Creating email newsletters for sending via Outlook 2007

[simoncomer]

I want to use Publisher 2007 to create and distribute email newsletters. This
requires Outlook 2003/2007 to be installed also.

However, Microsoft has stopped using Internet Explorer to render HTML
emails, instead reverting to Microsoft Word.
http://msdn2.microsoft.com/en-us/library/aa338201.aspx

Unfortunately, MS Word's abilities in this area are less than exemplary.
http://www.campaignmonitor.com/blog/archives/2007/01/microsoft_takes_email_design_b.html

My question is this: If I create email newsletters in Publisher 2007, will
Outlook 2007 be able to handle them correctly?

If so, how?

If not, why is this not made clear in the product description for Publisher
2007?

According to the MS Office Publisher Help & How-To page, to use the Send
E-mail command in Office Publisher 2007, you must have Outlook 2007 (or other
suitable programs) installed.
http://office.microsoft.com/en-gb/publisher/HA102200511033.aspx?pid=CH100502571033

This suggests that Outlook 2007 can take whatever Publisher 2007 gives it.
But is this true? Will I be able to reliably produce cutting-edge email
newsletters without being certain that they will be adequately rendered when
my clients receive them?

 

[Mary Sauer]

You can never rely on HTML for emails. Publisher can produce a HTML newsletter,
but everyone doesn't enable HTML email, most folks prefer plain text. It is much
safer. Why not send your newsletter as a PDF attachment? It will retain its
original integrity. Office 2007 has a PDF converter download.
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/...11-3E7E-4AE6-B059-A2E79ED87041&displaylang=en

 

[DavidF]

I assume that your question is more rhetorical than not, as the information
provided through the links you provide pretty much say that even before the
changes in Outlook 2007, html formatted email was challenging at best, and
even more difficult now. As this relates to Publisher 2007: "Will I be able
to reliably produce cutting-edge email newsletters without being certain
that they will be adequately rendered when my clients receive them?", the
answer is no. But then you probably already knew or guessed that.

There is nothing "cutting edge" about what you can do with Publisher email.
Though the functionality to produce, merge and send html email is included,
it is limited and buggy. Though it is written for Publisher 2003, here is a
link that will explain just some of the many limitations in formatting: Tips
and
troubleshooting for sending a publication page as an e-mail message (2003):
http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/publisher/HP010390591033.aspx?pid=CH062524821033

I think it would be better to look elsewhere for a program to produce
"cutting edge" html formatted email. If you want to use Pub 2007, then you
will need to keep it very simple, and probably should link to most of your
content on a website. Even then I doubt that you will get consistent results
across all email clients. Just saying...

DavidF

 

[Charles W Davis]

Give this a read. I send HTML newsletter using Outlook 2007 on a Windows
Vista Ultimate machine.

 

[DavidF]

Charles,

I was not saying that you can't, or even shouldn't use Publisher to send
html email or newsletters. I was just reacting to the OP's desire to send
"cutting edge" html newsletters. My general advice to anyone that wants to
use Publisher to send html emails is to KISS or they are likely to have
formatting issues. Besides, you use FP to produce your newsletters don't
you?

DavidF

 

[simoncomer]

Thanks for all the replies folks.

First up, I should point out that I inadvertently posted this same query
again. I was supposed to be notified of replies but I didn't get any, so I
assumed my query hadn't been successfully submitted. Apologies for any
confusion or clutter.

OK, so the term "cutting edge" mightn't convey what I am trying to do. I
fully appreciate the KISS rule, and I am not fond of noisy & fussy email
newsletters that SHOUT at you and try to win your favour by including every
gimmick, bell and whistle available.

That said, I want my email newsletters to look attractive, to be well laid
out, to have good use of colour, and to have attractive images. All this is
presumably achievable in Publisher 2007.

If my email newsletters look dull or downbeat, then I won't be able to
compete for the attention of readers who are used to having their attention
drawn to slick productions.

The criticism of Outlook 2007 is that the dropping of the IE HTML rendering
function has put HTML email design "back 5 years".

I am happy to KISS, but I don't want to have to work harder to do it!

Likewise, I am unhappy with the ambiguity here. Even as the advertising
copywriters are extolling the virtues of Publisher 2007 in its ability to
produce email newsletters, elsewhere the tech people are dismantling Outlook
2007's ability to render such output optimally!

Do these guys not talk to each other?

