Special Email Content – Video, Emoji, Images & Read Mores

We’ve all had that moment, in the midst of planning a fabulous email or event invite, where we’ve stepped back from the drawing board and thought, ‘Wait. Can I actually put that in an email?’

While there will probably always be slight variations in the way email browsers and mail applications render things, we’ve prepared a handy guide to answer that fundamental question: Will that work in my email?

There are a number of ways the different email browsers and mail apps will handle images. Only Apple Mail, Gmail, the iOS Mail app, and the Android Gmail app will display images by default. However, Outlook, Thunderbird, and Outlook.com will also display images automatically if the sender is known or trusted. There’s generally an option to display images for each individual email, but users can also choose to have images disabled automatically if that better suits their preferences. Knowing this, it’s a good plan to find a balance between visually stunning emails and content that will still be comprehensible without imagery.

Here’s some best practice tips to find that balance:

• Don’t put any important information in an image. There’s no way to guarantee that it will be seen, so send the vital details as text.
• Add alt text and contextual captions to images. Not only does this provide for those recipients who can’t or won’t load images, but it is also a matter of accessibility – users with screen reading software will hear a description of your images. Make your alt text short but descriptive, some email browsers will truncate long text.
• Make sure your images are optimised for email, and are an appropriate size for your template or layout.
• Become a ‘trusted’ or ‘known’ sender – ask your readers to add you to their address book or whitelist.

The consensus on embedding video directly into emails is unanimous – just don’t go there. Once upon a time, this was possible, but spam and security concerns have prompted almost all email browsers and mail applications to withdraw their support. If you’ve got important video content to share, or have your heart set on eye-catching animation, don’t despair!
Here’s some alternatives to embedded video:

• Host your video externally (on YouTube, Vimeo, your company site, etc.), then take a screenshot of the video player. Tidy this image up, insert it into your email, and set it up with a hyperlink to the external video. Be mindful of the image issues mentioned above – include a text link to the video as well.
• If your content can be condensed, an animated GIF is a possiblity. Aim for high resolution, even it means the animation loop is shorter. Avoid excessive strobing or flashing, as it may affect photosensitive recipients. Be aware that while many email browsers and mail apps will handle them, Outlook stopped supporting this from 2007 onwards, and they won’t load on Windows Phone 5.
• Embed the video into a landing page, and set up a link in your email. Depending on your email marketing platform, you may be able to embed the video into the web version of an email, or below a ‘read more’.

Sending out emails with embedded forms? Another big no-no. While many email browsers and mail applications will display the form, Outlook 2007 being the exception, the good news stops there.

Several email clients will throw up security warnings, or inform the user that they have detected an email scam, which is obviously not ideal for your brand credibility. There’s also issues with the way these embedded forms handle input, if they are displayed at all. If you’re seeking input or answers from your readers, the safest option is to host your form externally, and send out an email with a nice big call-to-action instead.

You may have seen little symbols like these floating around, particularly in text messages, tweets, and Facebook posts.

While the original HTML versions have been around for a long time, they’re starting to appear in subject lines in an attempt to gain attention in the inbox. They’re eye-catching and charming, but proceed with caution – Outlook 2003 won’t render them, and Outlook.com, and Android and iOS will display their own versions of the characters.
Here’s some guidelines for sensible symbol usage:

• Use them sparingly. One might catch someone’s eye, two or three might make them cringe. Consider your corporate identity, and whether or not they fit in with the tone of your email.
• Be contextual. The little plane symbol makes perfect sense for travel updates, but will seem strange and irrelevant if you’re writing about a sporting event.
• Copy and paste. Subject lines aren’t HTML, so you need to copy and paste the symbol in, rather than adding the code. Try some of these.
• Test, test, test. Not all of the symbols are supported, so make sure you test across a variety of email browsers and mail applications.

Finally, consider how many people may be opening your messages on their phones or tablets. We took a look at the numbers earlier this year, and you can check out the statistics in this neat infographic. As mobile device opens increase, it’s important to consider the responsiveness of your communications, and how they will display on these smaller screens.

Swift Digital’s templates help you effortlessly create stunning emails and events communications using our drag-and-drop email and event builder.

You can raise engagement with embedded images, videos, polls, article feedback, and emojis and schedule messages to send at the right time.

Swift Digital is Australia’s leader in marketing automation software and event management working with organisations like the NSW Government, ATO, and companies like Westpac Bank and Qantas.

Government departments’ unique marketing requirements are covered with Swift Digital, and full compliance with all anti-spam and privacy laws is guaranteed. Swift Digital is also ISO 27001 certified.

Find out why we’re the Australian government department’s number one choice for their professional communications and events.

To find out how your business can get the best out of Swift Digital’s platform, contact our team today.

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