Sunday, April 25, 2010

How To Create HTML Newsletter Templates

Newsletter formats can be grouped into three chief types : text, HTML and PDF newsletters. Each type has its pros and cons. By checking the features each newsletter format offer, i twill be much easier for you to choose the right format.

HTML newsletters are all the rage these days. The reason behind this trend is quite obvious ; the HTML format gives the publisher more formatting features and design flexibility.

On the other hand, text newsletters are the most basic of all the three formats. They make use of the least amount of design flexibility ; no hyperlinks, no images, and no colors ; just plain text.

Here are a few tips to help you design a more effective HTML layout for your newsletter :

1. Keep its width within 600 Pixels. If you set your newsletter wider than the email application's preview pane, your readers will have trouble displaying it. To avoid such inconveniences, keep it narrower than 600 pixels. This way you ensure that it is compatible with most email clients.

2.Use plain HTML coding. The more complex your HTML is, the more incompatibility issues you will have. Email applications do not fully support HTML in the same way web browsers do. Most of them do support the basic HTML features such as hyperlinks, font color, images, and background colors.

If you use advanced and overly sophisticated HTML features, you run the risk of getting your HTML layout jumbled up by some email applications. It is always wise to stick to simple coding and avoid getting dazzled by the flashy elaborately designed templates.

3.Avoid using multimedia files. If you have a video that you think is of some interest to your list, you can simply redirect them to it with an in-content link. Several email clients do not support multimedia files such as video, flash and audio.There are several reasons for this ; they are slow to load, and they take too much room.

4.Do not overuse CSS. CSS is a nice complement to HTML in designing websites. But when it comes to newsletters, the case could be different. There is no guarantee that email clients will execute your CSS code. So if you rely mainly on it for designing your newsletter layout, then the odds are your newsletter content will get completely messed up by some email clients.

The above tips are oriented to webmasters who are familiar with HTML and CSS. If you are not that sort of person, you can simply use readymade HTML templates.

Learn more about how to send html newsletter. Stop by John Khon's site Electronic Newsletter Tips where you can find out all about html email newsletter software.

No comments:

Post a Comment