 

[DavidF]

I am not a fan of Outlook and have only used OE to send Publisher generated
html messages. I suspect that even though you are willing to KISS, you may
find Pub 2007 come up short of your expectations. I wouldn't suggest buying
it for just this purpose, as there is better software available that you
would probably be happier with.

If you study the email templates provided by MSFT, in almost every one of
them there is a "read more" link following an introductory paragraph. I
believe the intent is to send a relatively simple email, and then link to
the majority of the content on a web site. Personally I find this most
effective to attracting me. Alternatively, I prefer an introductory email
message with an attached PDF file.

I think the best choice for you is to download the trial version of Pub 2007
and try it for yourself. Ultimately, only you can decide if Publisher html
formatted emails will do what you want.

DavidF

 

[Uncle Grumpy]

I think the best choice for you is to download the trial version of Pub 2007
and try it for yourself. Ultimately, only you can decide if Publisher html
formatted emails will do what you want.

Best advice is to convert said file to .PDF format.

 

[simoncomer]

Thanks all.

I agree that the best choice for maintaining the integrity of layout is to
convert to PDF.

I do feel, however, that email newsletters have greater immediacy and
appeal. You can still KISS, and provide links to more materail online, but
when someone opens a HTML newsletter the basic package is there in front of
them to appreciate, with no need to go scooting off elsewhere or for fiddling
with attachments or opening a separate application for viewing. Sometimes it
seems that people's patience/interest is measured in nanoseconds these days...

Anyway, it seems that what I have to do is compromise. Simpler email
newsletters with PDF attachments for those who are sufficiently interested.

Still, the basic point remains valid: Microsoft should not be going
backwards in terms of software sophistication. The decision to hobble Outlook
2007 is definitely a retrograde step.

Season's greetings to all.

 

[rtipping]

Thanks all.

I agree that the best choice for maintaining the integrity of layout is to
convert to PDF.

I do feel, however, that email newsletters have greater immediacy and
appeal. You can still KISS, and provide links to more materail online, but
when someone opens a HTML newsletter the basic package is there in front of
them to appreciate, with no need to go scooting off elsewhere or for fiddling
with attachments or opening a separate application for viewing. Sometimes it
seems that people's patience/interest is measured in nanoseconds these days...

Anyway, it seems that what I have to do is compromise. Simpler email
newsletters with PDF attachments for those who are sufficiently interested.

Still, the basic point remains valid: Microsoft should not be going
backwards in terms of software sophistication. The decision to hobble Outlook
2007 is definitely a retrograde step.

Season's greetings to all.

The continuance of the million dollar question - I had a client who
came to me looking for quarterly newsletters a couple of years ago .
To be honest i tried to talk her out of it(friends don't let friends
use html mail) .

The first year I did 4 newsletters using Publisher 2003,with
assistance in creation using Adobe Indesign and photoshop here's the
kicker she reckons her response rate was 70+% and came back for more
this year .

I have concluded for some area's of promotion(in a sentence a high
demograph of office users)can absalutly be serviced by MS publisher
and I would recommend using it just for mail if it fits the arsenal
for certain customers.

I have tested standard MS templates in Gmail,Hotmail,Yahoo,Outlook
express(Outlook2003)worked great and I have to think this is a huge
percentage of rendering out there.
Now it died in lotus notes but who the hell uses Lotus notes(kidding)
If you want to loose sleep on purpose this guy has done exhaustive
work on html mail caution though it's not for the meek.http://
www.campaignmonitor.com/blog/archives/2005/08/optimizing_css_1.html

 

[rtipping]

Thanks all.

I agree that the best choice for maintaining the integrity of layout is to
convert to PDF.

I do feel, however, that email newsletters have greater immediacy and
appeal. You can still KISS, and provide links to more materail online, but
when someone opens a HTML newsletter the basic package is there in front of
them to appreciate, with no need to go scooting off elsewhere or for fiddling
with attachments or opening a separate application for viewing. Sometimes it
seems that people's patience/interest is measured in nanoseconds these days...

Anyway, it seems that what I have to do is compromise. Simpler email
newsletters with PDF attachments for those who are sufficiently interested.

Still, the basic point remains valid: Microsoft should not be going
backwards in terms of software sophistication. The decision to hobble Outlook
2007 is definitely a retrograde step.

Season's greetings to all.

All good points I agree but to the Idea of pdf's(use them luv them)ask
yourself this when was the last time you tolerated a splash screen
even ?right here right now is where its at if you have the demograph
message in the body using MS publisher is bonus-you got find out what
your customers are using and accept some will not render as you would
like.