I decided to try sending out the StartXchange newsletter in good old fashion HTML format. With the StartXchange header at the top even (just a resized version for email). I think it looks fantastic, but I'm wondering what your thoughts are?
Did you get the email, and did it look OK? I know if you are using Hotmail the image would have been enabled by default, but if you aren't using them.. Did you click to have the images shown? Did you perhaps select the option to always display my images?
Sending out HTML emails takes about twice as long. That's because there's twice as much email in every message. Go ahead and view that baby's source and you'll see the text version and the html version.
So I'm interested in the feedback.. Is it worth the extra resources to send it this way? If people like it and use it, then yes, but if not, kinda pointless right?
{ 32 comments }
Looks great in this post. But I never saw the header in the email.
I’m using Gmail and I’m sure it had something to do with the settings…
Ditto Jon Olson comments,
No header and gmail
By default gmail doesn’t show images. it’s ok to have images, just make sure if it’s gone it won’t ruin the formatting of your email. (same advice for safelists :P )
Solomon Hueys lastest blog post..Hitsconnect Goes FREE!
I like the look but the link didn’t work. I couldn’t copy and paste it without the entire message being copied. I had to type the link in mannually to get my activity points.
The header looks great to me, your advertising your TE StartXchange it’s perfect. I am used to it, most are used to. I would keep it, cause you already branded it with your TE. I use hotmail, so I don’t see the header in my email account. You are doing fabulous, glad you are concerned about our opinions.
Destinys lastest blog post..Increase Instant Traffic in 7 Ways
It looked great!
I got gmail as well and had to allow it to be shown..got it set to “show always” now
It gave a fresh look to your mail…
a feeling that spring is really coming :)
I don’t usually don’t allow html to show
cause u never know what it will load up in some mails.
It looked great for me.
formatted emails are much easier for me to read.
Re: images for Gmail users. If there are images in the email you will see a message at the top of the email that will look something like:
Images are not displayed.
Display images below – Always display images from support@startxchange.com
click on the ‘Display images below’ to view images.
Looked great Tim!
I always prefer receiving HTML emails.
Looks good in here, but I have just
realized that I haven’t been receiving the startxchange newsletter for months. I must have thought the blog took over for that. I’ve been missing tons of activity points. DAMN
It looked great, and I prefer reading (well formatted) html emails.
If you solve the issue with non-clickable links, it’s perfect.
I prefer HTML….makes reading fun!
As always great info Tim.
Everyone get to know me and c-lick on my name to find out my hot secret…thanks!
I use gmail as well and don’t usually display the images unless I need to, so I didn’t see the header Tim…sorry!
Hmmmmm, I don’t think I got the email this time! BUT, my email has gone a little crazy this week so it could be that and not that it didn’t make it to me from your end. It looks great in the screenshot though and I prefer html emails as well. Thanks!
Your account shows as inactive, so emails won’t be sent ;-)
In my experience the delivery of HTML emails is far lower than that of plain text emails.
All too often a subscriber has to jump through hoops to get the HTML email to display correctly, as has already been mentioned in the thread.
True, HTML looks better, but what I do is enclose a link to my nicely formatted newsletter, in my brief text email.
Subscribers can then read it on line, bookmark the page to read later, download it as a pdf or print it as hardcopy.
Of course, they can also ignore it completely – so keeping their interest is vital.
Going back to the original theme of the thread – did I get Tim’s email? Well yes I did and it displayed perfectly.
Now did I like it – no – it was very narrow and displayed in the center of the page. Perfect for browser viewing of a website, but uncomfortable for an old man like me who is used to left justified text emails.
There is nothing wrong with HTML emails, that’s not what I am saying, in case my post conveys that message. If I receive them in good formatted order, I will read them. On a personal note however, I do not like them and will never again use them myself due both to the formatting problems experienced by some recipients and the email filtering issues.
Just My thoughts,
Jeff Henshaw.
Tims, the text size comes out microscopically for me. If you insist you *must* set the text size to something other than the default, give us 12px, pleeeeease? Think of those of us with very high-res displays?
LOL I’ll see what I used. I thought I was using default. I think the pt might be better than px though, as pt is relative right?
Yes, of *course* we’d rather have 12pt than 12px, but you’re currently using 10px, which is unreadable, and I was trying to simply nudge you instead of making what I worried you might think is an unreasonable demand. But absolutely: I vote you not change the text size at all and leave it at the default! (Disclaimer stuff you could make small, and I mean using font-size: small or even font-size: x-small if you need to.)
Hey Tim I have got your html and I have it set to display image from you every time Dewayne.
I received and liked.
Well reading Jeff Henshaw post, I think it sounds good if the user could choose it prefered form, plain or html.
well, just an idea.
ps: sorry for my english.
Looks great, Tim; but the choice is ultimately yours. Do YOU want to take the extra time and resources to send in HTML?
To me, one is just as good as another, but, I think also that with a more attractive design, it may just improve the response rate, if that is what your looking for. Just my opinion.
everithing OK on myway e-mail,only
link for points is not clickable.
regardes andreas
well received by me.
everything else seems to have been said.
It is great, could you give me example
Muhammads lastest blog post..
I agree with Jeff.
Personally it doesn’t matter either way, but I do like to be able to click the link for the activity points & in this one I had to cut & paste.
If you are looking for increased response rate, pics are IN but I use text because it’s quicker & easier to format. I also don’t have a reader issue.
The header was great, didn’t have any problem with it loading.
I even liked the font, looked great in my email program.
Overall, an 8 out of 10 on design, format, and layout. 2 dings for clickable link
Deb Landess lastest blog post..Do you believe in your future?
Email looked good but none of the links work (all just text) in firefox mozilla.
I saw it, I liked it, and all the links worked for me. I use yahoo.com and mozilla firefox. If anyone has mozilla firefox, add the “cool iris” add-on. It might make a difference.
Happy Trails!
Tim,
I read your mail in Thunderbird, and the HTML formatting is fine. The links aren’t clickable, and I always appreciate clickable links!
But your text emails are nicely formatted anyway in that you use correct grammar, spelling, capitalization, and paragraphing – so much more enjoyable to read than those from folks who don’t devote much (if any) time to editing. It’s a matter of standards, and I recognize and appreciate that yours are high!
Karen Taylors lastest blog post..I Can’t Believe This Is Free!
Looks Great Tim,
Thought it was a great addition to have it in html..
I use gmail and images came through nicely and so did all the links..
I’d say continue it..
Connie Motalas lastest blog post..ConnieMotala: Hello to @cellnotes, @OnlineReviews
Yes Tim, It looks great!! I just like the header you use on the splash page advertising “455,035 Pages Viewed in ONE DAY!” It’s more mondern…
Mark.
.
I have the newsletter sent to my hotmail address and I did not see the purdy header, but the rest looks good.
I also had the same problem with the clickability of the links, but I’m sure you’ve got that worked out by now.
Thanks as always for the fine content on your blog, Tim.
Cat
Please remove me from your mailing list
Thank You
Comments on this entry are closed.