HTML Email Guide

Communication has changed dramatically in the past several years. In the "old days" if you wanted to send something you mailed it. Whether it was a letter to a friend or relative, or a business correspondence, you needed to create it, print it and mail it. At that point you were at the mercy of the Post Office and depending on the volume of mail, the correspondence could take anywhere from a day to several days.

Now, with the creation of electronic communications, individuals and businesses can reach out faster than ever. With e-mail and e-mail hosting, you can create something and send it anywhere in the world in a matter of minutes. And, you have the option of sending a text only message or an HTML e-mail message.

Creating an HTML e-mail is quite simple. To do so, simply create the e-mail normally using standard formatting of paragraphs and any other elements. After the message has been written, you can add HTML tags to the document to give it color, graphics and other elements (bold, italics, text size, etc…). The HTML tags need to have a beginning and an end to show where you want the emphasis. For example if you wanted to bold a word, you need to have a beginning and end tag. In this past sentence, just the word bold would be bolded in an HTML e-mail.

Creating HTML e-mails has advantages and disadvantages. The advantages are having a more dynamic looking e-mail, the opportunity to include pictures and the opportunity to include links in the e-mail message. The disadvantages include not have the message viewed properly if the recipient only receives e-mail in text format, the e-mail may look different depending on the recipients computer settings and images may be blocked by some e-mail servers.

When sending HTML e-mails, one of the keys is creating a layout that is read easily. To accomplish this, the sender should use photos or graphics to grab attention of the recipients. Other elements that can be effective in creating an HTML e-mail are use of spot color to highlight words, phrases or sentences that you want the reader to focus on. Another element that can be helpful in creating a readable layout is the use of bolding and italicizing words. Ideally, you would like the reader to key in on areas that you want to promote. For example, if you were sending an HTML e-mail out promoting a Grand Opening, you would want to highlight important information such as date, time and location. This can be done using color, bold and italic elements.

Once you have created your HTML e-mail you should test it before sending it out. To do so, one of the best ways is to either preview it in your e-mail program (if possible) or send it to yourself. When you receive it, you will be seeing it the way your recipients will see it and you can make changes if needed.

As a reminder, if you are sending an HTML e-mail, make sure that your e-mail program is able to send them. Many have an option of how to send the e-mail. Make sure that the HTML option is chosen.

Once you have followed these steps, you're ready to go. To assist in creating and sending your HTML e-mails, the following websites can be helpful:

Good luck in creating your HTML e-mail. With a little practice, you will be sending eye-catching e-mails that is bound to get noticed.