Email marketing: Plain Text vs HTML?

[Vanquish]

I was told to use Plain text html e mail in my e mail marketing campaigns because they have the best deliverability but I cannot track the open rate which I feel is very important.

Which type of e mail do you send and why? Is html pretty much the same as plain text? What are the pros and cons of each?

[konradbraun]

When using html, your emails are subject to interpretation of the html code, and this could vary for each user... depending on what of operating system they use... what kind of browser etc.

With plain text... it is just that. Plain text!

I have tried both... I like the stats Aweber gives when I use html emails, but it can at the same time sooo easily appear very messy.

Not to mention... I got my spam filters on hotmail to medium... and guess what emails get redirected to junk? The more intense html ones - even if it is a friend (who is on my friends/safe list) sending it!

At the same time though... I would like to hear other people's experiences as well!

[Peter Clarke]

In the old days, we always used text because of readabilty, but with so many people now having fast broadband, and email software light years further ahead, very few people cannot not read html email.

IMO use html and enjoy being able to see if your are getting read.

[Bob Harmon]

With my e-mail marketing I use both, I create the HTML e-mail then copy it to plain text as well. That way if someone on my list can't receive HTML that person will receive the plain text version of the same e-mail. I use HTML because I like to keep track of my open rates. HTML also give you the versitility of using graphic templates if you are creating a professional looking newsletter.

Plain text is just that...PLAIN.

Good luck with your e-mail campaigns~
Bob

[Jonathan1980]

Once in a while I get an html email from some mailing list (which I like very much) and this company makes them so gorgeous... I really enjoy these email.
It's like a big page that sends me to something like 4-5 articles.
I like it and I think it's worth it.

On the other hand you can make nice emails from rich text.
I don't know what is the difference between this to plain text or this to html emails (a smilie is a pic too), but well... I think you should create an html one and test it on all kinds of platforms and mail clients.

Good luck!

[wantselltrade]

I send both out. The html always seems to convert better but just like previous posts a lot of them never make it to their inboxes. That is why I still like to do the text as well as they have a much higher chance of getting into the inbox.

[radhika]

Recently I did a small test with my subscription form and 81% opted for text version. 9I am compiling the results, soon post it on my blog.)

Here is an article on html emails:

SEVEN Tips on sending Html emails.

.

[Troy_Phillips]

I have been sending both but am considering going back to text only .

The tracking is not the issue with the right tracking software .

[CliveG]

Originally Posted by Peter Clarke

In the old days, we always used text because of readabilty, but with so many people now having fast broadband, and email software light years further ahead, very few people cannot not read html email.

IMO use html and enjoy being able to see if your are getting read.

While it is true that most people CAN read html email, many of us choose not to read such mails and actually block the graphics used to monitor delivery. Why? Because the delivery tracking tools are still used by spammers looking for confirmation of deliverable email addresses.