Subscriber Lists - How to format e-mails?

I just use plain text as that's how I roll.

If you have a brand then adding the logo to the top of the email would be a good thing to do, but remember that a lot of services such as gmail turn off images by default.

Well done on getting off to such a good start with your listbuilding.

I think if you are actually running a blog you want a nice simple looking format. If all you are doing is sending out the latest WSO's then use text. Why? I have no idea. It's just what I noticed.

One of the main reasons so many marketers use text only is because they're lazy and they're using "swipe" emails that they copied from a product vendor. They don't want to take the time to make a nice HTML email. Also there was a time when plain text emails had a higher deliverability rate. That's no longer the case.

Your best bet for deliverability and reader experience is to send the email in 2-part mime, which includes both HTML and plain text. If you are using AWeber's new HTML templates, it will do this for you automatically. It generates a text version of the HTML email and includes it. When your subscribers receive the email, they will only see one or the other. If their email client accepts HTML, then it will show them the HTML version. If it does not accept HTML (such as older phones, or if they simply prefer text-only in Outlook, etc.) it will display the text version for them.

One thing you don't want to do is send an email in HTML only, as that may result in a lower deliverability (because it is often done by spammers). But as I mentioned, if you're using AWeber's newest editor, the text version will be auto-generated (and you can also edit it if desired.) Personally I still use AWebers old broadcast editor, in which I paste both the HTML and text versions in manually.

Just from my test .. yours could be very different.

Text only gets read further and clicked through more often. I actually ask my list why this was and many of them thought a spammer was sending them some type of CPA offer through my email when they received it in HTML format.

In reality it usually isn't the medium but the message. If I send a plain text message that has hit all the right buttons and you send a perfect HTML with a by my junk buy line .. which do you think will be more effective?

when ever i create new follow ups in aweber i create them in text first and then cut and paste it into the html box

i don`t bother sending a text version anymore

all i do is send the html version

using the html format is much easier and you also have the ability to create hyper links
saying "click here" etc

paul

OP, first congratulations. Getting off the rusty dusty and making something happen, is a GREAT step in the right direction.
You got great advice from Troy and Eric. (hi guys)
My partner and I went the html/text option. We create new content for our list and have a branded html newsletter. (yea we liked the look of @Andy Jenkins newsletter)

And we have found that while our longer subscribers enjoy the html version and opt for that format, our new subscribers actually click on the links more via the text version of our email.
GO FIGURE

Hope that helps

Use both : Text as well as HTML

Some people disable image viewing , so text formatting.

People do not want to read ad-like messages , so plain text formatting. Plain, simple , straight-to the subject.

DO NOT go for the fancy formatting. Better , concentrate on engaing your list.

Sheer increase in the number of subscribers is no way helpful. They will make aweber more monied [], not you.

You need more engagement. Try Wordpress Blogging, use the blog broadcast feature [very powerful] , Facebook Pages , Youtube.

This will make YOU money.

Because text always goes through and is read.

It has nothing to do with being lazy, as someone suggested.

Many subscribers, such as myself, have graphics disabled as a security measure and to prevent spam from confirming the email address is valid via hidden graphics.

So when someone only sends messages in html I get a blank message. In other words, they are paying AWeber to send messages that never get seen.

.

what about advertise our new product in related newsletters? is it nice to attract marketers & buyers?

People read emails purely for content. It's all about readability.

I still get the several emails that I can click on when I read them with my laptop but my phone displays the link as a dead "Click Here" link.

Not sure why but that's irrelevant because by then it's too late and chances of me going back to re-read and click on the link in that email are highly unlikely.

As others have eluded to, first create a message of value and relevancy and then worry about the presentation. You can have the greatest looking HTML email in the world, but it won't stop people from unsubscribing if you content does not add value to their day.

Kindsvater is right...it's not about being lazy...on the contrary, it's about starting with the most important basics and perfecting the message first.

Regards,
jim

In some Industries (make money online) it's important to stand out from the crowd (very big crowd). Having great content is not always enough. I open emails on a regular basis from Internet marketers and a lot of the time I have no idea who they are. The content could be great, and sometimes it is, but distinguishing them from other marketers emails can be tricky. Let's face it, we all delete a lot of emails without reading them. Sometimes if the subject line is interesting we will click through for a gander, but a lot of times we don't bother.

Plain text looks clean and simple, and that's great, but every other marketer has the exact same template. What sets your message apart from the others? What makes your email stick in the mind of the subscriber? Don't tell me it's just “great content,” because stats will easily prove that this is not always the case. Actually, it most definitely isn’t the case for most email marketers.

Open rates have dramatically fallen. Why? Well, of course there’s the obvious hyped up promotion crap where every marketer is just out to make money. But, open rates and click throughs have also dropped because people are getting 10 - 20 emails from different marketers every single day, and most of this content doesn't get read. Most of this great content DOESN'T get read because they have not "stickied" (real word) their email in the minds of the recipient.

Great content is, well, great. But there are many marketers with great content that is NOT being read because they haven't stood out. A fancy (not too hypee or elaborate) email template can have great rememberability (another real word) in the mind of the recipient and when they see the message, It’s remembered. When they get another 10 – 20 emails the next day, yours is the one that’s remembered. If you have killer content as well, then you will stand out even more.

This is 2012. Fancy email templates can have a dramatic effect on perception when it comes to standing out from your competition. Sometimes (not always) great content is only partially important when it comes to rememberability (that real word again). Just some food for thought.

By the way, I use plain text and send both in HTML format My point was to highlight that sometimes (not always) a fancy html template can be the difference between gaining traction, or your email being passed over and not read at all. So what if some people wn’t get to see your images, there will always be losses. But, maybe the fancy template will get you more open rates. I think it’s well worth testing.

By the way, many have already tested this with their subscribers, but you know what? These marketers already have that trust factor with their subs, and in cases like that, plain text will always be a winner. Again, just food for thought.

I’m not advocating that fancy templates work better than plain text. I’m merely pointing out that it’s just common sense that fancy templates will have a far better response for most marketers who are not well known and who haven’t got the best copywriting skills in the industry. In those cases, a fancy template can give you an extra rememberability factor that you may not have gotten from competing against the other well established marketers emails that arrive at the same time as yours. Don’t overdo it though, and just test it to find out what works best for you.