Web Design Forums

stevo · 19-09-2007, 10:11

One of our clients has come to us and asked if their newletter (currently sent round by email as a PDF) can be set up as a HTML newsletter instead…

What is the purpose of this? It is something we can do, but I don't really see the benefit apart from having live links in the email¿

Herr Kurm · 19-09-2007, 10:32

You can have those links in PDF-s, check out Hyperlinks in InDesign, you can even link to external media (to your webhost) like movies, music n shiznitz or embed the media directly into the PDF. HTML mails suck donkey balls, PDF is the right way to go.

weldo · 19-09-2007, 10:45

i disagree.

a lightweight html email will probably be easier for clients to glance and act act upon ... and should by-pass the risk of file attachments being removed by over-cautious ISPs.

they both have their place.

herkalees · 19-09-2007, 10:53

1 vote for never having HTML in email. Far too many factors that can muck it up... I'd let the client know it's simply not a good idea.

Read this, too: Microsoft takes email design back 5 years - Campaign Monitor Blog

Shiro · 19-09-2007, 13:30

Just from my own point of view, if its an email, I think a pdf attachment is better. I dont like html emails. But if its to be uploaded on the net, I prefer HTML. i dont like opening PDFs online because they take more time to load. I prefer html anyday.

freelancr · 19-09-2007, 14:24

PDF looks better, but I wouldn't download an attachment that I didn't request, I am too lazy to wait for it to load. What works is a link saying "email not displayed correctly? click here" which sends you to the website.

d*d · 19-09-2007, 15:06

pdf attachments create a barrier between the user and the content, a newsletter would be better served as a HTML email, there are restrictions to work within with (see herkales link for these) these but that does not mean you cannot design something worthwhile that degrades nicely with images turned off.

longisland6 · 21-09-2007, 10:21

so true d*d... and really, it's all about the experience. sure, you have a lot to contend with making html emails look good in so many email clients, but theres nothing quite like seeing a nicely designed html email.

digleif · 24-09-2007, 12:59

One benefit of html email is that you can set up ways to track the number of views... If having some kind of metrics on your readership is important then html email is a way to do that.

jesusfreak101 · 25-09-2007, 12:06

Quote:

Originally Posted by haku

Just from my own point of view, if its an email, I think a pdf attachment is better. I dont like html emails. But if its to be uploaded on the net, I prefer HTML. i dont like opening PDFs online because they take more time to load. I prefer html anyday.

i agree.....but i would ask the client to see what majority of his customers would want.......a survey i suppose?

Shiro · 25-09-2007, 13:31

I agree. I was just trying to give some insight into where the client may be coming from.

19-09-2007, 10:11	#1 (permalink)
stevo Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Glasgow, Scotland Posts: 357	HTML newsletter or PDF? One of our clients has come to us and asked if their newletter (currently sent round by email as a PDF) can be set up as a HTML newsletter instead… What is the purpose of this? It is something we can do, but I don't really see the benefit apart from having live links in the email¿

19-09-2007, 10:32	#2 (permalink)
Herr Kurm bloody peasant Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Tallinn, Estonia Posts: 2,689	You can have those links in PDF-s, check out Hyperlinks in InDesign, you can even link to external media (to your webhost) like movies, music n shiznitz or embed the media directly into the PDF. HTML mails suck donkey balls, PDF is the right way to go. __________________ refreshed portfolio

19-09-2007, 10:45	#3 (permalink)
weldo now with added beard Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Liverpool Posts: 5,432	i disagree. a lightweight html email will probably be easier for clients to glance and act act upon ... and should by-pass the risk of file attachments being removed by over-cautious ISPs. they both have their place. __________________ fuck signatures

19-09-2007, 10:53	#4 (permalink)
herkalees Semantics, yay. Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Salem, Massachusetts Posts: 1,128	1 vote for never having HTML in email. Far too many factors that can muck it up... I'd let the client know it's simply not a good idea. Read this, too: Microsoft takes email design back 5 years - Campaign Monitor Blog __________________ Writing on markup, CSS, and other web geekery Professional, accessible, and search engine friendly web site development by Boston Web Studio

Thread Tools	Search this Thread
Show Printable Version Email this Page	Search this Thread: Advanced Search

19-09-2007, 13:30	#5 (permalink)
Shiro shiro Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Yokohama, Japan Posts: 2,606	Just from my own point of view, if its an email, I think a pdf attachment is better. I dont like html emails. But if its to be uploaded on the net, I prefer HTML. i dont like opening PDFs online because they take more time to load. I prefer html anyday.

19-09-2007, 14:24	#6 (permalink)
freelancr Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Posts: 2,173	PDF looks better, but I wouldn't download an attachment that I didn't request, I am too lazy to wait for it to load. What works is a link saying "email not displayed correctly? click here" which sends you to the website.

19-09-2007, 15:06	#7 (permalink)
d*d Moderator Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Bristol Posts: 3,299	pdf attachments create a barrier between the user and the content, a newsletter would be better served as a HTML email, there are restrictions to work within with (see herkales link for these) these but that does not mean you cannot design something worthwhile that degrades nicely with images turned off.

21-09-2007, 10:21	#8 (permalink)
longisland6 stephen eighmey Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: earth Posts: 152	so true d*d... and really, it's all about the experience. sure, you have a lot to contend with making html emails look good in so many email clients, but theres nothing quite like seeing a nicely designed html email.

24-09-2007, 12:59	#9 (permalink)
digleif Registered User Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Calgary, Alberta, Canada Posts: 1	One benefit of html email is that you can set up ways to track the number of views... If having some kind of metrics on your readership is important then html email is a way to do that.

25-09-2007, 13:31	#11 (permalink)
Shiro shiro Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Yokohama, Japan Posts: 2,606	I agree. I was just trying to give some insight into where the client may be coming from.

Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)