What'll It Be Today? Text or HTML?

When a new subscriber is signing up for your mailing list, do you ask them if they prefer text or html? If you don’t, then you most certainly should start. But what does that even mean exactly? We can’t always assume that the end user knows the difference between the two.

When asking whether the user prefers html or text, include an example (ideally, a screenshot) of each. It may be a good idea to take the extra step and additionally explain what each version includes.

On the other hand… this may be considered overkill for some of your (potential) users. It really all depends on who your audience is. If they’re savvy, technologically driven twenty-somethings, taking these extra steps may not be necessary. If they’re new to the email signups and the Internet in general, you may want to take heed.

Inspired by a recent post at theemailwars.com