Are you sending HTML without plain text alternatives?

SHARE:

By Marc Kline Often times when working with customers on their message campaigns, I notice they are including only HTML versions of th...

By Marc Kline


Often times when working with customers on their message campaigns, I notice they are including only HTML versions of their messages to their subscribers, with no plain text version.

I politely bite my lip while I work with them on whatever issue they’ve called in for, then in an attempt to be as helpful as I can, I point a few things out to them about this:
  • Some subscribers will not be able to view a readable copy of HTML-only messages
    Although most people use e-mail applications that support HTML messages, some don’t, and many applications provide their users with an option to disable HTML.
    Some subscribers may see something like this in the body of the e-mail instead:
    Code from HTML-only message
  • HTML-only messages are more likely to be content filtered.
    We offer our customers a content analyzer that helps them to get an impression of whether their message is likely to be put in their subscribers’ bulk folder or to go missing altogether.
    You’ll notice below, that this analyzer assigned some points for having only HTML in a message:
    Spam analyzer score for HTML-only message

So What Is The Solution?

You could just send your messages with plain-text only, but then you lose all of the benefits of formatting your messages with your own branding on a nicely designed layout. You could also lose other features, like the ability to track how many times your messages are opened.
Some email service providers offer an option so that messages can include both an HTML as well as a plain-text version, using a process called multi-part MIME. When both versions are included, they are sent together as your messages go out.
If a subscriber has the option to display HTML turned on, they’ll see that version by default; if they choose not to display HTML or can’t, they’ll see the plain-text version automatically, all while minimizing the possibility of your message being filtered. Email deliverability experts agree that this is the preferred way to send formatted e-mail messages, so I make this suggestion to customers whenever it’s appropriate.
Useful tip: Sometimes I see customers include a link to an on-line version (e.g. http://www.example.com/newsletters/july.html) of their messages within the plain-text version. This gives subscribers who don’t view HTML messages an opportunity to still view a formatted version.
 Source

COMMENTS

Name

ad,8,affiliate,15,analytic,1,audience,5,automation,33,blog,18,brand,11,business,36,call to action,1,campaign,30,content,93,conversion,16,CTA,8,customers,14,deliverability,9,digital,30,email,557,entrepreneur,9,facebook,17,gmail,6,google,11,google analytics,1,graphic,1,headline,4,home,10,instagram,6,internet,14,IoT,1,landing page,19,lead,20,list,47,marketer,27,marketing,294,mindset,40,mobile,4,niche,5,online,36,opt-in,14,pinterest,2,ROI,1,segmentation,10,SEO,8,snapchat,1,social media,102,spam,13,stat,7,strategy,10,subject line,38,subscriber,30,success,15,test,13,traffic,20,trend,12,twitter,9,TYP,3,video,10,webinar,1,website,8,youtube,3,
ltr
item
#DIGITAL: Are you sending HTML without plain text alternatives?
Are you sending HTML without plain text alternatives?
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjF-aKG1W6RsOuHd2YZrgnxqXD9zsW8cdIQ-pOUXTdMXCqQFHwby1MWW9dw7Gn_4BXMBr4M52BtpQd0reqk2k1IsyuNC-bA3MFeSOJwDIl9f_iYs4bGLchSO2AqyfJ4GEk2hGZLPgz1QEs/s400/email.jpg
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjF-aKG1W6RsOuHd2YZrgnxqXD9zsW8cdIQ-pOUXTdMXCqQFHwby1MWW9dw7Gn_4BXMBr4M52BtpQd0reqk2k1IsyuNC-bA3MFeSOJwDIl9f_iYs4bGLchSO2AqyfJ4GEk2hGZLPgz1QEs/s72-c/email.jpg
#DIGITAL
http://www.infinclick.com/2017/01/are-you-sending-html-without-plain-text.html
http://www.infinclick.com/
http://www.infinclick.com/
http://www.infinclick.com/2017/01/are-you-sending-html-without-plain-text.html
true
7265473034940166968
UTF-8
Loaded All Posts Not found any posts VIEW ALL Readmore Reply Cancel reply Delete By Home PAGES POSTS View All RECOMMENDED FOR YOU LABEL ARCHIVE SEARCH ALL POSTS Not found any post match with your request Back Home Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat January February March April May June July August September October November December Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec just now 1 minute ago $$1$$ minutes ago 1 hour ago $$1$$ hours ago Yesterday $$1$$ days ago $$1$$ weeks ago more than 5 weeks ago Followers Follow THIS CONTENT IS PREMIUM Please share to unlock Copy All Code Select All Code All codes were copied to your clipboard Can not copy the codes / texts, please press [CTRL]+[C] (or CMD+C with Mac) to copy