Retro emails thanks to Outlook 2007

There has been a lot of debate over Microsoft Outlook 2007 which launched last month in the UK. Many people within the Email Marketing community, from designers to marketers, see the updates as a retrograde step for email design from a company that promotes futuristic technology.

Outlook is now rendered through Microsoft Word which means that many HTML and CSS features might make your email look ghastly.

The main impact will be on B2B emails as they are most likely to be opened in Outlook. Many consumers use Yahoo!, Gmail or Hotmail (Live Mail) which each have their own issues.

Whether you carry out Email Marketing in-house or through an agency it's worth finding out how the changes could impact your messages. Some HTML tags like object, script, iframe and CSS properties might be affected.

Thinking "retro" when it comes to design might be the only solution. Indeed, our designer espouses that you should think "Old Skool" web design when it comes to designing emails.

Read on to find out what's changed..

• Lyris email checker
• Outlook HTML and CSS Validator
• An article on Word 2007 HTML and CSS Rendering Capabilities in Outlook 2007
• List of problems with other email clients
  
  

Lucy's vital statistics

Approximately 50% of online purchases are preceded by research on a search engine.

(Source: DoubleClick / Performics / comScore, "Search Before the Purchase", March 2005)

Murdoch snaps up an interactive advertising company. Will this mean more advertising on MySpace?

According to comScore, sites dedicated to online career resources, job search, and training attracted an average of 49.5 million European visitors per month during Q4 2006, an increase of 7 percent versus the same period one year ago.

(Source: comScore, 31/01/07)

Thanks to those of you who came to visit us at the TFM show. It's the first time we have exhibited at this event and, hopefully, we'll be there again next year.

We frequently speak and exhibit at marketing events across the country throughout the year, so keep an eye on our newsletter for details of upcoming events

My colleague John Heffernan, will be delivering a presentation on PPC at mad.co.uk's Search Engine Marketing conference in London next month. So if you've ever wondered about the intricacies of Pay Per Click then get yourself along.

Last month I asked you to send me questions about Online Marketing which I've listed alongside the many questions that arose at the recent TFM show:

• Can you design, source contacts and create content for emails?
• Why should I use MediaCo for carrying out a PPC campaign?
• I've used an agency before for PPC and it cost me a fortune, I didn't see any results or increased visits to my site - how are you different?
• Can you create content and build websites as well as doing Search Engine Optimisation?
• Can you optimise sites in any other languages?
• Do you do affiliate marketing?
• The changes in Outlook 2007 - can you design emails that will help my email strategy?
• Can you help me develop a community around my website, like a blog or a discussion forum?
  

Stand out on the Internet catwalk with fabulous online PR

Everything goes around in circles. Generally, fashions come and go, and when they come around again, they come back with a modern twist.

Now, just for the record, MediaCo does not advocate hanging on to all those hideous items of clothing you drunkenly bought whilst Internet shopping.

The point is, that even in the world of marketing, things come around again with a new, improved flavour. Search engine optimisation has recently re-discovered the old-fashioned press release at the back of the marketing wardrobe and dusted it off as a way of boosting an online PR campaign.

Find out more about online PR..

A bit of fun....

• Uncyclopedia, an alternative encyclopedia!
• Submit your blog to win a Toshiba Portégé R400 laptop
• Make free calls from your mobile with Barablu
• Mix a video of life in Britain. Does it rule or suck?
• Yahoo! knows a bit of Marvin can make you feel sexy
• Make a film and get a budget of £1 million to direct it