New Look Weekly E-mail

MSE_Martin

Hi folks,

We've been working on some small changes to the weekly e-mail tip and I thought it'd be interesting to get your feedback on the changes before we try and go live with it next week.

Before you look some important notes

• This is a dummy tip. Many of the links are broken - this is for style it's not an active one. Also the new headline style means we will write them slightly differently - this is just using an old tips text so that hasn't been done. Basically ignore what it says, it's the look that counts.
  
  Also note that it'll look different in an email browser than it does on the web. IE7 users especially may notice some things out of place.

• Small change. We're aiming at small improvements not a wholesale redesign. The tip works incredibly well as it is - even with its current clunky style, so this is just an iterative rather than revolutionary change.

• The main changes
  
  First you'll see its now fixed width rather than stretchy
  The headlines at the top are now bigger better spaced and now be anchor links (in email clients that allow them)
  The headline in the main body are now bigger, but will be shorter with a black sub headlines underneath.
  All the main text now has 1.5 line spacing on it to make it easier to read (we tried having para separators too but it made everything too long)
  Some of the content has been moved to the right hand side to make it more efficient
  We've changed the headline font to make it easier to read.
  There are a few small new images in there.
  
  We do have a few small design changes left to happen but it's close to being there.

• A few more images. Im not a big fan of images in emails as many people don't click to upload them. This has a few more small ones than the current one, but doesn't add anything to the file size. Also its designed that even if you dont upload the images everythings still readable and looks ok.

• Please try to compare to old emails not the current onsite version (though if not look at last weeks - remember though in email it isn't fixed width)

Here's the link to the new one:

MSE Tip Test

Do let us know what you think - but again remember our aim is small improvement not a radical overhaul.

Martin

Justicenpeace

Looks good! Very easy to read. Thanks. :T

Horace

It looks good to me Martin..well done to you and your techy team.

shopndrop

I like it too. Agree, easy to read. Well done Martin and team.

Valli

another YES here...

altojack

YES from me too Martin and team. It looks good:beer:

DarkConvict

I'm a little indifferent so far between them, i know the 'new' version is not complete so doesn't have the correct website header, the links section on the right or subscribe to this newsletter section.

The increased line spacing is good and is alot easier on the eyes at the expense of a longer website it is a good idea.

The page is little wider, but on my 1920x1080 monitor it is still fairly narrow occupying only about 33% of the available width. Not sure if this is intentionally.

I do feel it is an overall improvement, but sorry to say nothing i am shouting about.

MSE_Martin

DarkConvict wrote: »

I do feel it is an overall improvement, but sorry to say nothing i am shouting about.

That'll do - we dont want big change - in a way I'll be happier if people find it much easier to use and to scan - without necessarily even noticing its changed. So overall improvement is good

fermi

Certainly easier to read. I found the old one a little bit too 'busy' at times.

becky_rtw

Agree about it not being wide enough though (I'm on an 8.9 inch screen and have loads of space either side). Skinny is fine if you can get it to anchor left - space on the left is bad because thats the place the eye is drawn too...

Like the space between bits though

MSE_Martin

becky_rtw wrote: »

Agree about it not being wide enough though (I'm on an 8.9 inch screen and have loads of space either side). Skinny is fine if you can get it to anchor left - space on the left is bad because thats the place the eye is drawn too...

Like the space between bits though

Remember this is an email though not for a website. Many people view them either in the preview pain of their email browser or not in a fully opened window.

It's actually wider than most emails and wider than the text we do on teh main site