Still sending Text emails? 

Cori_Chao
Level 2

Still sending Text emails? 

How many of you send plain text emails in addition to HTML?

3 REPLIES 3
Devraj_Grewal
Level 10 - Champion Alumni

Re: Still sending Text emails?

It's best practice to send both. Some recipient mail clients will default to the text version only, so you should always include both.

Sanford Whiteman provides a great explanation here: html only?

If someone is using a mail client that supports HTML, they almost always download the HTML markup if it's present.  It's the embedded assets in the HTML (i.e. IMGs) that, in clients like Outlook, are not downloaded unless the lead chooses to do so.

Rarely is the lead shown the true Text version first without having made that deliberate choice, and you should definitely accommodate their preferences. Sometimes, the mail client supports "Text First" or "Prefer Text" as an option and someone chooses to view the Text only versions of all emails, even when the client would be capable of showing them the HTML version without images. (I have my primary mail app set to Text First for a selection of senders.)

In the end, there are only disadvantages to sending HTML-only emails.  You would only alienate those who use non-HTML mail readers or have a Text First type of switch turned on. The exception may be when you have a preference center that allows for Text Only to be selected, and you don't want to maintain a working Text version on the HTML side. In that case you can just leave a single line in the Text section that says, "We do understand that some people prefer text-only emails! Just go to http://example.com/prefs/textonly and we will send you a text version from now on."

David_Gaible
Level 7

Re: Still sending Text emails?

Hi Cori Chao​ - are you using Email Editor 2.0? In most cases (at least ours), it makes the creation of the text email so very, very easy.

Anonymous
Not applicable

Re: Still sending Text emails?

Hi Cori,

I just wanted to add that more people use a text-only email client than you might think. We had a client send out an email without updating the CTA in the text version, and 15 of the 200 clicks were to the outdated link in the text email. 15 wasted CTA clicks can really hurt you in the long run if you don't update your text version of every email.