Using text and HTML email together

 

A long time ago, all email was created only in plain text. There was no option for HTML; emails sent and received were boring, plain and rather ugly looking. Today thankfully, there is the option of creating HTML email. HTML email makes a lot of things possible. It allows the creation of a much more effective layout as compared to text email. It gives you the option of having color in your email. It lets you include images. Advertisements too are a lot more compelling in HTML email than they are in text emails.

However there is a catch; just because the HTML option is available and comes with a whole range of exciting features does not mean that you should focus on creating only HTML email and forget about your text version. It is very important that you give your readers a choice of HTML and text.

The reason for this is a lot of people don’t always create good HTML emails. This can lead to messy layouts, too many colors, chaotic or missing images and even broken links! This makes the email difficult to read and results in people preferring to read it in text. Sometimes people, especially those who access their emails through email clients like Microsoft Outlook, Thunderbird or Lotus Notes, are unable to view their emails in HTML format and this makes it even more important to provide them with a text alternative.

HTML email links have the option of being embedded links. This means these HTML email links can be hidden behind text. This makes these links minimally intrusive as well as short and simple.

When creating your text version, you have the option of placing your HTML links in your text version. However, your HTML links will appear in your text version only if you have used the complete URL as the click text.

<a href=’http://www.google.com’>http://www.google.com</a> would come up as http://www.google.com in your text version.

While
<a href=’http://www.google.com’>Google</a> would simply appear as Google (which would not be linked in the text version).

To avoid such situations, remember to update your text version with the relevant URLs. It could be the difference between a click-through to a product page resulting in a sale and creating interest which you cannot capitalize on because the viewer is unable to click-through to a web page.

Using HTML and text together gives you the best of both worlds and allows you to provide your recipients with highly effective emails. Some people prefer HTML email while others prefer text. The wisest approach to take therefore is to provide both the options. The best part is you don’t even have to worry about creating the entire email yourself! Services like Benchmark Email offer you a whole range of professionally designed email templates with unique themes and the option to add your very own graphics, logos, links and even videos! Don’t take our word for it though – try it out for yourself and watch how quickly your response improves!