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If E-Mail Clients Distort Your HTML... You Can Fix It

A genuine text link to the web version in your email newsletter is very much necessary. Therefore, the HTML design has to be good enough to take care of this and other issues as well.

HTML and text contents sometimes become the culprit for email clients. Most of the filters now use image blocking and preview panes as default settings that such link may not even appear if you drop it into a single, large HTML image.

Therefore, it is advisable that you design the top three to four inches of your message with text and HTML that tells readers what offer or content follows. This encourages them to turn on images and go through the contents as per their choice. Otherwise, they may just delete your message without reading it, particularly if it is just a blank space white space.

Here are some tips on HTML design, which you cannot afford to ignore.

• Code email by hand.

HTML design programs such as FrontPage are not ideal for designing HTML email. They typically add extra code that is not compatible with certain email clients. Also, do not use Microsoft Word's "Save as Web Page", which can cause a HTML blunder. You can use. Programs such as Home Site and Dream weaver and remove any unnecessary code by hand. Otherwise, an HTML programmer can code your email template manually to keep it clean.

• Be careful with tables And Background Images

The background images for individual table cells are generally acceptable but may not appear in some clients. Also avoid using nested tables. Some email clients like Lotus Notes and Netscape Messenger in particular, may not render them correctly. Also, avoid 1 x 1-pixel spacer GIFs (to have widths in your table data cells). These are often detected as spam and it can result in your email being blocked.

Some ISPs filter email with embedded images. It is better to host these images on your Web site and make sure all paths point to the full URL Also the file size can get quite large with multiple embedded images, which can also get the message blocked.

Avoid CSS

CSS is short for Cascading Style Sheets, a new feature being added to HTML that gives both website developers and visitors more control over how the pages are displayed. With CSS, designers and users can create style sheets that define how different elements, such as headers and links.

However as they appear. In HTML email, they can cause incorrect rendering in some email clients, or get stripped out or overwritten. If you must use CSS, choose the embedded styles also known as inline. Embed the style within the two body tags, not within the header. Inline CSS can also be embedded directly in the message code.

• Keep HTML email 500-650 pixels wide

Wider HTML messages often force the viewer to scroll horizontally to view the whole message. Such messages are problematic, especially in a preview pane.

• Use image alt tags

Alt tags are better as they show one or two words describing an image or an action when the image does not display because of slow loading time or image blocking. (However, except for Gmail, most ISPs/email clients that block images also block alt tags.

• Add functionalities carefully

You must use links to your Web site for” send-to-friend forms”, surveys, search boxes, etc. to ensure the greatest compatibility.

• Avoid Excess Use of JavaScript, Visual Basic and Flash etc.

Sometimes these scripts are mistaken for malicious code and get the message rejected outright.. Instead, move readers to your Web site, where you can more safely use dynamic components.

You should put rich-media functions such as inline audio, video, or Flash on your Web site instead of embedding them in an email. Post a link that connects directly to these functions on your site. Many recipients may not have the email software, or correct version that they need to render those functions. Properly.

• Test your HTML Content Repeatedly

AS this goes a long way, check with your email service provider to see if it can do this for you, or contract with a third-party service. who can perform the following tests:

Validate the HTML content with the W3C's Mark-up and Validation services

Test your messages in key subscriber email clients (Lotus Notes and Outlook for business; AOL, Hotmail, Yahoo, and Gmail for consumers with image blocking and preview pane enabled).

Test on different platforms, like-PC, Macintosh and also in different browsers, including Internet Express, Mozilla Firefox, Netscape etc..