HTML or Text Newsletter for Your Small Business Marketing?

“Which is the best format to send my marketing newsletter?”

Both newsletter formats have their strengths and weaknesses. Here are some of the pluses and minuses of each:

HTML Newsletters
+ Offer more control over the look and feel of what readers get.
+ Its possible to include live links and images.
+ Formatted type is easier on readers eyes.
+ Its possible to get better statistics on the number of people who opened the email.

– You’ll need to create an HTML page, though with a template this shoudn’t take more than 10-15 minutes.
– Odd things can happen to HTML sent through email systems. The HTML page which looks great on your computer may not arrive on your readers’ computers looking exactly the same.
– Mail merge functions, where the software is supposed to integrate the reader’s name, don’t work as well and HTML newsletters may arrive addressed to <$firstname$> instead the reader’s name.

Text Newsletters
+ Just, write, format to 60 characters width, check for spam words and send.
+ Mail merge functions work consistenly so its easier to personalize mailings.

– Harder to read plain text email.
– Not as distincive or professional looking.

Which to use?

One compromise solution is to use both, an HTML version early in the week followed by a text version.
Which do you prefer?
– Charlie Cook