Email Newsletter Templates?

[Neuro]

Does anyone know where I can find an Email Newsletter Template that I can use to build one for a customer? They want me to add their logo and banner. Have a spot to add links and another spot for advertising. The rest would be a newsletter he would write and send the whole thing from Microsoft Outlook. Is there someone who could build something like this for me? I would supply the graphics. I have to quote this guy Monday and want to figure out how long this is going to take me or if I have to outsource the template part. Please help me out if you can.

[uncle carbunkle]

i don't know of any templates off the top of my head, sorry. i would personally just build it in dreamweaver, but i'll keep my eye out for you.

luck!

!!!Laissezles Bon Temps ROULEZ!!!

[Neuro]

This all might be a little over my head but I once read here that you never turn down work. You just figure out how to pull it off. So now I am doing exactly that. I am unsure of how to build something that will give the customer what he wants. /emoticons/frusty.gif

[uncle carbunkle]

okay, so one step at a time.

client wants an html email? what html skills/programs do you have? what are your options?

!!!Laissezles Bon Temps ROULEZ!!!

[Neuro]

Yes, he wants to be able to have a header that is a banner/logo. He wants an area on the left that is for links he will add himself. He also wants an area at the bottom where he can paste images of sponsors or add links of sponsors. He has NO HTML skills. I would say mine are beginner skills. I have Dreamweaver and Frontpage. I was looking at setting something up in Word, so it was simple for him to use. The more simplistic it is for him the better. The man isn't very computer savy....and that's a nice way of putting it! Any direction you can give is appreciated. You can probably tell I am a little frantic about if I can do this or not. Thanks!!

[uncle carbunkle]

if you feel comfortable enough, you can set up a file in dreamweaver. he'll be able to edit that in word, providing he can follow directions! what i might do is try and sort out a way for him to only be able to edit certain bits, like with iframes, (so he'd only change the certain bits, and they would be updated into the main newletter file without him messing with your layout). i'm not sure how good of a solution that would be though, because it would involve hosting more files online. it's the only one i can think of that would allow him the access he wants without actually learning how to do it himself.

there is a decent explaination of iframes at http://www.tutorialfind.com/tutorials/macromedia/dreamweaver (though they seem to be down right now).

the main problem i see is your client's lack of knowledge. i understand that, (i just had a similar situation), so you've got to make sure to be very clear what all of this will involve and how it is to be done. also, the reprocussions of changing bits and pieces here and there, and how (unless you're paid to update things for him) that is his own responsibility. it's hard to make people understand sometimes that if they want to do it themselves, that they really are on their own. you may be able to turn this into a situation where you get to update his emails for him - which could be good or bad.

sorry i can't offer any other advice right now, but my html skills are limited. i will continue to keep an eye out for you over the next few days though.

!!!Laissezles Bon Temps ROULEZ!!!

[Neuro]

Your info is more than helpful. I appreciate you taking the time to let me know your ideas. The iframes idea seems really good. It is difficult with clients like this. I went into this meeting being told this was for logo design and came out with a HTML project. Something that I am not very strong in. I explained to him that I do not do web design at this point but I guess he just didn't get that. I thought he was going to need a logo for his company. Instead he is just replacing text on an existing logo for another company he runs (similar work). He also made the wonderful comment of 'I can get a logo for free from my son, who is an artist if I needed that.' I almost lost it right there. I had never run into someone like that but heard about them on here. Talk about a slap in the face!! Especially since his current logo sucks!!! ha! Thanks again!!

[3howards]

i don't know about using iframes in an html email. i don't think i've ever seen it done, but maybe i'm wrong. we've worked on quite a bit of email projects like this, if you need any assistance cats eye, drop me a pm or an email through the forum.

i hate it when clients have a crappy logo and they think it's just the greatest thing. and it's even worse when they get their nephew or cousin or cousins friend's nephew ... you get my point. although, we do work for my in-laws, so it's funny to hear when they tell people their kids do the work for them. :)

[uncle carbunkle]

listen to 3h - she knows.

welcome to the wonderful world of graphic design! now, it's friday - go grab yourself a beer.

3h - i don't know about iframes/email compatability either, but if you linked from a site....oh hell. i don't know. just a thought! :)

!!!Laissezles Bon Temps ROULEZ!!!

[Neuro]

Ok, first of all the avatar has got to go!!! That thing will burn with Barney in their own special place. Thanks for the offer of assistance. I may take you up on that. Especially if I find it is too much for me. I may just decide to do the graphics and let someone else do the email part. He doesn't need to know that.

[3howards]

i know designers that work on projects together like this. there are just so many of us that have a knack in one aspect and have lots of room for learning in others. so is the designers life ....

unc, i'd have to talk to my programmer about the iframes thing. maybe it can be done, but i don't see the need in this particular situation. emails typically utilize the simplest html to ensure maximum viewing capability.

so, you don't like my avatar huh ... it's my little girl's favorite cartoon, so it's my little reminder of her. i personally hated the purple fella, he's a bit more annoying than the square dude. i'm glad my girl didn't get into those kind of shows ..

[uncle carbunkle]

yeah, i'm not really arguing the use of iframes in an html email. they may not be at all appropriate - if you do ask, please let us know for the future! i just wanted to try and 'compartmentalise' the sections that the client wants access to...and my mind automatically went to any 'news' type section of a site. that way, the client would only ever have access to the bits that he needs to.

i'm curious as to how else it'd be done now, as i see myself needing this information soon!

:)

!!!Laissezles Bon Temps ROULEZ!!!

[uncle carbunkle]

yeah, i'm not really arguing the use of iframes in an html email. they may not be at all appropriate - if you do ask, please let us know for the future! i just wanted to try and 'compartmentalise' the sections that the client wants access to...and my mind automatically went to any 'news' type section of a site. that way, the client would only ever have access to the bits that he needs to.

i'm curious as to how else it'd be done now, as i see myself needing this information soon!

:)

!!!Laissezles Bon Temps ROULEZ!!!

[Neuro]

Very cute! But he's wearing a freakin' speedo!!! Yack! ha!

[uncle carbunkle]

sponge bob ass crack

!!!Laissezles Bon Temps ROULEZ!!!

[3howards]

it's better than patricks ass crack

[uncle carbunkle]

'kay - who's patrick? only, i know a patrick and these sort of conversations keep coming up with him, too... it's freakin' me out, man...

I want to lie, Shipwrecked and comotoase drinking fresh mango juice,
Goldfish shoals nibbling at my toes, fun, fun, fun, in the sun, sun, sun...

[3howards]

nah, patrick is spongebob's best friend. he's a pink starfish that lives under a rock ....

here ya go,
http://www.spongebob.co.kr/character/images/c_2.gif

[uncle carbunkle]

oh. no, i don't think that's the same patrick...

I want to lie, Shipwrecked and comotoase drinking fresh mango juice,
Goldfish shoals nibbling at my toes, fun, fun, fun, in the sun, sun, sun...