E-mail Marketing Newsletters

[Tony K]

I am attempting to create an html newsletter for e-mailing to my current
clients. I have spent numerous hours trying to create a professional looking
newsletter in html format with links to various information on the web using
Publisher 2003. I have been experienceing the flaws of html format
newsletters with text and graphics reacting in different ways per the program
used to open and view them.

Is an html format newsletter the best way to achieve a dynamic newsletter my
clients can use as a resource to locate items on the web via links or should
I be going down a totally different path?

What is the best step by step resource for Publisher 2003 for creating
dynamic newsletters?

All input regarding this issue is appreciated.

 

[DavidF]

You will undoubtedly get a number of replies saying that you should not be
sending HTML formatted email, that Publisher is the wrong program to use,
etc. My advice is that if you want to use Publisher for this task, then
KISS.

I think the biggest mistake people make is trying to send a newsletter
formatted for print. The problem is that print media and web media are two
different things, and when you ask Publisher to convert print documents to
html, it chokes on many of the formatting differences between the two
medias. You simply can't do the same things in html that you can do in
print. Read the section on "formatting in email messages" in the article:
"Tips and troubleshooting for sending a publication page as an e-mail
message":
http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/publisher/HP010390591033.aspx?pid=CH062524821033
to see what I mean.

Personally, I think if you want to send a large, print formatted newsletter
to your clients, it should be in PDF format and attached. The file size is
small, and people will see exactly what you intended them to see. Hyperlinks
will survive the conversion in Pub 2007 using the pdf add on. Or you can use
Acrobat or one of the better PDF converter tools available. Primopdf and
most/all the other freebies kills the links.

Otherwise, if you are really invested in html, I would suggest starting with
one of the Publisher email formatted newsletters, which are designed for
emailing. Then in the best of all worlds, link to a website where you can
have more content. Use the READ MORE links. Personally I think this is what
MSFT intended.

Anyway, that is my two cents worth...others will disagree.

DavidF

 

[Ed Bennett]

Is an html format newsletter the best way to achieve a dynamic newsletter my
clients can use as a resource to locate items on the web via links?

I'd say yes. But you're asking the wrong question. The question you
should be asking is "Is Publisher the right tool to be using to create
an html format newsletter (blah blah blah)?" The answer is no. There's a
guide here: http://www.sitepoint.com/article/code-html-email-newsletters
and here: http://www.thinkvitamin.com/features/design/html-emails
and another one here:
http://www.zeromillion.com/ebiz/creating-an-email-newsletter.html

In addition, no application can make a newsletter dynamic. You have to
do that yourself.