I want to create simple html email messages to promote seminars and
other things that I am doing.  I want to find a simple way to create a
basic html email that still looks professional.  Is this possible?  Or
do I have to hire an outside firm?  What tool should I use?  Someone
recommended coffee cup for html coding.  I don't know details of html
coding although i am Internet and computer savvy.  How do you embed
the message into the outgoing email.  I use outlook express and want
to send to a small mailing list of around 100 people.  I did this
before, but used an outside firm to create the html content.  My basic
question is:  is there a simple tool and methodology that I can use to
create simple html emails?

Fred Scholl

Hello Fred,

I have been using Coffee Cup Software for 4+ years, and it's a great
HTML editor. Since you don't have an extensive background in HTML, you
may prefer another program I found, that has built in HTML templates,
and is compatable with Outlook/Outlook Express. Here is the best one
that I was able to find, that is right in the same price range as the
Coffee Cup HTML Editor ($49.00) :


Title : TemplateZone High Impact Email
Site  : http://templatezone.com/hiemail/
Price : $49.95
"...an innovative add-on for Microsoft Outlook and Outlook Express
that makes it possible for any Outlook user to send graphical HTML
emails, newsletters and advertisements in just minutes..."


If you wish to pursue an outside firm, and still have considerable
control over the layout, this company seems very promising. They offer
templates as well :

Title : MailChimp
Site  : http://www.mailchimp.com/purchase.phtml#plan
Price : Around 1-2 cents per email
"You're gonna love how easy it is to send HTML email with Mail Chimp.
If you end up not liking Mail Chimp, just quit using it. You won't get
charged for anything, you won't receive "why-not" telephone calls or
emails...."


The Coffee Cup software does have a WYSIWYG (What you see is what you
get) interface, but I have never used it, so I can not speak on behalf
of the accuracy. It allows you to drag images, move blocks of text and
much more. If you wanted to download the fully functional freeware
version to give it a try, you can do so here :

CoffeeCup HTML Editor Trial Version
http://www.coffeecup.com/html-editor/

This method would require you to design the newsletter in the HTML
editor, and save the file for future use. Doing it yourself is
probably the most rewarding, but for people on the clock and always on
the go (like me;-), faster always seems better.


To answer all of your questions in a quick summary :

It is very easy for you to create your own newsletter in HTML format.
You just need the right software, and a little practice ;-) Here are a
few links that should come in handy when you are ready to try some of
the software/companies that I listed:

About.com Marketing with Email by Judy Litt
http://graphicdesign.about.com/library/weekly/aa020101a.htm

HTML Ezines (Articles Intro,I,II,III) by Brian Alt
http://ezine-tips.com/articles/format/20000321.shtml
http://ezine-tips.com/articles/format/20000322.shtml
http://ezine-tips.com/articles/format/20000323.shtml
http://ezine-tips.com/articles/format/20000324.shtml

Sending HTML Email by Jennifer Kyrnin
http://webdesign.about.com/library/weekly/aa050800a.htm



To help with this answer I used Google to search for :

html newsletters
://www.google.com/search?q=html+newsletters

html emial composer software
://www.google.com/search?q=html+emial+composer+software


Thanks for the great question. I hope this gives you a few avenues of
approach. I think the first program looks very well suited to what you
need. Should you need further resources or require clarification,
please ask before rating this answer. I would love to be of further
assistance!


SgtCory

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Clarification of Answer by sgtcory-ga on 05 May 2003 16:33 PDT

To clarify this answer - you wouldn't really need a higher level
understanding of HTML. The software I linked you to has templates for
you to build upon.

The CoffeeCup HTML editor has the same features, but not an automatic
export tool for Outlook. The HTML would be generated by the
program(s), and automatically generate the right code for you. All the
while, you would be able to learn more HTML, and once comfortable, be
able to produce your own code for use in your email
newsletters/messsages.

Sorry if I confused the issue or seemed to lose focus. The overall
objective seems to be ease of use, and beating the learning curve.
Please do not hesitate to ask for clarification of any kind if needed.


SgtCory

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Request for Answer Clarification by fwscholl-ga on 14 Oct 2003 09:31 PDT

I now have tried high impact email.  I don't know if you have tried
it.  It is very tough.  you have to get ACT and Outlook and high
impact email to all work together.  I have spent days working on this.
Getting the html template is the easy part.  There must be a better
product here.  ACT can only send to 250 recepients they say.  I have
n't tried it yet.  Still struggling.

---

Clarification of Answer by sgtcory-ga on 14 Oct 2003 13:49 PDT

Hello,

Since it's been a few months since you've replied, I was able to find
this :

e-Campaign Newsletter
http://www.lmhsoft.com/
http://www.lmhsoft.com/ecamp/

This might just be what you need, and it seems to have very high
reviews across the internet. Let me know how it works out for you.

Thanks,
SgtCory

Just to point out that once you create your html, you need to mail it
;) Most email marketers use a capability called "multipart MIME" to
"sense" whether the recipient is capable of displaying HTML emails
(the alternative is the ability to read plain text only). If they can,
they get the html version, and if not, they get a plaintext version.
If you use Outlook to do the emailing, you will not have this
capability. Your list may be small enough so that you know everyone is
capable of reading HTML, but if not, you may want to try "E-Campaign"
($80, http://www.lmhsoft.com/), which allows you to create both a
graphic and a text version of each email, automatically delivering the
correct version to individual recipients based on their email
program's capabilities.