This submit was up to date on March 19, 2019. It was initially printed in April 2018.
When e mail entrepreneurs sit right down to create an e mail, they’re usually crafting a designed, HTML message that features punchy graphics, daring fonts, brilliant colours, and hyperlinks.
And let’s face it – we speak loads about HTML emails on this weblog and how one can code them to look stunning.
However there’s one other world of e mail on the market. A black-and-white world of simplified model, primary fonts and URLs which can be typed out. That’s proper – we’re speaking about plain textual content emails.
What Is a Plain Textual content E mail?
A plain textual content e mail is because it sounds: It’s a easy e mail message that solely consists of textual content. There are not any pictures or graphics and no formatting. You’ll additionally discover all of the hyperlinks are written out.
Right here’s an instance of a plain textual content model of our March 2019 publication:
Not fairly, proper? Nevertheless, there are nicer methods to make use of plain textual content emails, similar to in easy, one-to-one correspondence. Does it look boring? Sure. However, typically boring could be helpful.
Do I Should Ship a Plain Textual content E mail?
Most often, you need to be sending a plain textual content e mail alongside together with your HTML e mail. Sending each an HTML and a plain textual content e mail collectively is named multi-part Multipurpose Web Mail Extensions (MIME).
Most e mail service suppliers (ESPs) have the flexibility to transform HTML to textual content for you, so you possibly can embrace a plain textual content e mail alongside your HTML model.
You don’t have to fret about each variations exhibiting up on the identical time – the person’s e mail shopper will choose the HTML or plain textual content model based mostly on the subscriber’s preferences and the e-mail shopper’s settings.
Attain
Some subscribers could specify that they wish to obtain textual content solely e mail. Different instances, the e-mail shopper could not have the ability to render the HTML e mail. In case you solely ship an HTML model, these subscribers received’t have the ability to view your message.
Deliverability
Together with plain textual content model could assist enhance your possibilities of making it to the inbox and never the spam folder. Some e mail shoppers (ahem, Gmail) could flag your HTML e mail if it doesn’t have a plain textual content model together with it.
If you wish to double-check your deliverability, don’t overlook to run a spam check earlier than sending the e-mail.
Sending solely a plain textual content e mail might also assist get your e mail in Gmail’s primary inbox, versus the “Promotions” tab (though, to be sincere, touchdown within the Promotion tab isn’t all dangerous). As famous on this Chamaileon weblog submit, image-filled HTML emails usually tend to wind up within the Promotions tab, as a result of it resembles messages sometimes despatched by retailers. The shortage of formatting in a plain textual content e mail seems extra like a private message, giving it a greater probability of touchdown in a subscriber’s primary inbox.
What Different Methods Can I Use Plain Textual content Emails?
You most likely hear loads about how e mail is a one-to-one advertising and marketing channel; it is among the few methods we will talk instantly with a person subscriber or buyer (versus a widely-broadcasted Tweet or show advert).
A textual content solely e mail can play into this customized really feel as a result of it seems like an e mail coming from a person, fairly than an organization or model. This one-to-one impression could enhance your subscriber engagement. Nevertheless, needless to say you received’t have the ability to observe open charges or use click on monitoring with plain textual content emails.
Plain textual content emails are additionally nice for transactional emails – a fast message confirming a purchase order or motion by the subscriber.
An Various to the Conventional Plain Textual content E mail
What if you wish to have the non-public really feel of a plain textual content e mail with out the restrictions? The answer is a simplified HTML e mail.
A simplified HTML e mail could be made to appear to be a plain textual content e mail however can nonetheless embrace some minor HTML components like hyperlinks. It can additionally can help you observe opens and clicks.
Right here’s an instance of a easy HTML e mail that appears like a plain textual content message:
In some circumstances, your ESP could have already got just a few simplified templates prepared so that you can use. These textual content solely emails work nice for a fast check-in or if you happen to’re in search of suggestions out of your subscribers.
Relying in your ESP, HTML-based emails will even provide the capability so as to add dynamic content material to your emails, which arguably provides much more personalization than a plain textual content e mail.
Are Plain Textual content Emails Proper for Me?
We’ve stated it many instances earlier than, and we’ll proceed saying it so long as we will: It’s necessary to check your emails and observe engagement to see what works greatest in your subscribers. If you’re contemplating HTML vs. plain textual content emails, do not forget that what works for one e mail could not work for an additional; as you most likely know, a lot of e mail advertising and marketing is about trial-and-error.
In actual fact, HubSpot did an experiment the place they in contrast wealthy textual content vs. plain textual content emails and so they discovered extra subscribers participating with the plain textual content model of the e-mail.
If you wish to keep away from a number of the trial-and-error, begin by speaking to your subscribers. Ask them what kind of e mail they like or solicit suggestions on messages or campaigns – getting these opinions and preferences may give you a leg-up in your subsequent e mail collection.
What have you ever skilled on the planet of plain textual content e mail? Have you ever seen success? What use circumstances do you suggest? Tell us within the feedback beneath or hit us up on Fb or Twitter.
It Could Be a Easy Textual content E mail, but it surely Doesn’t Imply You Ought to Skip Testing
Whether or not you might have a plain textual content e mail or an HTML-rich masterpiece, it’s essential to check your e mail each time. Small HTML code and design modifications can look utterly totally different from one shopper to a different. E mail on Acid will prevent time and provide help to ship higher e mail campaigns by letting you preview your e mail on greater than 70 e mail shoppers and units.
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Writer: Melanie Graham
Born and raised in New England, Melanie has a background as a author, editor and journalist. After roaming the U.S. as an knowledgeable vagabond, she’s landed in Denver as E mail on Acid’s content material supervisor. She’s a music nerd at coronary heart who loves spending time on the piano.
Writer: Melanie Graham
Born and raised in New England, Melanie has a background as a author, editor and journalist. After roaming the U.S. as an knowledgeable vagabond, she’s landed in Denver as E mail on Acid’s content material supervisor. She’s a music nerd at coronary heart who loves spending time on the piano.
