| When the Internet first started, email programs could | | | | There are, however, common rules that apply to a |
| only handle text messages. Plus, the access to the | | | | good HTML design. You can follow them to get your |
| Internet was so slow that downloading a HTML email | | | | HTML email newsletter to be displayed as you |
| newsletter was unacceptable for most recipients due | | | | expect it. |
| to extra time and fees. | | | | 1. Set the Width to 500-600 Pixels |
| But the computer and Internet technologies are more | | | | Since your HTML email will be displayed in the email |
| and more advancing, and a simple text email | | | | client's preview pane which is a small part of the |
| message is losing popularity. Nowadays, HTML | | | | available screen, you should design the emails about |
| messages have come to the fore. Almost all email | | | | 600 pixels in width. For example, when MS Outlook |
| programs are designed to display HTML emails. This | | | | Express is maximized to a full screen, the preview |
| means designing a HTML email newsletter is | | | | pane is only about 440 pixels wide. |
| becoming essential for successful email marketing. | | | | 2. Keep HTML Formatting Simple |
| If you want to have more attractive and exclusive | | | | Since email applications can distort the HTML |
| HTML email newsletter, you can request the | | | | message in the different ways, you need to keep |
| newsletter design from some newsletter design | | | | your email design nice and simple. Avoid complicated |
| agency, or you can download newsletter design | | | | layouts, too many tables, and tables with too many |
| software available in the website, and following its | | | | rows and columns. Plus, a complex HTML newsletter |
| tutorials get the newsletter done. Of course, if you | | | | will take a longer time to open, and you recipients |
| want better results, the professionalism is required. | | | | won't appreciate it. |
| At the fixed price newsletter designers can create | | | | 3. Don't use Flash (JavaScript, Movies, and Other |
| various newsletter templates for you. If you find a | | | | Stuff) in HTML Email |
| design that you like, they will make any changes to it | | | | You can send the HTML emails with Flash files in |
| for you, to finally get the newsletter design you are | | | | them, but the majority of your recipients won't be |
| looking for. | | | | able to view them. This is because only Microsoft |
| You should also decide on the newsletter format you | | | | Outlook and Apple Mail use the operating system's |
| will use. The email newsletter layout is also as | | | | built-in browsers to render their email. Plus, most |
| important as the newsletter design. Layout is the | | | | people have anti-virus and anti-spam applications that |
| position of the different elements of the email | | | | block the code used to embed Flash files. Flash was |
| newsletter so they go well together and enhance the | | | | built for the web browser and that's where it should |
| value of the newsletter to the readers. | | | | stay. |
| If you are going to design a HTML newsletter by | | | | 4. Don't relay too much on CSS in HTML Email |
| yourself, most modern email newsletter applications | | | | CSS (Cascading Style Sheets) is nice for websites, |
| include an HTML editor that is as easy to use as your | | | | but don't relay too much in it with HTML email. For |
| word processor. You simply type in your text and | | | | instance, you shouldn't expect DIVs to work. And |
| most of the time it's formatted for you. | | | | definitely avoid CSS positioning - it won't work. Use |
| Using the basic HTML editor features, you can play | | | | old-fashioned tags for your layouts in HTML email, |
| around with the font color and size, use bold or | | | | and only use CSS for simple font formatting and |
| underlined text, emphasize the most important | | | | colors. Always design your email so that it looks |
| elements of the text with bullets, insert pictures into | | | | decently if someone removes your CSS. Before you |
| the message, and create hyperlinks. Those are the | | | | send your HTML email, delete the CSS and see how |
| simplest HTML features that you can use to create | | | | it displays. |
| more appealing HTML email newsletter. | | | | If you are not a professional HTML designer, you can |
| The important thing to remember is that there is a | | | | search for ready email templates on the Internet. |
| variety of email applications out there and they | | | | There are various template packs available for |
| render HTML format differently. This means that the | | | | purchase. A good source is here This site offers free |
| same HTML email may display nicely in one email | | | | and commercial HTML email templates. The template |
| program and may not in another one. Don't forget | | | | package also includes the source template file so that |
| about web-based email applications. They have their | | | | you can edit the design if you wish. |
| peculiarities too. | | | | A nice idea is to test your HTML email design with as |
| For example, if you insert an image from your local | | | | many different email applications and accounts as |
| disk into the message, this image will be seen as an | | | | possible. Before sending your newsletter out to the |
| attachment in a web-based email service. To prevent | | | | world, you'll want to check how your email design |
| this, host the images on your web server and include | | | | behaves under different scenarios because there are |
| the links to them into your email. Thus, the pictures | | | | lots of email applications, and they all handle HTML |
| will be automatically loaded when the recipient opens | | | | email differently. |
| your message in a web mail application. | | | | |