Using <div> in emails instead of <br> for paragraph formatting

4 replies
Since AWeber "conveniently" dropped the old HTML editor, I'm stuck with writing my own HTML emails and then I copy & paste in the "Code your own HTML follow-up". For that, I use an online HTML text editor.

The problem is, most online HTML editor use the <p> code to insert paragraph breaks. I've soon found out Yahoo doesn't support them, and the result is a big chunk of text.

However, I've found two other online HTML editors. One uses the <div> command to create paragraph breaks, the other <br /> or something like that. I would very much like to use the one that uses the <div> command since it's easier to use, but AWeber told me older email client might not support it, and go for the <br /> instead.

Is that true? Have you had any experience with something similar?

Thanks
#&ltbr&gt #&ltdiv&gt #<br> #<div> #emails #formatting #paragraph
  • Profile picture of the author topnichewebsites
    Stick with p and br tags as div do well in email just not all email clients handle them the same.
    Signature
    http://pixelcovers.com/ <- eBook add eCovers

    https://www.unicommercesolutions.com <- WordPress Websites and Maintenance
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[8573741].message }}
    • Profile picture of the author Lucian Lada
      Originally Posted by topnichewebsites View Post

      Stick with p and br tags as div do well in email just not all email clients handle them the same.
      Well, it seems Yahoo has a problem with the <p> tag, and I was advised to add a 1em margin to paragraphs, like this:

      Code:
      <p style="margin-bottom:1em;">Your paragraph</p>
      Is there a way I can set this globally or do I have to do it for each paragraph? (I wouldn't be that hard - I can just use the "replace all" Notepad function and replace <p> with <p style="margin-bottom:1em;">, but I'd rather find a quicker way.)
      {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[8573845].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author topnichewebsites
    Not aware of a global for emails, doesn't mean there isn't one.

    Copy and paste is your friend
    Signature
    http://pixelcovers.com/ <- eBook add eCovers

    https://www.unicommercesolutions.com <- WordPress Websites and Maintenance
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[8573861].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author psweb
    Don't ever use <div> tags in email. I would suggest if you have the budget and send enough mail shots investing in some software called litmos, web based. But it emulates all the major email clients. I swear by it.

    As a rule of thumb stick to <p> as you can apply more styling and the not so good mail clients (lotus notes) and older versions of outlook don't render div tags correctly esp with styles on it.

    I often use image mapping and then also use a text only version, if users don't have capability of viewing images, I would suggest often they don't have the cability of purchasing the product or service you are offering.

    Thanks,

    Paul
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[8576070].message }}

Trending Topics