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Thread: Email template
Number of posts in this thread: 5 (In chronological order)
From: L Snider
Date: Thu, Aug 20 2015 10:23AM
Subject: Email template
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Hi Everyone,
I am needing to produce an email that goes out to a bunch of people, and I
want it to be accessible.
I am thinking of non-html email as this cuts out most issues. However, I
could go html as well but it will take a lot more time to set it up
properly...Does anyone have any recommendations, advice, etc.?
Thanks so much!
Lisa
From: _mallory
Date: Thu, Aug 20 2015 11:33AM
Subject: Re: Email template
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Hi,
While I, a mutt user, prefer plain-text emails, I have heard more than
once from blind people (Marco Zehe is one example) that they prefer
HTML emails. This doesn't mean they all do or that other users with
disabilities feel similarly but it seemed the structure HTML offers
is useful for some users of AT.
I believe it's Campagne Monitor who recommends sending both types
out, not because of ability or AT but because of email client
limitations.
_mallory
On Thu, Aug 20, 2015 at 11:23:27AM -0500, L Snider wrote:
> Hi Everyone,
>
> I am needing to produce an email that goes out to a bunch of people, and I
> want it to be accessible.
>
> I am thinking of non-html email as this cuts out most issues. However, I
> could go html as well but it will take a lot more time to set it up
> properly...Does anyone have any recommendations, advice, etc.?
>
> Thanks so much!
>
> Lisa
> > > >
From: John E Brandt
Date: Thu, Aug 20 2015 11:36AM
Subject: Re: Email template
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Are you looking for a template for a group-mail service like Constant Contact?
I've found that most of the major group-mail services have one or two templates that can be used fairly effectively from an accessibility point of view. I've avoided anything using an embedded tables, lots of images and shy away from backgrounds.
The group-mail services also are (usually) setup to send both a HTML and plain text version depending on what the receiving person's settings are. You can usually auto-generate the text version (from the HTML version) and then view what the text version will look like before sending.
As these systems use tracking information, the links that will be generated in the body of the message will be rather long and complicated. You can sometimes shut tracking off, depending on the service.
But from my experience, there are specific things that need to be embedded in the template (e.g., footer code regarding unsubscribing, etc.) that are specific to the service you are using, so it would be hard to create a generalized template that could be used on all services. I've found that these extraneous codes are often the least accessible.
~j
John E. Brandt
jebswebs: accessible and universal web design,
development and consultation
= EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED =
207-622-7937
Augusta, Maine, USA
@jebswebs
www.jebswebs.com
From: L Snider
Date: Fri, Aug 21 2015 11:22AM
Subject: Re: Email template
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Hi _mallory,
Thanks for the information, appreciate it. I think I may go with an
attachment to an email, as this needs to be fully accessible for everyone.
However, if I go email only I think the both types is a good idea or link
to an accessible online HTML webpage as well.
Lots of options!
Thanks again,
Lisa
On Thu, Aug 20, 2015 at 12:33 PM, _mallory < = EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED = > wrote:
> Hi,
> While I, a mutt user, prefer plain-text emails, I have heard more than
> once from blind people (Marco Zehe is one example) that they prefer
> HTML emails. This doesn't mean they all do or that other users with
> disabilities feel similarly but it seemed the structure HTML offers
> is useful for some users of AT.
>
> I believe it's Campagne Monitor who recommends sending both types
> out, not because of ability or AT but because of email client
> limitations.
>
> _mallory
>
>
From: L Snider
Date: Fri, Aug 21 2015 11:25AM
Subject: Re: Email template
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Hi John,
In this case, I can't do a commercial template, but thanks for that
information. Good to know in case I can go that way.
I see that we have come far since the old days, but geez why are we not
further ahead? Rhetorical question I know...but in some ways we are lunar
years from what we had in 1999 and in others we are still crawling through
the mud. It is Friday! I know we have come a long way since 1999 or
earlier, but some days feel like we haven't!
Cheers
Lisa
On Thu, Aug 20, 2015 at 12:36 PM, John E Brandt < = EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED = > wrote:
> Are you looking for a template for a group-mail service like Constant
> Contact?
>
> I've found that most of the major group-mail services have one or two
> templates that can be used fairly effectively from an accessibility point
> of view. I've avoided anything using an embedded tables, lots of images and
> shy away from backgrounds.
>
> The group-mail services also are (usually) setup to send both a HTML and
> plain text version depending on what the receiving person's settings are.
> You can usually auto-generate the text version (from the HTML version) and
> then view what the text version will look like before sending.
>
> As these systems use tracking information, the links that will be
> generated in the body of the message will be rather long and complicated.
> You can sometimes shut tracking off, depending on the service.
>
> But from my experience, there are specific things that need to be embedded
> in the template (e.g., footer code regarding unsubscribing, etc.) that are
> specific to the service you are using, so it would be hard to create a
> generalized template that could be used on all services. I've found that
> these extraneous codes are often the least accessible.
>
> ~j
>
> John E. Brandt
> jebswebs: accessible and universal web design,
> development and consultation
> = EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED =
> 207-622-7937
> Augusta, Maine, USA
>
> @jebswebs
> www.jebswebs.com
>