How to Code an Email Newsletter
An email newletter is an HTML page sent to a list of email recipients. Coding a newsletter is the same as building a web page, although some coding renders better across all email programs than others. For the best results, use tables, although, admittedly, table formatting as a design structure is fading and may be unfamiliar to many. For an easy alternative, try one of the free templates offered at many online sites, then customize it with photos, video and music that align it with the sender's business brand or website.
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Instructions
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Decide the purpose. If the company is launching a new product, perhaps a video will be necessary. If the company has a particular promotion, maybe interactive content is the way to go.
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Code the HTML as you would a web page, with all your content between <html> and <body> tags. Do not use CSS positioning, as it won't display properly. Use CSS inline styles for all customization. Design your information using tables. Don't code your pages too wide. Keep it simple. Your HTML page will serve as a template for all future emails you send. Find free templates that have been tested across many email programs at mailchimp.com, campaignmonitor.com and templatesbox.com.
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Brand the template. Branding the template means customizing how the standard email will look. This can include inserting a logo, letterhead and company info and menubar. Think of the HTML document as the email; this will help in visualizing how it will look when the recipient opens it.
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Insert a movie or media file. To insert a movie file into the email, first upload the desired video to YouTube or any other online video sharing site. Once uploaded, copy the "embed" code for that video and insert it into the appropriate section of the HTML file.
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Add an audio file or soundtrack. Using a streaming music player such as the one found on WimpyPlayer.com, upload the soundtrack or music file that will be part of the email. Then copy the "embed" code to the HTML file.
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Insert interactive content. Inserting an interactive flash game or java-based puzzle is easy. Output the file from its source and embed it in the HTML using a standard embed code for that particular format of file. A Google search for "embed XXXX code in HTML" where XXXX can be replaced by the type of file being searched, such as a flash file, will yield the appropriate code.
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Load your HTML page and all your elements to a web server. Be sure that all your links are full addresses (example: http://webaddress.com/page). Use a browser, such as Internet Explorer, to open the page. Under the dropdown for "Page" choose "Send Page by Email." IE will generate an e-mail using your default email program. Add your recipients using the blind copy field and send.
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Tips & Warnings
Still too complicated? Consider using a newsletter manager such as verticalresponse.com and campaigner.com.
People often make the mistake of trying to drop HTML coding right into an e-mail. Recipients see raw coding, not the desired page. The page must be loaded onto a web server and then mailed using a browser.
References
Resources
- Photo Credit email image by Hao Wang from Fotolia.com
