Manage Email Signatures centrally from your Desktop - For All Users

Jesper Frier · Posted: Sun Sep 17, 2006 12:20 pm Post subject: 10 email signature HTML tips

10 email signature HTML tips

Never use Word to design your email signatures as it add unnecessary code which is not valid HTML. HTML design for email signature is trickier than Web HTML as email clients render HTML differently. Instead, use the build-in Cockit editor or programs such as this online editor, GoLive and Dreamweaver and remove any unnecessary code by hand.
Don't use tables (in Lotus Notes designs). Lotus Notes add extra line spacing in table rows. If you must use tables for your design, avoid 1 x 1 pixel spacer GIFs (to force widths in your table column). These are often found in spam and could get your email filtered.
Also don't use table background images as they do not appear in Lotus Notes and Outlook 2007.
Host images on your Web site using absolute URL path (e.g., http://www.emailsignature.eu/phpBB2/images/logo.gif) - if your priority is small file size.
Otherwise, embed your images to avoid default image-blocking in Outlook 2003.
Always use image alt tags to describe your picture. These show when the image doesn't display because of image blocking (but not in Outloo 2007).
Avoid CSS. In HTML email, they are not rendered correct in Lotus Notes and Outlook 2007 email clients. If you must use CSS, embed the style within the two body tags, not within the header.
Keep HTML email max. 650 pixels wide. Wider HTML messages often force the recipient to scroll horizontally to view the whole message.
Use animated GIF instead of Flash. Flash in email are blocked by default.
Avoid scripting (JavaScript, Visual Basic etc.). The functions don't work in email clients and scripts can cause your email to by filtered.
Validate the HTML content with the W3C's Markup Validation Service.
Test your email in Lotus Notes and in Outlook 2007 with image-blocking enabled.

Opimize for Outlook 2007 here.