How to Make Your Newsletter Emails Reader-friendly

June 27, 2009

Knowing the tips and tricks in successful email marketing is important, but some marketers overlook the importance of using a standard format for their emails. The emails can come in 2 forms: as plain text or with the use of HTML. Plain text emails should be simple and easy to read. They cost cheaper to create than HTML emails. On the other hand, emails in HTML can contain pictures, fun fonts, and GIFs that can definitely gain your subscriber’s attention immediately.

Filling out the email form fields

The “From” is the first thing that your reader will see when he or she checks the inbox so what you put in there is crucial. It is better if you put a personal name or the company’s name (or both) rather than just the email address on the form field. Why? Because it gives your email a personal touch. You can also bank on the name of the company, if it is well-known, to encourage the reader to click the message.

Another crucial point in your email is the “Subject” field. Phrase your words carefully because this is a deciding factor whether your email will actually be read. Try not to sound like you’re advertising another of those useless products. Do not promise anything you can’t deliver. Lastly, relate the subject to your reader’s concerns.

In filling out the “To” field, there are certain things to be aware of. If you know the recipient’s full name, use that. It is preferred over just an impersonal email address. Do not use the recipient’s first name, as this might then appear too personal to be tasteful.

What your newsletter email should contain

Your email’s headline and subheads should be able to summarize the content of your email as concisely as possible. At one glance, the reader should be able to understand what you’re saying, and see it clearly. This is the reason for using bigger fonts and a different color from the text body for your headline and subheads.

The body of your email newsletter or promotion should be short and simple, no more than 2 to 3 paragraphs at most. This ensures that you keep your reader’s attention from wandering, which would defeat the purpose of your promotion.

Placing pictures of your product in your email can help your subscribers visualize what you’re selling. As they say, a picture paints a thousand words, so while the receiver of your email might not read the text at first glance, he or she might be encouraged to do so once an interesting and well-taken picture is placed strategically in your email.

Take it easy on using graphics, colors, blinking GIFs, and elaborate fonts. You don’t want to irritate your reader by sending an email full of eyesore. Aside from being aesthetically repulsive with all the unnecessary glitz, your email might become hard to read, thus ending up in the “Spam” folder of your subscriber’s email address.

Lastly, the signature of your email can either be your digitized signature or your company’s logo. It must contain a link to your website and other relevant contact information.