The Wrong Email Format Can Destroy Your Offer
Rich Hamilton, Jr
Which email format is more effective to use, Text or HTML
A good question, many experts have been debating over for awhile now, is which email format is more effective. It all depends on who you ask, many people prefer the text format over the HTML format. There are also many people who would rather use HTML over the text format. You can pretty much draw a line right down the middle between the text users and the HTML users, its that close.
The truth of the matter is that the most effective format to use for your email really depends on the offer youre presenting.
Both text and HTML email formats have their advantages and disadvantages. In this article I am going to go over the advantages and disadvantages of text and HTML email formats. Lets jump right in and start with the format text.
Text
Obviously the real advantage to using a text format is that you have a white background with black font making it very easy to read. The text format loads fast, no matter what size the email is.
If the email loads fast and is easy to read how can text formats have a disadvantage
Easy!
The real disadvantage of using text format is when you are using email as a source of marketing. To effectively use email marketing you need to use some sort of tracking software. Without tracking you will never know if the subject line and/or email offer needs work.
The point I am trying to make is that people are very cautious about clicking on tracking and affiliate links. As soon as they see a lengthy url, they get the impression that you are trying to sell them something and immediately delete the email. With a text formatted email you cannot hide long tracking urls from the recipient. With an HTML format you wont run into this problem, which brings us to...
HTML
The biggest advantage of using HTML is that you can hide your tracking urls from the viewer. Instead of having a long url in your email offer, you can use a simple "click here". Not only can you hide your tracking url, but you can also mask it from appearing in the browser window.
Moreover, HTML has a lot of disadvantages. For instance, some people cant view HTML email, while others can view it with a limited amount of space. HTML email files can be sizable and take up a lot of space. Most people who use HTML formatted email use a lot of images and other graphics to make their email have a professional appearence. But they dont stop and think about the size of the email that they are sending, and whether or not their recipients may have limited space.
Sending large email files is a sure way to get your recipients upset. You dont want to strike out before you have the chance to swing!
You can see that both email formats have their advantages, as well as their disadvantages. As for which format is the right one for you, it all depends on your offer.
If you are sending an email offer that doesnt require any lengthy tracking urls or has no affiliate urls, then text should be your format of choice.
Moreover, if you do have tracking or affiliate urls in your email offer, then HTML is the way to go. When using an HTML format be conservative, not everyone has broadband, youll find that a lot of people are still using 28.8k modems for their Internet connection.
When sending out an HTML email offer it should have a solid white background with black text, and absolutely no images or graphics. This way the email offer appears to be text and loads fast, when its actually HTML. Your viewer wont be able to see your long tracking or affiliate url which will increase your click through ratio and that means more sales.
Most autoresponders and email softwares have the ability to send email in both formats, but not all of them. There are still some that dont.
Rich Hamilton, Jr is the CEO/President of www.ElitesMarketing.com a.k.a. Elites Marketing, Inc and the Author of: "Inside Internet Marketing" http://www.InsideNetMarketing.com
About The Author
Rich Hamilton, Jr is the CEO/President of www.ElitesMarketing.com a.k.a. Elites Marketing, Inc and the Author of: "Inside Internet Marketing" www.InsideNetMarketing.com.
Email Newsletter Format: HTML or Text
Mario Sanchez
An email newsletter is probably the most effective way to communicate with your target audience. One of the main considerations before you create and deliver an email newsletter is what format to use: HTML or Text.
Until a few years ago, some email programs couldnt handle HTML. Nowadays that is not an issue, since most email programs are HTML compatible: AOL versions 6 and higher, Internet Explorer versions 4 and higher, Microsoft Outlook and Outlook Express, Eudora, Yahoo Mail, and Hotmail all support HTML. HTML email newsletters can easily be managed and sent using services like Constant Contact or Vertical Response.
Using HTML for your newsletter can be a plus from a usability perspective. Studies conducted by usability guru Jakob Nielsen show that most people prefer HTML newsletters because their enhanced layout makes articles easier to read provided that the design of the HTML newsletter is clean and simple. The same design guidelines recommended for web pages also apply to HTML email newsletters.
However, HTML newsletters are often confused with unwanted advertising, since HTML is the format of choice for marketers trying to sell their wares and services through email messages. For this reason, text email newsletters are still popular, since their plain, no frills look helps differentiate them from advertising.
