Computer Technology

This HTML Email Guide contains tips and tools on how to create compatible HTML email which will display correctly on most webmail and email clients.

HTML email or HTML newsletters have advantages and disadvantages. But your clients (recipients) decide if you will send them a HTML email or a plain text email. For example if they specifically sign up for a HTML newsletter.

The following have been tested on Windows:

• Webmail - Hotmail, Gmail, Yahoo! Mail, Lycos Mail


• Email clients - Outlook 2003, Thunderbird 1.5


• Browsers - Internet Explorer 6.0, Mozilla Firefox 1.5

Testing for Mac will be added soon (Apple Mail, Entourage, Hotmail, Gmail, Yahoo! Mail, Lycos Mail, Firefox, Safari).

• Software for creating HTML email


• Get several webmail accounts for testing


• Create an effective layout


• Remove unnecessary HTML tags


• Use tables for layout


• Put all images online


• Hide the image toolbar


• Use absolute urls


• Use short urls


• Use simple inline style sheets


• Create your design with a white background color


• Avoid background images defined on the body


• All text and links must have a style


• Use the title and alt attribute


• Use <BR> instead of <P>


• Use spacers


• Choosing a maximum width


• Don’t use forms


• Don’t use Javascript


• Provide an unsubscribe link


• Provide a link for an online version


• Provide extra functionality for the online version


• Test your design in multiple browsers


• Avoid your HTML email being marked as spam


• Don’t use DHTML


• Don’t use Flash


• Use HTML Email Validator


• Use HTML Tidy Online


• Count the number of clicks in your HTML email with tracking


• Use unduplicate to get a list with correct email addresses


• Software for sending HTML email


• Send HTML email with PHPMailer


• Send your email as multipart/alternative


• Email clients are more flexible


• Forwarding HTML email