One of the dilemmas in using Business Emails is that people respond better to the visually exciting HTML emails you send, but that your email client (program) assumes you’re up to no good!
This results in emails you send that contains images only being partially delivered to your recipients.
What they see are the words, and if they’re observant a link at the top of the message that says, “To protect your privacy, some pictures in this message were not downloaded”, or words to that effect.
So, what can you do about this?It is quite easy to fix – the reader simply has to click on the link that says ‘Download Pictures’.
But the trouble is that not all readers realise this.
And then they complain that your (beautifully crafted) email “comes through all funny”! So, what can you do?
As far as I’m aware there is no away around this other than:
- Send plain text emails – which are incredibly boring!
- Send a link to an HTML page instead – but that’s what SPAMMERs do, and the chances of your readers following links just to read an email are remote.
So, what do we do?
We have to live with the situation, so here are some hints to help make this less stressful:
- Ensure your key messages are in words, not pictures.
- Use pictures only to support your words (similar to the above statement)
- Only send HTML messages when you have to
- Avoid putting your logo at the bottom of your email.
This last point is the most contentious. Many of us like putting logos at the bottom of our emails, but does it really help? Besides, if you do want to ‘brand’ your messages then you should use Stationery where you can embed images into the email.
Our team can design and setup stationery for users of Microsoft Outlook. To find out more contact us on 01844 215 101.
If you’ve got another way of dealing with this situation, do post your ideas here!
Warm regards,
Cat Young
Solve the Web
www.solve-the-web.co.uk
