Email Design Guidelines
Thursday, February 22, 2007
Last year we altered the way we design email templates to take account of the fact that a majority of people view emails through the preview panel, and only decide to open based on what they see in the top part of the email (above the fold in old DM terms).
We also include a link to a web version of the email for those poor souls who cannot receive html emails properly (Lotus Notes users, eircom.net users).
So it was with delight that I came across this list of design guidelines for emails. Here's a summary of what you should be doing to meet each of the guidelines.
- Never use images for important content like headlines, links and any calls to action.
- Use alt text for all images for a better experience in Gmail and always add the height and width to the image to ensure that the blank placeholder image doesn't
- Add a text-based link to a web version of your design at the top of your email.
- Ensure your most compelling content is at the top (and preferably to the left).
- Test your design in a preview pane, full screen and with images turned on and off before you send it.
- Ask your subscriber to add your From address to their address book at every opportunity.
Read the full design guidelines here.