HTML email sending methods?

Question

I code up eblast at work all the time. We use an email marketing site called ExactTarget to send them out to our subscribers.

Now, I need to send a self promotional HTML email, but I only need to send it to one person. This being the case it seems ridiculous for me to buy my own email marketing account for a single email. So, my question is, is there a way to send out a single HTML email through an ordinary email client like Apple Mail or Entourage?

Thanks.

Answer 1

Maybe...



HTML EMail:



How to Code HTML Email Newsletters: http://articles.sitepoint.com/article/code-html-email-newsletters

How to Test Your HTML Email Newsletter Before You Hit Send: http://designfestival.com/how-to-test-your-html-email-newsletter-before-you-hit-send/



How To Code HTML Email Newsletters (All New Version): http://www.reachcustomersonline.com/2010/01/23/09.27.00/

Coding for GoogleMail, LotusNotes, and Outlook 2007: http://www.reachcustomersonline.com/2010/01/23/09.27.00/#step4



How to Create and Send HTML Email: http://www.addme.com/newsletters/issue293.htm



Email Marketing Articles and Guides: http://mailchimp.com/



Fractal: Validate Your HTML/CSS Email Code: http://www.makeuseof.com/dir/fractal-validate-your-html-css/



20 Email Design Best Practices and Resources for Beginners: http://net.tutsplus.com/tutorials/html-css-techniques/20-email-design-best-practices-and-resources-for-beginners/



Mailing List Code: http://www.bravenet.com/webtools/elist/



G-Lock EasyMail: http://www.glockeasymail.com/





More...

Answer 2

As others here have mentioned, it IS possible to send email using only HTML from a web form by setting the forms action property to a mailto. HOWEVER, this is not only very insecure but it also doesn't work as you might intend it to work. mailto will open the default email client on the end users machine, but if the end user has not defined an email client then your form will not work. I think it is safe to say that, today, more and more people are using internet based email clients like Yahoo, Gmail, Hotmail, etc.. a mailto will not work for these email clients. In addition, it is possible for people to scrape the email address in the mailto out of the HTML source and spam the living hell out of you which is ultimately going to end up dilluting your inbox. Therefore, it is my recommendation that you use a server-side technology to process the form and send the mail. On a Linux server you could use PHP, while on a Windows server you would use ASP.NET. This is a considerably more reliable and secure way to send email via a web-based form.

Answer 3

Hi,



I am not sure about Apple Mail, but you can certainly create HTML email in Entourage. You can see their how-to here http://www.office.mvps.org/faq_topic/templates.html. Furthermore, if you're ever in need of a professional email marketing service but you aren't sending that many email and only wants to pay as you go, you can try ActiveCampaign credit plan:

http://www.activecampaign.com/pricing/#c1



I've also attached a link in the source for free HTML email templates that you can download and use freely and on any email marketing services.



Hope this help. Good luck.