Question

I use two email programs, gmail and entourage (by Microsoft). I was wondering how do i create an email that will look like webpage. Apple sends me these all the time, but i have no idea how to re-create them. Could anyone help?

Answer 1

Basically there are a few differences between HTML displayed inside email client programs (including web-based ones like Gmail) and regular email clients that you need to take into consideration while designing your HTML email.

1. CSS/Styles – A lot of email clients do not support <style>...</style> tags (including GMail). Therefore your styles will have to be inline – <p style="color:red">
2. Use tables instead of divs for layout – Yes unfortunately divs aren’t supported on a lot of clients, therefore tables are the most reliable way of creating complex newsletter type HTML email formats.

Some links –

• http://www.htmlgoodies.com/beyond/css/article.php/3679231/How-to-Create-Great-HTML-Emails-with-CSS.htm
• http://mailformat.dan.info/headers/mime.html info on MIME and HTML
• http://www.microsoft.com/download/en/details.aspx?displaylang=en&id=23683 – Not sure if this will help for entourage but microsoft’s tool to validate html/css for outlook. At least give you an idea of what one email client will and wont allow.

HTH