HTML emails

JennyP

Does anyone know how you write html emails? You know, the sorts of thing that blogs send out and other companies, that look like a webpage but in an email?
I would like to do this now I'm getting more subscribers on my blog but I'm just a hobbyist so I don't want to spend a fortune on expensive software!

fwor

If you just want to do simple stuff, possibly the simplest way is to create the email using OpenOffice or LibreOffice and then choose the Export option to save it in HTML format, and then copy that into the body of the email.

There are of course plenty of other ways to do it without having to buy any software, but that's what I'd do initially.

JennyP

Or Microsoft Office Word? Or doesn't that work?
I didn't realise it could be that easy!

steve1980

www.mailchimp.com

If you know HTML then you can change parts of the design.

JennyP

I tried it in Word 2003 and it worked. It looked rubbish mind, but that was my design skills I fear! or rather lack of design skills!

Darksun

Just remember a lot of email clients block images automatically so if you design an image heavy email then it's not going to look good when people get it unless they click to allow images

JennyP

Ok thank you! It's the layout too - I think I need to keep one from someone else that I like and imitate that!

dsavvy83

Hi

First of all, you will need a newsletter software. How many people are on your list?

Do some research on email newsletters, it might be worth using a service like mailchimp.

I use phpmail it is very useful, and easy to use most of the time .

when you send out a newsletter you should also create a web page on your website aswell where the user can go to if they can't view it properly on their email.

In general terms you should learn basic html, because if you were to use microsoft word and similar programs to make your email, it will make your emails very heavy and it will add extra code which you don't need and may stand the risk of your emails going straight to your bloggers spam, and don't forget that emails tend to look different on different email clients.

But definitely do your research and also be aware of the type of words you put in the emails.

This is just the tip of the iceberg, there is so much more, i have been sending newsletters out for a few years now, and you will be surprised which type of emails are effective, had to do a lot of experiments and lot of upset customers ooooops.

P.S make sure you give your bloggers the choice to unsubscribe.

JennyP

I know a bit of html. I use Dreamweaver but often use the code-view to change my pages and I sometimes modify the html on Wordpress as well. I'm not an expert - I couldn't write it from scratch.
Is there some way of constructing a page in Dreamweaver and then turning that into an email? I have a really really old verison....
I have hardly anyone on my list right now anyway, but it's something that I couldn't do when I had a business (and could have emailed loads of potential clients!) and something that I'd like to do in future when my current blog subscribers list grows. I want to be prepared this time!

dsavvy83

yes of course you can use dreamweaver, it is what i do most of the time.

But when you design in dreamweaver for email, try not to use CSS or keep it to a minimal as some email clients ignore it.

When you design it in dreamweaver, just copy the source code, and then paste it into the newsletter software you are using. For instance i use PHPMAIL i can click on a button called source code or something similar to that and then paste the source code from dreamweaver.

i think that makes sense

JennyP

So if I use Dreamweaver, I'd still need special newsletter software?
It's all so complicated! I might start writing letters by hand again and posting them out.....except stamps are going up and I'll practically need a second mortgage to send my Christmas cards out!