The Lowdown: How To Create And Send HTML Email
I am frequently asked how to create and send HTML email, usually with regard to how to broadcast it to a mailing list. This article presents the various options available to you.
How to create HTML email:
Creating the content of an HTML email is very similar to how you would create a basic web page. Just use your normal web page editor, such as FrontPage or Dreamweaver (or even Notepad can be used, in conjunction with a browser to preview the code), and construct a web page in the normal way, saving it as an .html or .htm file.
You may consider creating an HTML email template that you can use as a basis for all your future HTML emails. If so, once you're happy with the basic look, save it and then just open and re-edit for your future emails.
There is an important difference that you need to remember between writing HTML for your web site, and writing HTML for email.
All the URLs in your code need to be absolute, rather than relative, for all links and images, eg. http://www.yourdomain.com/image.gif, rather than something like just image.gif. This also means of course that any images used in your HTML email need to be stored on a web server, the same as when you use images on a web site.
How to send HTML email:
To send the HTML email to an individual, such as to yourself in order to check on its appearance, you can open the web page (i.e. the HTML email) you have created in the latest version of IE (File -> Open...), and then click File -> Send.
However, if you're creating HTML email for use in email marketing, you will normally want to use a completely different tool in order to send it to numerous recipients.
There are two main options to enable you to send email to a mailing list - you can either use some special software on your own computer; or use a web-based solution, either on your own web site, or via a service run by a third party.
If you are looking for software, you can find a variety of solutions by going to somewhere like download.com, and searching for 'send email'.
You can also install some software onto your own web site, which can give you more control but also gives you all the responsibility for maintenance of the software/script if things go wrong.
However, I personally have a preference for using a third-party web-based service when sending out my newsletter. For one, it means my broadcasts are not reliant on my own Internet connection or PC, and it also let's someone else take care of delivering my messages to several thousand recipients.
There are literally hundreds of third-party web-based services available, all varying widely in quality and ease of use, and suiting different budgets and email requirements. One of the best ways to do your research on this is to check out your competitors or your favourite newsletters and ezines, and, if they send out HTML email, find out what service they use. Often the unsubscribe link, that should be at the bottom of their messages, will point towards the relevant web site.
(HINT: By signing up to my own newsletter at http://takanomi.com/newsletter, you will be able to find out which service I personally use.)
Finally, and importantly, should you send out HTML email? It entirely depends on the preferences of your own list. But, in general, look towards big business. Most big businesses tend to send out HTML email, and there's only going to be one main reason for that - response rates. But you do need to ensure that your HTML email is professional, easy to read, and has an attractive layout.
Copyright 2004 Steve Shaw
About The Author
Steve Shaw creates systems and software for effective e-marketing. His powerful PopUpMaster Pro software creates popups that beat the popup blockers and can significantly increase your conversion rates. For more information: http://www.popupmaster.com
Steve Shaw has been marketing full-time online since March 2002, developing software products and systems for effect'ive e-marketing - for more information see http://takanomi.com
 Google News Updated : Sun, 07 Sep 2008 02:07:34 GMT Rival Tickets Are Redrawing Battlegrounds - New York Times
New York Times - Senator John McCain and Gov. Sarah Palin held a rally on Saturday at an airplane hanger in Colorado Springs, Colo. By PATRICK HEALY and MICHAEL COOPER Fresh from the Republican convention, Senator John McCain’s campaign sees evidence that his choice of ... On to the main event for McCain, Obama Obama, McCain to Honor Victims of 9/11 Together Publ.Date : Sat, 06 Sep 2008 22:23:34 GMT 'Bangkok Dangerous' - Los Angeles Times
Los Angeles Times - The Pang brothers remake their audacious 1999 film, but without the gritty, seamy feel of the original, it seems like just another bullet ballet out of a Steve Wynn dream. 'Dangerous' prosperous at box office An Assassin Arrives to Turn Off the Lights Publ.Date : Sat, 06 Sep 2008 22:52:03 GMT FDA to List Drugs Being Investigated - Washington Post
Washington Post - By David Brown The Food and Drug Administration will begin posting every three months a list of drugs whose safety is under investigation because of complaints brought to the agency's attention by drug companies, physicians and patients. The Basics on the Foodfight Over Irradiation 20 Drugs FDA Is Watching Publ.Date : Sat, 06 Sep 2008 04:19:40 GMT Tough Game Expected, but Penn State Makes It a Rout - New York Times
New York Times - By AP Evan Royster rushed for 141 yards and 3 touchdowns, Daryll Clark threw two scoring passes and the defense for 19th-ranked Penn State did not miss a beat without two suspended starters Saturday in a 45-14 victory over visiting Oregon State. Clark, Royster lead Nittany Lions to romp over Oregon State Big Ten early notes: Penn State makes a statement Publ.Date : Sun, 07 Sep 2008 01:17:05 GMT Hot Docs: Defending Georgia, Girls Married by 15, the Chemical BPA ... - U.S. News & World Report
U.S. News & World Report - A Resolute Strategy on Georgia: One day after Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice announced "at least $1 billion" in aid to Georgia, a Center for Strategic and International Studies report looks at increasing criticisms of such programs. Bisphenol A may harm fetuses, infants and children That Plastic Baby Bottle Publ.Date : Fri, 05 Sep 2008 14:01:40 GMT 'Wrestler' takes top honors at Venice - Variety Variety - By JEFF SNEIDER Darren Aronofsky's "The Wrestler" has won the Venice Film Festival's Golden Lion. Pic stars Mickey Rourke as a past-his-prime wrestler on the comeback trail. 'Wrestler' wins Golden Lion "The Wrestler" wins Venice Golden Lion Publ.Date : Sat, 06 Sep 2008 20:11:44 GMT Google Chrome Reflects A Desktop In Decline - InformationWeek
