Conversion Is a Personal Choice

Keeping track of your readers' preferences for HTML or text-only email newsletters can be daunting. But honoring those preferences may be an even bigger challenge.

Keeping track of your readers’ preferences for HTML or text-only email newsletters can be daunting. But deciding to honor those preferences may be an even bigger challenge.

When someone shares his or her preference on how he or she wants web or email content displayed, it’s a good idea to respect that person’s wishes and provide content the way it was requested. I know it sounds like common sense, but in this sometimes wacky world, web site managers don’t always do what makes sense.

If a web site asks a user if he or she prefers story links sorted alphabetically or by date and then doesn’t honor that preference, would you expect that user to continue to visit the site? Probably not.

But site managers are tempted to change newsletter subscribers’ preferences from text to HTML format because studies show that click rates are higher for HTML-formatted newsletters. It’s only natural to believe that converting subscribers’ preferences will increase response.

However, there are many people who prefer a text-only format for their emails — even if their software is capable of handling HTML mail. These people express their preference for text-only in two ways: One is by making this choice on the subscription form, selecting text over HTML, and the other is when they sign up for a newsletter that is offered only in text mode and continue their subscription after receiving a few issues.

While it seems like common sense to honor the preferences of people who visit the web site or subscribe to an email newsletter, we’re seeing a number of web sites that want to disregard the preferences of their audience.

This can occur when a web site adds an HTML-formatted newsletter and wants to automatically change the preference of previous newsletter subscribers from text to HTML format. Technically, it’s easy to determine if someone’s computer can read HTML email. When that person opens his or her email and a graphic is served by the web server, it’s clear that that person’s computer can display HTML emails.

In addition to “sniffing” whether someone’s computer can read HTML email, it’s also possible to identify people by the domain name of web-based email services.

However, just because someone uses an HTML-capable email program doesn’t mean he or she wants to receive a particular newsletter in HTML format.

It’s easy to assume that the folks who work in Internet marketing would like to see email newsletters in highly graphical format, and newsletter publishers have generally been successful in automatically changing subscriber preferences for this group. However, when it comes to sending newsletters to people outside the Internet industry, it’s a different story. Those subscribers send screaming emails complaining to the publisher when their newsletter preferences are converted without permission.

There are several ways to make it easy for subscribers to change from text to HTML format, so it’s not necessary to take the chance of offending them by automatically changing their preferences.

One way is to provide a “one click” link in each issue that takes the reader to a web page that contains a database updating code to change the reader’s preference. By including each reader’s unique ID in the link, the server knows exactly who is clicking on the link.

Another approach is to provide a unique link to the subscription profile form on the web site. In addition to changing their format preferences, readers can also subscribe to additional newsletters and update any demographic information.

Here are a few tips to keep in mind when offering readers a new HTML version of your email newsletter:

  • Explain how the additional navigation and formatting helps them more than the text format.
  • Invite them to try the new format.
  • Make it easy to switch back to text format.
  • Encourage them to provide feedback about the new format.

Keep in mind that the partnership between publisher and reader is fragile — especially when it’s so easy to switch to a competitive site. One key to successfully migrating subscribers’ preferences from text to HTML is to involve them in the process as much as possible.

Subscribe to get your daily business insights

Whitepapers

US Mobile Streaming Behavior
Whitepaper | Mobile

US Mobile Streaming Behavior

5y

US Mobile Streaming Behavior

Streaming has become a staple of US media-viewing habits. Streaming video, however, still comes with a variety of pesky frustrations that viewers are ...

View resource
Winning the Data Game: Digital Analytics Tactics for Media Groups
Whitepaper | Analyzing Customer Data

Winning the Data Game: Digital Analytics Tactics for Media Groups

5y

Winning the Data Game: Digital Analytics Tactics f...

Data is the lifeblood of so many companies today. You need more of it, all of which at higher quality, and all the meanwhile being compliant with data...

View resource
Learning to win the talent war: how digital marketing can develop its people
Whitepaper | Digital Marketing

Learning to win the talent war: how digital marketing can develop its peopl...

2y

Learning to win the talent war: how digital market...

This report documents the findings of a Fireside chat held by ClickZ in the first quarter of 2022. It provides expert insight on how companies can ret...

View resource
Engagement To Empowerment - Winning in Today's Experience Economy
Report | Digital Transformation

Engagement To Empowerment - Winning in Today's Experience Economy

1m

Engagement To Empowerment - Winning in Today's Exp...

Customers decide fast, influenced by only 2.5 touchpoints – globally! Make sure your brand shines in those critical moments. Read More...

View resource