Creating an email template

[JaCkinbOx]

I have a client that would like to send out email notices with graphical elements, but done in a way where he'd be able to edit the text himself. Well, it may be easier to just share what he said:

Here's the situation: I have a fan e-mail list and I send them
updates once a month. Up until now it has been simply text with tour
dates and news. But, my manager and I would like to customize the e-mail
with a template complete with a colorful header, pics, bulletpoints,
management section at the bottom, etc.. And have the e-mail look the same
for whomever is opening no matter what computer or browser they are using.
And have that e-mail be flexible enough that I enter in the information
each time and not have to contact my graphic designer to do it. I have
pictures and graphics from my website and myspace to draw from also,
should we need it.

I haven't really designed for something like this before, but it doesn't sound that hard. I'm not real sure how to go about it, though, and I'm assuming he'd be using Outlook.

Anyone have any tips?

[urstwile]

It's usually slow here on weekend, so you might want to bump this on Monday.

I can't answer your question, but what I've read here on the forums, this is actually not something that's very easy to do. Particularly having it look the same in everybody's browser/e-mail client. E-mail clients vary greatly from one program to the next, so this might be more challenging than you think.

Sorry I can't help more specifically however.

[Kesh]

I know you have to use tables (which sucks). Also, don't use any background images behind the text, just colors, because good ol' Microsoft decided not to support it in Outlook 2007 (which a lot of people use).

Don't know if it will help but there's some templates here...plus other info about html emails
http://www.mailchimp.com/resources/templates/

To do emails, just pretend you're designing for the web 8 years ago.

Here's another good source with tips...
http://www.sitepoint.com/print/code-html-email-newsletters

[JaCkinbOx]

I was a little afraid of that. I know an email client would have to be able to view HTML-based messages, or otherwise he might have to send it as an email attachment as an image or series of images.

Hmm.

Thanks for the effort, though!

[JaCkinbOx]

Oh, thanks, Kesh. Looks like some good advice. Fortunately, designing a website outdated to 8 years ago is about where I'm at anyway, lol!

[jackc4ss]

i found a neiche market for exactly what you have described and I even set up a mini website dedicated to email signatures and letterhead found at http://www.e-maildesigns.com - you will find very useful information there.

i also recommend www.mailchimp.com (http://www.graphicdesignforum.com/forum/www.mailchimp.com)

[derfs]

I didn't realize the emails could be customized so much. Last place I worked I was the signature guy. Everyone wanted their email sig to have their pic and scary text choices (Escrow officers). Anyway due to security on the network they couldn't create their own nor make significant changes. hmm come to think of it the people you send these pages to may have security set so high the images won't be visible. Just a thought.

[dirt lover]

hahaha... So, no CSS or divs? :eek:

I know you have to use tables (which sucks). Also, don't use any background images behind the text, just colors, because good ol' Microsoft decided not to support it in Outlook 2007 (which a lot of people use).

Don't know if it will help but there's some templates here...plus other info about html emails
http://www.mailchimp.com/resources/templates/

To do emails, just pretend you're designing for the web 8 years ago.

Here's another good source with tips...
http://www.sitepoint.com/print/code-html-email-newsletters

[Kesh]

hahaha... So, no CSS or divs? :eek:

You can use some CSS but you have to do it inline like <p style="font-family:arial;"></p> each time. No id's or classes.

No divs.

[Jam]

You can create a html template save it onto his computer and use outlook to create the email template, he can then add his text etc and send it out.
Make sure all of the images link to a www address and not locally.
The only problems I have found in the past is with firewalls stopping images from being downloaded or more recently having to right mouse click to download images.

[dirt lover]

That's crazy.

Gmail doesn't show images unless you first allow them from that person a link at the top.