions content, and tell them where to find it if they are inclined to read further. This hybrid format is never mistaken for advertising, is easy to read and scan, and loads fast. Furthermore, by offering links to the full articles, your users will be encouraged to visit your website, where they can have access to more information and learn about your products and services.
| | | | RELATED ARTICLES The Contrast And Similarities Between A Web Designer And Web Programmer The concept of web designing based on the nature and rapid growth of the Internet is nothing to boast of any more. This is because of the large number of web sites published to the Internet everyday, so as to showcase one’s presence and dominance on the World Wide Web. You may ask why this is so, well, the so simple answer is the rate at which technology is evolving. Autoresponder Tips An autoresponder is useful for, well, responding to people who send you inquiries through email. They are actually more than just merely useful - they are an essential tool in any webmasters toolbox. Used properly, they can enhance your visitors experience and virtually guarantee that they will come back time after time. Used improperly, they annoy people and push them away from ever coming back. Learn the Language of the World Wide Web If you are already on the web or thinking about it then you must know the terminology used on the web. Here is a Glossary of a few must know Web Terms. 5 Tips For A Better Website Having an eye catching website is great, but are you optimizing your website to allow the best performance possible I receive several emails a day from clients asking how they can get more hits to their websites, what can be done to increase sales, and how to prepare their sites for search engines. There are very simple things that can be done to help your website perform its best. Web Hosting: Shared or Dedicated - Which Should You Choose Before you begin your search for a web host you should first determine whether you need shared web hosting or dedicated web hosting. Dont Get Fooled by the Web Hosting Wolves in Sheeps Clothing! When looking for a good web hosting provider to look after your website, it is easy to get confused. There are thousands of companies around, and they compete fiercely for your attention. Some are good, some are wolves ... How Does Your Website Make Me Feel When people think about the Internet, they think about technology. When people hear that I am a Website strategy expert, they see me as a "techy type". Traditional businesses on the Internet Have you ever thought of putting your business on the Internet, but simply not known where to start or youre not sure whether the Internet is really meant for your business Are You A Bill Clinton Webmaster One of the most frequent questions I get asked about my ebook, Dont Get Banned BY The Search Engines, is whether I amended it to include post-Florida Google."Florida" is the code name that search engine optimizer wizards gave to a November, 2003, shakeup at Google that left many webmasters covering themselves up with makeshift fig leaves while dangling upside down above the proverbial crocodile moat. PHP On-The-Fly! Introduction Web usability: The basics What is web usability & why is it important Protecting Your Business From Spam Even being as careful as possible with my email address, I still used to receive more than 100 email messages a day, which is no exaggeration. Only about 10% of those emails were from people that I knew and the rest of the messages were unwanted email…”spam”. And I’m sure you can relate to my frustration. It is estimated that over seventy-six billion unwanted email messages were delivered in 2003, costing companies more than $10 billion each year. Website Checklist 10 Basic Things Your Website Should Have ... The Technical Stuff including how to build a fantastic website, all the elements you need to consider and how to make it work with little or notechnical abilities. How to Chose Stock Photography for your Web Site So youve decided to take the plunge. You know that stock photography is an effective tool for your web business, but where do you start and how do you choose the stock photo thats right for you. Here are some tips to get you started so that you are happy with your choice. Beginner Guide to Web Hosting What is web hosting Whenever you visit a website, what you see on your web browser is essentially just a web page that is downloaded from the web server onto your web browser. In general, a web site is made up of many web pages. And a web page is basically composed of texts and graphic images. All these web pages need to be stored on the web servers so that online users can visit your website. Can They Use Your Website In A TV Broadcast About Scams When you designed your website, you probably dreamt about how wonderful it would be if one day a popular TV program featured it, and you would become famous overnight, and make lots of $$$. Images: How To Make Them To Load Fast On Your Web Pages 1. Use .gifs rather than .jpgs. GIFs are smaller in size when compared to JPGs. Tips to Protect Your Downloads or Products 1. Upload robots.txt file in to your root directory and include the folder name where you set your downloads. Optimizing for Visitors not Search Engines Most people feel that optimizing is to target the search engines alone. In my opinion, this is not the only case. Optimization requires a balance of traffic enhancements and a user friendly atmosphere that provides clear navigation. Most will agree it would be much better to have people accept offerings from a Site, rather than masses of people who do nothing. Here are some general tips and thought to make pages user-friendly. |
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