Ask HN: HTML styled newsletters? or Plaintext?

[misterparker]

Which do you prefer? or don't care?

[blcknight]

You can send both formats, and in fact, if you send text/html, you should send a text/plain copy as well. As one of the remaining mutt users out there, nothing annoys me more than html mail. I don't read it.

[percept]

I much prefer plain text, but this really depends on your target audience.

Based on personal experience I believe those who don't live and breathe this stuff 24/7 prefer a little window dressing.

If it is styled, I recommend minimizing the amount of scrolling required to reach your text. (For example, I don't see much value in a large header mit logo.)

But test, and ask the same question of your prospective readers, if possible.

[nazgul]

This is something you really have to test. You can ask, but people often think one thing but react differently.

[tsuyoshi]

Most HTML email I receive also has a text version. I prefer text, but I don't see why you can't do both.

[maximem]

For a BtoC product HTML style I'd say: attractive.... For BtoB, SaaS Product: Plain or HTML but very light.

[gespadas]

+1 Plaintext using Markdown syntax.

[mikejarema]

Interesting -- are there email clients which can process Markdown and display the body with its intended styling?

[acveilleux]

MIME multipart/alternative type is what you want to use. RFC2346 section 5.1.4.

[wnevets]

I prefer creating plain text emails. I prefer reading lightly styled html emails.

[Fastidious]

+1 Plain text.