What should I be concerned with when designing HTML email?

Despite many similarities between coding web pages and HTML emails, there are major differences that can make or break a nice design. With the variety of email applications people use, they tend to display HTML in inconsistent ways which could lead to your design looking different than you intended.

Email Template Design

After an email is designed, run a few tests in a variety of email clients to see how they will render the message. Depending on the way in which the client displays HTML will determine how they display your email template. You can run tests directly in the message editor by clicking "Preview & Test" and entering your email. We most commonly see discrepancies when using the Outlook desktop app.

Another thing you may want to consider is how your email may look in a mobile device. All of the design templates that we provide are mobile responsive. What this means is that in order for your message to be optimized for mobile devices it may be re-organized when viewed on those devices.

So What Should Designers Do?

The answer: test, test, test!

The only way to ensure consistent HTML design rendering is to send copies of your self-designed email messages to as many popular email applications as you can, then make sure they appear in a consistently readable way.

Popular Email Applications to Test

Here are the most common email applications subscribers use to check their messages in:

• Gmail
• Yahoo
• Hotmail
• Outlook
• AOL
• Thunderbird
• Apple Mail

Don't Want to Worry About Email Design Problems?

Each of our 700+ email templates have been vigorously tested against all of the above email applications to ensure consistent rendering.

If you'd like to use HTML messages without the pain of testing, just load in a template and start typing.

For a complete walkthrough on creating and sending a message from start to finish, see our how-to video and watch the message editor in action:

Need help designing your messages?

AWeber offers hundreds of templates for you to use. If you need modifications to an existing template or a custom template built to reflect your branding, our Template Team is here to help. We're happy to modify existing templates or design a custom template tailored to your needs.

Ready to enhance your email campaigns with stunning designs? Reach out to our Template Team today!