Message sends fine; doesn't forward well

[unklchuk]

My first MaxBulk Mailer project. We're doing an online store for a reputable client (all our clients are reputable!). They want to target an announcement to a core constituency of theirs. They want to do it by sending an HTML email to a couple dozen of their dealers, and have the dealers send the same HTML email to known customers and known prospects (these are certain local government agencies, so they are not numerous).

On a Mac, I prepared an HTML email in PageSpinner and pasted it into MaxBulk Mailer. It includes a large graphic, which is linked to the online store.

The email sends just fine to my test addresses. But doesn't forward OK. For example, a headline goes wrong and the link to the store turns into large blue visible code.

I don't know the right way to get the email to the dealers so they can send it out.

 

[stanbusk]

This is not a MaxBulk Mailer problem but the lack of support of all mail readers to forward HTML properly. If you use Mail, the best is to use the 'Redirect' button rather than 'Forward'. Forward by default will quote your message and will destroy your HTML code.

 

[unklchuk]

It's a good bet the 25 or so dealers will use something Microsoftian and PC-ian. (With perhaps 2-3 on Macs.) Do those apps (Outlook and Entourage?) have a redirect button? Or a redirect menu choice?

If not, would it work for them to look at the email they receive from our client, view source, select all, copy to clipboard, choose a blank new message, paste, add the recipients, and send?

Our final client would consider this less than ideal, but perhaps tolerable under the circumstances.



I'm thinking it will make no difference whether our distribution is done from my Mac or from my immediate-client's PC. Right? Or is reality more complicated and insidious than that?


Lastly, I've seen a discount code for MacBulk Mailer, says this discretionary-funds-challenged practitioner (a senior citizen too!). Can that (the discount code, not the sob story) be applied to a Mac/PC twin license?

 

[stanbusk]

I don't think lot of mail programs have a 'Redirect' function. The workaround you propose will not work, you can't copy HTML quote, copy it to a new message and send. Your recipient will receive code. I don't know any solution to forward HTML code other than using a PHP script on your site. We will try to do something and add it to our script library.

 

[unklchuk]

Thank you for the "hard realities." I like your software and your support. Will not be surprised if I come up with a need to own it in the reasonable future.

One long-shot possibility, for this current problem project - if MaxBulk Mailer allows a PowerPoint to play within an email message. No need for a reply if it doesn't.

 

[stanbusk]

One update, in order to forward a message thru a PHP script you need a copy of that message online. Then you create a Forward link on your message like: 'Click here to forward this message to a friend.' That will bring the user a form on your site where he can set the email were the message has to be forwarded. Once he pressed the forward button on that form the HTML copy of your message is sent to that address.

Powerpoint can't play on mail readers as far as I know. Not even Flash animations are supported actually. This is not a MaxBulk limitation but mail reader limitation.

 

[unklchuk]

Fools dance in where angels fear to tread. I've had a success with forwarding HTML email and am trying to prove the technique reliable. Time will tell.

This post to the webweavers discussion list describes the technique (and includes a mention of MaxBulk Mailer).

Our client isn't ready yet to throw in the towel and just send a regular text email announcing their new online store to his dealers to then be resent to the dealers' customers and prospects. With link to a webpage.

Yesterday, we gave him what he originally asked for, waaaay back, a PowerPoint (when all else fails, I suppose, give the client what he asks for...). But, no surprise to folks here, that was shot down by a pro friend of the client. Executable files will be blocked.

That drove me to revisit a previous failed attempt. Forwarding HTML email.

I had seen for myself and confirmed online that HTML emails are garbled when forwarded, and abandoned that approach. But, dangling at the end of the rope, I wondered if perhaps a REALLY SIMPLE HTML EMAIL (just an image, a few words and a link) could be persuaded to behave while forwarding.

I used MaxBulk Mailer to send such an email to one of my addresses, and did a couple tests - sending it to another of my addresses and then on to the client.

The simple forward test never got to the client. That approach remains discredited.

But for the other test, I used Reply to send it to myself, edited out the visible reply elements, and forwarded that to the client. That worked. That's what he now expects. If it will work consistently, it's a solution.

I don't think this list is appropriate for all the email questions I now have and will have. Can someone recommend an email-from-designer's-point-of-view website or list?