InformationWeek - After 10 years as a company, Google is making the Chrome browser key to the coming of age of cloud computing, or software as a service. Mozilla updates Firefox 3.1 with Alpha 2 build Mozilla releases second Firefox 3.1 alpha Publ.Date : Sat, 06 Sep 2008 21:46:03 GMT Increase Online Traffic |
PARLOT::Ebooks, Scripts,
Websites, and more... I remember the good old days of the internet when... Read More Sound familiar? Ever wondered what happens to those unopened emails... Read More Email may be fast becoming the preferred means of business... Read More Unless you use the Internet only for surfing and never... Read More Forwarding of e-mails is one of the topics I get... Read More Being online for the last five or so years has... Read More A common practice in today's e-commerce environment is to use... Read More If you're like me, there are certain types of email... Read More No matter what type of business you operate, you need... Read More Learning to write more effective e-mail is a valuable skill... Read More So you want to start publishing an online newsletter? Why?... Read More 1. Make the effort to learn about the etiquette (these... Read More Need a fresh idea for your e-zine content? Do an... Read More So much depends on choosing the correct mark of punctuation... Read More A few months into the job and Sabrina's cold calling... Read More Creating a newsletter is an ideal way to drive repeat... Read More 1. Ask visitors to subscribe to your e-zine. It's a... Read More Some time ago I was thinking about the best and... Read More Accusations of spam can be so harmful to your business... Read More Gartner estimates that half of the 5.5 trillion emails sent... Read More If you're in business on the Internet to make a... Read More Whether a company sells light fixtures to large corporations or... Read More If you are serious about adding email to your marketing... Read More Email Marketing 2005?Do's & Don'ts1. Make sure all your email... Read More Perhaps you, like me, have web hosting that includes, free... Read More
Adsense
websites
Your Newsletters Are Pretty Lame If You Are Doing These 7 Things
Lost: 200 emails gone missing. Last seen on the 25.10.2003
BlackList Monitor Gives Businesses Options to Ensure Opt-in Email Gets Through
How NOT To Appear Like A Spammer
5 Rules of Forwarding E-mails
Click for Success!
Guideline to Hiring an Email Marketing Company
Save Time By Creating Email Signature Templates
You DO Have an Email List Dont You?
12 Tips For Writing Winning E-mail
Online Marketing Through Newsletters
9 Tips To Help You Write More Powerful Emails
How to Do an E-mail Interview in 9 Easy Steps
Does Punctuation Really Matter in Email?
Sales Prospecting for Appointments by Email
Creating A Newsletter And Making Your Website Magnetic
14 Ways To Persuade Your Web Site Visitors To Give You Their Email Address
Success Guaranteed With Your Opt In List
Make All Your Mailing Lists Double Opt-In
Email Communication
The Lazy Way To Build A Responsive Opt-In Email List
Email MarketingTips - 3 Reasons Why Business Must Use Email Communications
Add Email To Your Marketing Mix
Email Marketing 2005?Do?s & Don?ts
Autoresponder Services Improve Your Profits
Affordable and Reliable Web Hosting Starting at $4.49/Month
How To Use a Message Sequence to Increase Your Sales
If there's one thing I've learnt in over 3 years... Read More
How to Do an E-mail Interview in 9 Easy Steps
Need a fresh idea for your e-zine content? Do an... Read More
Successful Email Marketing
No doubt email is still the best way to get... Read More
Ways To Persuade Your Web Site Visitors To Give You Their Email Address
These are several ways that you can use to persuade... Read More
9 Tips To Help You Write More Powerful Emails
1. Make the effort to learn about the etiquette (these... Read More
Using Blind Carbon Copy (BCC) For Email Privacy
Need for PrivacyPeople have become hypersensitive about their privacy during... Read More
How?s Your E-mail Etiquette
In a fast moving global economy, e-mail offers you the... Read More
The Lowdown: How To Create And Send HTML Email
I am frequently asked how to create and send HTML... Read More
Autoresponder Tips
An autoresponder is useful for, well, responding to people who... Read More
Do You Build Or Buy? (Tips On Leadgeneration)
Every marketer needs leads, they are the lifeblood of your... Read More
8 Tips to Increase Response in Email
Opt in email marketing is no different than normal direct... Read More
The Ultimate Business Network: One Secret Power of the Masters
Dear Friend:If you're out there networking and have been for... Read More
The Opt-In Secret
Everyone knows that in order to be successful online you... Read More
How Effective is Your Email? How Can You Tell?
Is your email getting to your list members? If so,... Read More
The Goose That Lays Golden Eggs
Ever wondered what it would be like to have a... Read More
What Do Your E-Mail Messages Say About You?
There probably isn't a business person alive who hasn't at... Read More
Seven Ways to Dramatically Increase Your Email Marketing Profitability
1. The Power of SevenWhen choosing a price point for... Read More
Plain Jane Email Equals Flat Results
Years ago, when email was just emerging as the incredible... Read More
Email Marketing: How Much is Too Much?
I have a special new email address. It's in addition... Read More
4 Time-Saving E-Mail Tips!
E-Mail is still the most widely used Internet tool available... Read More
How to Structure an Email Follow Up Series
Marketers the world over use follow up autoresponders toincrease sales.... Read More
Are You Making These Email Mistakes?
Every day, I receive at least 300 emails. I will... Read More
Email Marketing Kung Fu
Have you ever heard email described as, "the killer Internet... Read More
Lost: 200 emails gone missing. Last seen on the 25.10.2003
Sound familiar? Ever wondered what happens to those unopened emails... Read More
Building Relationships Takes Time: Overcoming the Overnight Surge Urge
Whenever we talk to a new or a "we hope... Read More
Email Marketing |