| OK So you've decided it's time to send an HTML | | | | html content you will need to use inline CSS which |
| newsletter to your email list but you're not quite sure | | | | includes all of the css properties in line. EX: |
| where to start? No Problem, we've all been there. I | | | | style="background: white; color: black;" |
| tried and tested many times before I created my | | | | 7) Images - When adding images on a webpage we |
| first successful html newsletter. | | | | would normally use urls such as image1.jpg, but with a |
| Creating an HTML Newsletter is very similar to | | | | newsletter you'll have to enter the complete or the |
| creating a webpage, with some minor twists on the | | | | absolute url. |
| old rules. | | | | Tip: Make sure to set your images' border to 0 so |
| Now if you already know how to create a webpage | | | | that it will show up seamlessly inside your newsletter. |
| then you won't have any problems. But if you're not | | | | 8) The first link in the email should be a link to the |
| sure, then you can always use a WYSIWYG - What | | | | online version of your html newsletter. Even if you |
| You See Is What You Get HTML editors such as | | | | have option for html or text newsletter, it's a good |
| Microsoft Frontpage or Adobe Dreamweaver. Or you | | | | idea to include a link to your online version at the top |
| can skip all those steps and just download a | | | | of the newsletter. |
| newsletter template, and add your text. | | | | 9) Include an unsubscribe / remove me link at the |
| The only real difference between a newsletter and a | | | | end of your email, and text for compliance with |
| regular webpage is how it's designed and how its | | | | canspam laws. If you don't have an unsubscribe |
| sent. | | | | button then your newsletter could be seen as spam |
| Let's Get Started. | | | | and you don't want your subscribers thinking they |
| 1) Remove everything before the open (body) tag, | | | | have no way to unsubscribe. If you have more then |
| and everything after the close (/body) tag. Then get | | | | one newsletter then include a link such as Manage my |
| rid of the body tags themselves. There should be | | | | subscription or a link that takes them directly to their |
| (html) tag, (head) tag, (title) tag, (metatags), and no | | | | online account. Placing this link will allow your users |
| css stylesheets. The only remaining html code will be | | | | access to their account and allow them to manage |
| what you originally found BETWEEN your open | | | | their subscriptions. Who knows maybe they'll |
| (body) (/body) and close body tags - Tables, images, | | | | subscribe to more newsletters. |
| text, links etx. | | | | 10) Test, test, and retest on major email providers |
| 2) No more javascripts - Email providers don't allow | | | | (Hotmail, Yahoo, Gmail). You may notice that with |
| javascript in their email and they will disable it. So if | | | | that the new MSN Windows Live Mail Beta the text |
| you have any javascript within your newsletter then | | | | in your newsletters will be centered. Don't rely on |
| get rid of it. | | | | defaults to left align your text, use the left align |
| 3) No Flash, No DHTML, No Web Forms - Most if not | | | | button on your editor to align them when needed. |
| all of time they will not work so your newsletter will | | | | During my previous newsletter tests some of the |
| be better off if you don't include them. | | | | special characters in my newsletter rendered oddly in |
| 4) No more ads - Actually you can have ads, but just | | | | Yahoo, so make sure to find the character codes for |
| not the popular Google Adsense Ads. Google's | | | | those special characters, and then paste them |
| Adsense uses javascript and javascript won't work in | | | | directly into your html. |
| the newsletter. You can however find link exchanges, | | | | For ex: this ' apostrophe will turn into ' This will |
| or other advertisers that use plain links for their ads, | | | | allow the text to display properly. For more character |
| and include those in your newsletter. These ads, | | | | codes scroll all the way down or google "Special |
| banners, and text links will work just fine. | | | | Character Codes" |
| 5) No More CSS - Often designers will use CSS for a | | | | 11) Before you send your email make sure to set the |
| webpage's layout, but in the case of an html | | | | email's content-type as HTML, so that it can display |
| newsletter it would be better to use tables, instead | | | | as an Html newsletter, or it will just show up as plain |
| of writing lines and lines of inline css code. You can | | | | HTML code. |
| set padding, background color, and lots of other table | | | | 12) Get Online - Before you get started make sure |
| properties, just as you can with CSS. Remember | | | | to upload those pictures and your original HTML |
| keep it simple. | | | | newsletter to your hosting account so that your |
| 6) If you must use CSS then get inline - Since you | | | | subscribers can visit your newsletter online. That's it. |
| can't import style sheets to style and format your | | | | Happy HTML emailing! |