Branded emails and merge

[Jo4321]

I want to create a branded email that I can use straight from Outlook. I
tried doing it by creating a template in outlook, but that didn't work when
people who have hotmail, yahoomail, etc recieved it. It took the text box
away from the images, placing the text box on top followed by the image of
the email if you scrolled down.

So, now I'm here in Publisher trying to create it. I've had success, if I
create a document and put the text I'd want in it (similar to a newsletter,
but actually an email) and hitting send as email. However, I would like to
be able to use the email merge feature to personalize the body of the email
message, as well as the email address that it will be sent to. Additionally,
I would like it to be easier to use right from outlook without having to open
Publisher and send it from there. My bosses need it to be turn-key.

I cannot figure out how to do this. I did save the doc as a template, but
the template shows up on Publisher but not outlook.

Am I once again using the wrong application for this? What I want is a
branded email such as is found here:

http://clients.onletterhead.biz/GalleryExamples/Schools/Index.html As I
mentioned I've already created it graphically.

TIA,
Jo

 

[Mary Sauer]

Help here:
Create and send e-mail publications by using Publisher
http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/publisher/HA102200511033.aspx?pid=CH100502571033

 

[Jo4321]

Thank you! I spent a lot of time today playing around with it and I think
I've got it good to go when using Publisher to send the email.

Is there a way, however, to pull up the branded email template in Outlook
without having to go into publisher first? (So my bosses could use it for
individual email replies?)

I thought maybe I could save it as a draft on all my bosses computers and
they could use it from there, however, when I hit reply the formatting of the
original email gets misaligned. I sent you it in email to show you what I
mean.

But as far as sending a mass email out, your link was of great help. Thanks!

Jo

 

[Mary Sauer]

Outlook as well as Publisher have templates that you could use for ideas.
http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/templates/results.aspx?qu=email&sc=4&av=ZOL

 

[Jo4321]

It's not that I need ideas, I have the document created and it works if I
use Publisher to send it. However, I don't know how to save it to use as an
outlook template. I've tried just hitting reply from an email that it was
used in and then saving it as an OFT (outlook template), but then the
formatting is all off.

Do I need to save it as a different kind of document while still in
Publisher and then import it over to my outlook templates somehow? There are
several drop down files to "save as" within publisher, but none of them are
..OFT.

Thanks

 

[Rob Giordano [MS MVP]]

Create the email in Publisher, mail it to yourself from within Publisher.

When you receive it in Outlook, save it as an .oft - you'll have to mess
around to create areas you can edit without throwing the design out of wack,
but it works ( I just tried it).

Why you would want to do this is another story I guess.

--
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Rob Giordano
Microsoft MVP Expression

 

[Jo4321]

Thanks, I'll try that when I get back to work. (crossing fingers)

I want to do it because I want to be able to put the template on each of my
bosses' computers (with their own contact info) so they can use it for their
individual emails on outlook, rather than having to go into publisher (which
they are unfamiliar with).

I, however, will be using the document from publisher when I do mass email
mailings.

Jo

 

[Rob Giordano [MS MVP]]

Have you tried doing making custom stationery for Outlook? This may work
better depending on what exactly your page wants to look like. And, remember
not everyone can or does accept html email, so in general html emails is not
a good choice, especially for businesses.



--
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Rob Giordano
Microsoft MVP Expression

Thanks, I'll try that when I get back to work. (crossing fingers)

I want to do it because I want to be able to put the template on each of
my
bosses' computers (with their own contact info) so they can use it for
their
individual emails on outlook, rather than having to go into publisher
(which
they are unfamiliar with).

I, however, will be using the document from publisher when I do mass email
mailings.

Jo

 

[Jo4321]

Well, tried saving it as an .OFT from the email, but that doesn't work
because it deleted the text box and wont' allow me to insert a new textbox.

Doesn't outlook stationery also use html?

Jo

 

[Rob Giordano [MS MVP]]

inline...


--
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Rob Giordano
Microsoft MVP Expression

Well, tried saving it as an .OFT from the email, but that doesn't work
because it deleted the text box and wont' allow me to insert a new
textbox.

Don't try to insert a textbox...just leave blank space in your design for
text. You're gonna have to make some compromises with this. It may mean a
redesign to accommodate adding text later.