“A newsletter is a publication that is distributed over regular intervals of time to a group of defined individuals. It is an effective communication tool utilized mostly to teach, inform, announce events, and promote new products and services all together.”
Newsletter formats differ from one another in their design, functionality and use. In today’s post we will give you a brief review the three majorly used newsletter formats and their advantages and disadvantages along with examples of sample newsletter formats.
- HTML
- Plain Text
|
Table of Contents Pros/Cons |
HTML |
Plain Text |
|
| Flexibility | V. Good | Low | Medium |
| Graphics | V. Good | Low | V. Good |
| Hyper Linking | V.Good | Low | Medium |
| Compatibility | Low | Medium | Medium |
| Difficulty Level | High | Low | Medium |
| Loading Issues | High | Low | Medium |
HTML Newsletter Format
1. Flexibility with Customization
HTML based newsletters give you more flexibility than any other format. You can play around with fonts, change background colors, add headers etc. These features give your newsletter a lively feel and make them more engaging. Vast options of customization allow you to design your newsletters in many ways.
2. Extensive Options with Graphics
HTML format allows extensive use of graphics. If you plan to promote a product through your newsletter, use of graphics and product pictures can really help you get more customers. Moreover, graphics and pictures make your newsletter more appealing and attractive.
3. Hyperlinks
You can use hyperlinks with HTML format unlike plain text where the links appear broken while in the case of a PDF newsletter, they render browser security issues.
4. Difficulty Level with HTML Knowledge
The main problem people face with this format is that their HTML knowledge is not enough for them to develop their own newsletters. It is possible to acquire sample newsletter formats and tweak them according to your needs, but you might not find one good enough to your liking. If you are serious towards using this format, you can hire a coder who can do the work for you.
5. Compatibility Issues with Various Email Clients
One of the key disadvantages of this format is its compatibility issue with email clients. Not all email clients support this format. Therefore, if your subscriber is using an email client that does not support this format, they will not receive your newsletter.
6. Loading Time
Newsletters with too much graphic content and formatting take longer time to load and become a disadvantage at times.
Plain Text Newsletter Format
1. Difficulty Level: No Professional Skill Required
The best advantage of using plain text format is the ease with which they are created. No technical knowledge is required as well. No special software is required as well since a simple word processor can do the job.
The best advantage of using plain text format is the ease with which they are created. No technical knowledge is required as well. No special software is required as well since a simple word processor can do the job.
2. Minimal Compatibility Issues
Newsletters written in plain text format will always be delivered to the subscriber since email clients have no issues with this kind of format.
3. Simplistic Outlook
A simple looking newsletter may or not be a problem depending how you look at it. If you appreciate trendiness, graphics and images, you might say that a simple newsletter is lacking majorly.
On the other hand, some readers might get distracted with flashy looks and color contrasts. Your content is what matters the most in this case. less options with creativity might be a hindrance for you to choose this format.
4. Hyperlinks
Since plain text does not allow hyperlinks, rather longer links in your newsletter will appear broken due to email client restrictions. This situation gets very out of hand with affiliate links since they all look like a URL spread over two, three lines.
PDF Newsletter Format
1. Extensive Customization Options
Just like HTML, PDF format allows extensive use of graphics and formatting. This makes it easier for you to add any kind any number of images along with playing with the fonts and layout.
2. Easy to Download
PDF newsletter format can be downloaded on your PC, it can also be directly published on your website, or sent as an email attachment. Subscribers can download and read the newsletter with ease and print it as well.
3. Word to PDF Converter
To create a PDF newsletter, you need to have special software, or if you are using Microsoft word, you can download and install an extension that lets you save y our documents in PDF format. A few online services help you convert your documents online without any installation. After you have your PDF newsletter ready, you will have to download it to your server hosting the website or auto responder.
4. Minimal Compatibility Issues
The PDF newsletter could be viewed in browser or downloaded hence it makes it compatible across the majority of browsers. Some readers however would not have PDF installed hence they might have issues in reading it.
So now, I hope that after looking at the pros and cons of each newsletter format, it will be easier for you to decide which one to choose.