Text is also the format of choice for those who use a free service like Topica or Yahoo! Groups to administer their mailing lists and deliver their email newsletters, since these free services usually dont support HTML. If you use text, remember that you wont be able to use formatting tags, such as bold or underline, and that you must create hyperlinks by adding the prefix http:// before the URL or the prefix mailto: before the email address, if you want to create an email link.
The approach I prefer is a hybrid between HTML and text. I compose my email messages in HTML, but using only text. HTML allows me to use simple formatting tags like bold, underline and italics, and a nice, screen-friendly font. I use a lot of white space to facilitate scanning, and include only a summary of each article, with a link to the full article which is hosted on my website, since most users dont like to read long articles in the body of email messages.
My email newsletters, therefore, are similar to the table of contents of a magazine, in the sense that they give readers a broad overview of the current editions content, and tell them where to find it if they are inclined to read further.
This hybrid format is never mistaken for advertising, is easy to read and scan, and loads fast. Furthermore, by offering links to the full articles, your users will be encouraged to visit your website, where they can have access to more information and learn about your products and services.
About The Author
Mario Sanchez is a Miami based freelance writer who focuses on Internet marketing and web design topics. He publishes The Internet Digest http://www.theinternetdigest.net , a growing collection of web design and Internet marketing articles, tips and resources. You can freely reprint his weekly articles in your website, ezine, or ebook.
The Future Of Email Newsletter
Llnado Ford
What are you doing with the Spam you receive Im sure you are not happy receiving it just like none between us . You have installed already a good Spam filter or you let your ISP to select your Spam and you receive it already into your "Spam mail folder" where from you can delete it easily.
But you as entrepreneur should carefully observe your feelings doing this activity because Im sure You have got your own newsletter or if dont, you intend to start one in the near future.
Well at sending out your newsletter you have to count with the fact that especially if you are using a bulk mail software your email will land eventually in the Spam folder of your subscriber.
He will retrieve the emails in his Spam mail folder too because he is subscribed to several newsletters and he is waiting for your info but only if he is convinced that this info is of high value for his interest niche.
How actual studies are showing contrary to what some people may think newsletters still have a great future.
Since not every small marketer can allow for himself to use the "direct to desktop" technology and very few costumers want to be bothered with flashing graphics on their desktops the majority of delivered news will still remain the "good old email newsletter".
So it seems you as owner of a newsletter are a winner because you will post your newsletter in the future too, but it becomes more important than ever to deliver a relevant content.
Surveys are showing that people do not read anything what seems to be waste of time.
Your newsletter must bring useful, up to date information on your market niche without to become boring at all.
What are this niche markets
Everything what is not of general interest, and the information about it is instant deliverable.
There are no limitations. You can write about Your interests which could be gardening, pets, body building, search engine optimization, everything you love, or you feel passionate about. This because if you love your topic you will never run out of subjects, you will never loose your passion for it and your prospects will always receive with your rows the power of your enthusiasm which starts from your love. for the given topic.
But you should avoid to start newsletters about a topic you dont love at all or do not feel any passion about it because that will give you much more headaches as money.
For a better understanding of this subject and not at last to keep this article short I suggest you to check out What Gary Halbert Americas #1 sale copy writer says about creating a product. Here is the link go there http://www.thegaryhalbertletter.com/ it is completely FREE and read the newsletter titled "How to get a product to sell if you dont have one already and how to get it for nothing"
You can find another great collection of ideas if you go to http://marketingadvices.com/newebooks.html and check out the ebook Creative Product Creation.
So as final conclusion: If you still dont have your own newsletter or want to start one more be careful what you choose to be your topic. Finally you want people to read your newsletter want to build a huge list and want to think in very long terms by publishing your newsletter.
About The Author
Llando Ford Started The M.A.Newsletter in late 2003 with the goal to report about the latest Internet marketing news. On his website http://marketingadvices.com you will find a collection of marketing courses some of them FREE, from the most reputed marketing gurus.
To subscribe to The Marketing Advices Newsletter and get instantly your Free bonus Gary Shawkeys If I can Anybody can and Gary Shawkeys Secrets send an email to: mailto:marketingadvices@getresponse.comsubject=SUBSCRIBE&cc=llando@marketingadvices.com
Llando@marketingadvices.com