Templates Use Instructions

DOWNLOADING TEMPLATE

1. Create a folder on your C drive called "Templates".

2. Download a zip archive, which contains a template and all the images needed for this template.

3. Extract the files from the zip archive into the "Templates" folder. All the images used within the template will be collected into the Images folder, which is automatically created during the unzipping process C:\Templates\Images.

4. Open the template (freetempl.htm) in any HTML editor (G-Lock EasyMail, Microsoft FrontPage or Macromedia's Dreamweaver).

All the templates contain a pre made message text. This text makes no sense and is useless to your subscribers. Remove this text and insert your own. Don't worry if your message is longer than the default text, the template will resize itself vertically to make room for you message. You can also remove the default images and insert your own pictures. You can insert the images either from the disk, or from the web server.

INSERTING IMAGES FROM DISK

1. Delete the default image in the template.

2. Put the cursor at the place where your image must be placed.

3. Click "Insert Picture" button in your HTML editor.

4. Browse the folders and select the image location on the disk.

5. Click OK.

INSERTING IMAGES FROM WEB SERVER

1. Create a folder on your web server called "Images".

2. Upload the images from the C:\Templates\Images folder plus any custom images you may want to insert into the email template into the Images folder on your web server. For example, if your domain name is http://www.yourdomain.com, then the images from the template should go under http://www.yourdomain.com/Images/

3. Open the template.

4. Delete the original images and re-insert them. Put the cursor at the place where the image must be, click "Insert Picture" and enter the picture location on your web server http://www.yourdomain.com/Images/image1.gif All the images in the email template must appear as http://www.yourdomain.com/Images/

Read here how to upload iImages to website …

Your email template is ready to use. It is recommended to test your email template by sending it to yourselves to verify that all the images are displaying correctly.

TIPS ON HTML MESSAGE DESIGN AND EFFICIENT E-MAIL CAMPAIGN

Whether you're in email marketing for a long time, or just doing the first steps with HTML email newsletters, you may want to read these simple tips in order to avoid common errors when creating and sending HTML email message.

Designing HTML message

Use HTML editor software to design your HTML newsletter. Creating HTML message in a regular email client (Outlook, Eudora, etc.) is not recommended because the format of your HTML message in this case may not be recognized by other email programs your recipients can use to read your message.
Keep HTML formatting simple. HTML email is great for using pictures, animation, sounds, Flash plugins, forms, or tables but don't encumber your message with all these features. Complex HTML can take a long time to open, and you recipients won't appreciate it. Plus, the email clients of your recipients may not support some specific HTML features.
Upload large images on your web server, and insert the links to them in the message. The images must have absolute URLs. Example:

Incorrect URL:
<img src="images/image1.gif"
Correct URL:
<img src="http://www.glocksoft.com/images/image1.gif"

Avoid typing all the text with ALL CAPS or bold. That kind of text will be difficult-to-read for your recipients and may also pass for a spam message.
Add personalization to your message by merging the recipient's name in the welcoming address to your recipient like "Dear John", "Dear Mr. Smith", etc. Personalized messages get more faith and have more chances to be read.
Include personal reply information.
Remind people of how you got their email address if you are sending to a opt-in list. You can include a string like "You are receiving this email because you subscribed to our mailing list at www.glocksoft.com" at the bottom or at the top (if appropriate) of your email. If you didn't email your subscribers for a long time, people can forget what email lists they subscribed to. A little remind is nice. You won't pass for a spammer.
Provide your recipients with an easy unsubscribe option like one-click unsubscribe link. Be sure to use your company domain in the email address.
Prepare both plain-text and HTML alternatives of your message simultaneously unless you know what kind of email your recipient prefers. Compose the content for the plain-text and HTML messages separately to make the best use of each presentation style.

Sending HTML message

Always send a test message to yourself or your associates before distributing it to a large group. This makes possible to see how your HTML newsletter will look for your recipients and make the changes if it doesn't look as you expected.
Don't CC your entire list. Delivery by CC'ing a large group of recipients has the following disadvantages:

1) You will reveal your entire list to other recipients within the list.
2) If someone of your recipients clicks "Reply to All" button by mistake to send the reply to you, his email will be distributed to all of the group.
3) CC doesn't allow sending a personalized email message to each recipient. At least you can insert the greeting like "Dear Customer" but agree that it is not as much friendly as "Dear John".