best way to make sure html email is received as html? - GoFuckYourself.com

Mutt · 08-01-2010, 12:30 PM

what should i include in the <head> and doctype of an html email to ensure the most amount of people actually see the html/graphics rather than text? i'm always receiving emails that are html code so obviously somebody didn't do something right.

Grapesoda · 08-01-2010, 12:31 PM

can't, I do not accept html email. don't think you can force it

DateDoc · 08-01-2010, 12:32 PM

Talk to Keith aka Varius.

ottopottomouse · 08-01-2010, 12:43 PM

Are you able to do it with base64 like Greasemonkey images?

woj · 08-01-2010, 01:18 PM

you need to set it in the header, not the actual message

AlCapone · 08-01-2010, 01:21 PM

Email clients have settings to turn HTML off and view in Plain Text. This keeps people from sending them phishing emails.

You won't be able to get around that.

MetaMan · 08-01-2010, 01:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AlCapone

Email clients have settings to turn HTML off and view in Plain Text. This keeps people from sending them phishing emails.

You won't be able to get around that.

bingo it is on a user/platform end basis.

for people who are used to your brand it matters less. they are going to view the content anyway.

but for new users i suggest using text until you build a trust with the user and your emails.

do not worry about the flashy look of emails. people spend seconds scrolling through them, good intro text is more important than a flashy layout on your emails.

once the user is familiar with your brand you can add more pep to the emails.

if you send new users an email with content blocked you are going to lose them. remember slowly fish people into your brand. email marketing should be used for longterm anyway so it is good to build up a trust with the users inbox.

AlCapone · 08-01-2010, 01:31 PM

I'm not sure about other software packages, but if you are using SendBlaster, you can format HTML and Plain Text, and whatever the end-user is using they will see that version of the email.

TheScratch · 08-01-2010, 02:19 PM

In the content type/text field of the email body, you have to bait them. Typically that says something like "you must have an HTML email client to view this message". Try something better than that, or maybe a link.

Supz · 08-01-2010, 07:01 PM

depends on the recipient.

JD · 08-01-2010, 07:32 PM

it's a bitch. what a lot of people are doing though is sending a giant image instead of HTML. that and/or straight text with a link to the HTML version of the newsletter/email

potter · 08-01-2010, 07:43 PM

DocTypes don't really work in html emails, nor does anything in the head tag really.

A good html email should look like this as it's base

<html>
<head>
<title>Title of email</title>
</head>
<body>
</body>
</html>

Then, for the design/layout. You can't use any styles for the most part. Only font-family, font-size, line-height, color. For spacing, use BR tags. <p> Tags aren't rendered in Yahoo email clients and margin/padding isn't rendered in the majority of the others. You literally have to use height attributes or BR tags for spacing.

Only use tables, and old old html attributes (like ones that are almost all depreciated. If you want some space ontop of an image for example, use the vspace attribute.

I probably have more experience than anyone else here with html email design and layouts. People that think designing for a couple browsers is though, when I run an email design it has to be tested and functioning in 30+ different email clients. All of which have insane quirks compared to browsers.

Oh, add style="display:border;" to all images that are part of the layout, other wise you'll end up with spacing around them in about 5 of the clients.

Oh, and always provide a expandable area for the text/content area. MobileMe and Lotus Notes suck for spacing and they'll break a fixed size content region.

potter · 08-01-2010, 07:48 PM

Oh, and per your actual question. There isn't any way to "force" the recipient to get the email in it's html format. That is their personal settings, and you can't just take control of their computer.

The best method, is to create two copies of the email on your server. One being a copy of the html email itself, and the second being a .txt copy - which just has the content/copy of the email and no html code. At the top of your email, add two links to these files like "View this email with images" and "view the text version of this email", that way if they aren't seeing it right, or have images turned off - you still have a good chance of getting them to see your ad / email.

Loch · 08-01-2010, 07:50 PM

Dont try to force it "which you cant" just make sure that if the receiver does not accept HTML that they get a text based version.

Loch · 08-01-2010, 07:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by potter

Oh, and per your actual question. There isn't any way to "force" the recipient to get the email in it's html format. That is their personal settings, and you can't just take control of their computer.

The best method, is to create two copies of the email on your server. One being a copy of the html email itself, and the second being a .txt copy - which just has the content/copy of the email and no html code. At the top of your email, add two links to these files like "View this email with images" and "view the text version of this email", that way if they aren't seeing it right, or have images turned off - you still have a good chance of getting them to see your ad / email.

what he said lol "i should really start reading threads first huh"

AlCapone · 08-01-2010, 08:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by potter

Oh, and per your actual question. There isn't any way to "force" the recipient to get the email in it's html format. That is their personal settings, and you can't just take control of their computer.

The best method, is to create two copies of the email on your server. One being a copy of the html email itself, and the second being a .txt copy - which just has the content/copy of the email and no html code. At the top of your email, add two links to these files like "View this email with images" and "view the text version of this email", that way if they aren't seeing it right, or have images turned off - you still have a good chance of getting them to see your ad / email.

Too late...

Quote:

Originally Posted by AlCapone

I'm not sure about other software packages, but if you are using SendBlaster, you can format HTML and Plain Text, and whatever the end-user is using they will see that version of the email.

