Does it make any sense to still use plain text formatting for email campaigns, today?
The way an email is formatted can make a huge difference in who will be able to read your emails.
For example, at present, not all mobile email clients can handle HTML messages. This means that a part of your subscribers who check their emails on-the-go may not be able to read your messages properly if you decide to send out HTML emails only.
Sending plain text email campaigns can avoid these issues. In general (like in SendBlaster), you can choose between two options: Send an HTML+ a plain text version or send plain text only. In either case, it’s smart to format your plain text version so that your message is clearly communicated and the email itself if visually pleasing.
Plain Text Email Formatting Tips
Compared to shiny HTML email campaigns, plain text can appear rather dull, right? While plain text can’t compare to HMTL, you can make it attractive by:
Using standard fonts – Stick with a traditional, easy-to-read font such as Times New Roman or Verdana.
Using bold headers and plenty of white space – People are busy and don’t have much time for newsletters. Bold headers make it easy to scan text and find relevant information while white space aids in keeping your message attractive and readable.
Keeping messages short and concise – Again, it comes down to how busy your subscribers are. If they see an email message filled with huge blocks of text, they may not bother reading it. Large blocks of text give the impression that reading the message will be time-consuming.
Using punctuation marks creatively – If you want to set off a quote or present a special offer, lines of tildes (~) or equal signs (=) can serve as top and bottom borders.
Adding full URLs – This is especially important if you are converting your HTML text to plain text for the sake of your plain text subscribers. For example, if your Facebook link in your HTML version contains hyperlinked anchor text reading “Like us on Facebook,” only the “Like us on Facebook” portion will be displayed in the plain text only version. As a consequence, your users won’t know what to type into their browsers. Solve this by including the full URL.
Plain text emails are here to stay. Use these tips to ensure your message arrives and performs. By keeping the customers in mind.