Email marketing is one of the oldest online marketing methods yet one of the easiest methods you can ever utilize as an online marketer. Email is a convenient way of advertising and its popularity and returns seem to be increasing by the day. Statistics state that in 2009 alone, the ROI of email was $43.52 for every invested dollar. However, this great tool is not utilized by many online marketers who fail to realize that they are sitting on a gold mine. No matter how much you fancy using other methods, HTML email will always be important and knowing how to utilize it to the maximum can bring you the results you so desire. Below are several tips to aid you in HTML email.
The first thing you can do is utilize tables. In this age of CSS, most webmasters ignore the use of tables. However, CSS based approaches simply fail to deliver when it comes to HTML email. Most of them will be ignored by clients and end up where they were not intended. To reach out to as many email clients as possible, use tables as your basic structure for laying out the information you want to convey. However, you should not do away with CSS completely, just use enough of it; not too much. It comes in handy when you want to style your email contents. You can apply CSS to your font style, color, borders and margin and padding effects. Generally, CSS is good for basic designs and not beyond there.
Another important tip is to avoid linking your emails to external sources. Many emails clients will be reluctant to import an external CSS file and many more will completely ignore this option. Also, code put above the main content will most likely be disregarded by prospective clients. Whenever you apply a CSS code make sure it is inline the HTML text and not on the heading.
When using email marketing, make the emails short as many email users are not likely to read through long emails. In case you have to send a long email, make sure you concentrate the most important information at the top of the email. Design your emails so that they are narrow and fit in most screens. Sticking to 600 pixels width will ensure you have catered for most email users. When using images; incorporate them in the text so that your target clients will not have to link to an outside source to view the image.
In many instances, it pays to plan for things before you encounter them so when you are designing your site, imagine cases where images and CSS might be turned off and find ways of getting your information across without these. Also, incorporate all types of internet users when sending out your HTML emails for example the mobile phone users. To do this, you can offer a web based version and a mobile version of the email. Finally, test to see that your email is readable on every email application offered in order to reach out to as wide a range of email users as possible.