08-01-2010, 12:30 PM	#1
Mutt Too lazy to set a custom title Industry Role: Join Date: Sep 2002 Posts: 34,431	best way to make sure html email is received as html? what should i include in the <head> and doctype of an html email to ensure the most amount of people actually see the html/graphics rather than text? i'm always receiving emails that are html code so obviously somebody didn't do something right. __________________ I moved my sites to Vacares Hosting. I've saved money, my hair is thicker, lost some weight too! Thanks Sly!

08-01-2010, 12:32 PM	#3
DateDoc Outside looking in. Industry Role: Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: To Hell You Ride Posts: 14,243	Talk to Keith aka Varius. __________________

08-01-2010, 12:43 PM	#4
ottopottomouse She is ugly, bad luck. Industry Role: Join Date: Jan 2010 Posts: 13,177	Are you able to do it with base64 like Greasemonkey images? __________________ ↑ see post ↑ 13101

08-01-2010, 01:18 PM	#5
woj <&(©¿©)&> Industry Role: Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Chicago Posts: 47,882	you need to set it in the header, not the actual message __________________ Custom Software Development, email: woj#at#wojfun#.#com to discuss details or skype: wojl2000 or gchat: wojfun or telegram: wojl2000 Affiliate program tools: Hosted Galleries Manager Banner Manager Video Manager Wordpress Affiliate Plugin Pic/Movie of the Day Fansign Generator Zip Manager

08-01-2010, 01:21 PM	#6
AlCapone Confirmed User Join Date: Sep 2003 Posts: 708	Email clients have settings to turn HTML off and view in Plain Text. This keeps people from sending them phishing emails. You won't be able to get around that. __________________ "You can get more with a kind word and a gun than you can with a kind word alone.”

08-01-2010, 12:31 PM	#2
Grapesoda So Fucking Banned Industry Role: Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Montana Posts: 46,238	can't, I do not accept html email. don't think you can force it

08-01-2010, 01:31 PM	#8
AlCapone Confirmed User Join Date: Sep 2003 Posts: 708	I'm not sure about other software packages, but if you are using SendBlaster, you can format HTML and Plain Text, and whatever the end-user is using they will see that version of the email. __________________ "You can get more with a kind word and a gun than you can with a kind word alone.”

08-01-2010, 02:19 PM	#9
TheScratch Registered User Industry Role: Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Oz Posts: 63	In the content type/text field of the email body, you have to bait them. Typically that says something like "you must have an HTML email client to view this message". Try something better than that, or maybe a link. __________________ I've learned that you cannot make someone love you. All you can do is stalk them and hope they panic and give in.

08-01-2010, 07:01 PM	#10
Supz Arthur Flegenheimer Industry Role: Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: New York City Posts: 11,056	depends on the recipient.

08-01-2010, 07:32 PM	#11
JD Too lazy to set a custom title Industry Role: Join Date: Sep 2003 Posts: 22,651	it's a bitch. what a lot of people are doing though is sending a giant image instead of HTML. that and/or straight text with a link to the HTML version of the newsletter/email

08-01-2010, 07:43 PM	#12
potter Confirmed User Industry Role: Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Denver Posts: 6,559	DocTypes don't really work in html emails, nor does anything in the head tag really. A good html email should look like this as it's base <html> <head> <title>Title of email</title> </head> <body> </body> </html> Then, for the design/layout. You can't use any styles for the most part. Only font-family, font-size, line-height, color. For spacing, use BR tags. <p> Tags aren't rendered in Yahoo email clients and margin/padding isn't rendered in the majority of the others. You literally have to use height attributes or BR tags for spacing. Only use tables, and old old html attributes (like ones that are almost all depreciated. If you want some space ontop of an image for example, use the vspace attribute. I probably have more experience than anyone else here with html email design and layouts. People that think designing for a couple browsers is though, when I run an email design it has to be tested and functioning in 30+ different email clients. All of which have insane quirks compared to browsers. Oh, add style="display:border;" to all images that are part of the layout, other wise you'll end up with spacing around them in about 5 of the clients. Oh, and always provide a expandable area for the text/content area. MobileMe and Lotus Notes suck for spacing and they'll break a fixed size content region. __________________

08-01-2010, 07:48 PM	#13
potter Confirmed User Industry Role: Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Denver Posts: 6,559	Oh, and per your actual question. There isn't any way to "force" the recipient to get the email in it's html format. That is their personal settings, and you can't just take control of their computer. The best method, is to create two copies of the email on your server. One being a copy of the html email itself, and the second being a .txt copy - which just has the content/copy of the email and no html code. At the top of your email, add two links to these files like "View this email with images" and "view the text version of this email", that way if they aren't seeing it right, or have images turned off - you still have a good chance of getting them to see your ad / email. __________________

08-01-2010, 07:50 PM	#14
Loch Confirmed User Industry Role: Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Canada Posts: 7,674	Dont try to force it "which you cant" just make sure that if the receiver does not accept HTML that they get a text based version. __________________ Contact us for Beta store access (4000 HD/SD productions) - Editing - Encoding/Post production ICQ - 277 862 930 E-mail casper /@/ cool-content.com