Why Owners of FileMaker Databases Should Start Sending HTML Emails

In the digital age, the way you communicate with your audience can significantly influence the success of your business. Sending plain text emails might seem like the easiest route, but incorporating HTML emails can elevate your marketing strategy to a whole new level. This is especially true for owners of FileMaker databases, who can now send HTML emails natively, enhancing their interaction with customers. Let’s delve into why and how you should start sending HTML emails using FileMaker and the benefits it brings to your marketing campaigns.

Understanding the Basics of HTML Emails

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Sample HTML template from Unlayer.com

HTML, or Hypertext Markup Language, is the backbone of most web content, including emails. Unlike plain text emails, which only contain text without any formatting or media elements, HTML emails allow for a rich and interactive experience. You can customize the layout, incorporate graphics, buttons, and even embed videos directly into your emails, offering a visually appealing and engaging content to your readers.

HTML emails are crafted using HTML code, which enables you to modify the font styles, add headings, subscripts, and superscripts, and much more. This level of customization is akin to creating a mini-website within an email, providing a dynamic and immersive experience for the recipient.

Plain Text vs. HTML Emails

Before we delve deeper, it’s essential to understand the fundamental differences between plain text and HTML emails. Plain text emails are straightforward, containing only text without any formatting or media elements. They are simple and uniform, offering no scope for customization or branding.

On the other hand, HTML emails bring a plethora of customization options. You can incorporate graphics, buttons, and videos, and use various HTML tags to modify the font styles and layouts. This not only makes your emails more attractive but also allows for a more personalized and branded communication.

However, crafting HTML emails requires a bit of skill and understanding of HTML coding. But fear not, many email clients offer WYSIWYG (What You See Is What You Get) editors, which provide similar features, allowing you to create visually appealing emails without diving deep into coding.

https://www.canto.com/blog/email-builder/

Benefits of Sending HTML Emails through FileMaker

FileMaker has introduced the capability to send HTML emails natively, without the need for third-party plugins. This feature simplifies the process of upgrading FileMaker, making it easier to send creatively designed emails to grab your customers’ attention.

How to Send HTML Emails with FileMaker

Sending HTML emails using FileMaker involves utilizing the “Insert From URL” script step, which now supports the SMTP protocol and includes several SMTP cURL options. Here’s a brief guide on how to do it:

1. SMTP Server Setup: Use your SMTP server as the URL, specifying the necessary details such as “from” and “to” email addresses.

URL: smtp://<SMTP Server>:<SMTP Port> 

cURL Options: 

--ssl 

--mail-from "<From Email>" 

--mail-rcpt "<To Email>" 

--upload-file $emailBodyFile 

--user "<SMTP Username>:<SMTP Password>"

2. Creating the HTML File: FileMaker can natively read and write files, allowing you to create the HTML file for the email. You can also use Base64 Encode and Decode functions to save the HTML content to a file in a container.

By using a bit of scripting and simple cURL options, you can send beautifully designed HTML emails directly from FileMaker, eliminating the need for third-party products.

HTML Email Best Practices

To ensure the success of your HTML email campaigns, it’s vital to adhere to best practices. Here are some tips to help you create high-quality HTML emails:

  1. Responsive Design: Ensure your emails are designed to adapt to various screen sizes, providing a seamless viewing experience across devices.

  2. Load Time: Be conscious of the load times. Including too many media elements can increase the load time, potentially discouraging readers.

  3. Testing: Before sending out your emails, test them across different email clients to ensure compatibility and proper rendering.

  4. Feedback: Encourage subscribers to provide feedback on the emails they receive, allowing you to make necessary adjustments for better performance.

  5. Design for Mobile: With the increasing use of mobile devices for email access, it’s crucial to design your emails to be mobile-friendly.

Conclusion

Incorporating HTML emails into your marketing strategy can significantly enhance your engagement with customers. For FileMaker database owners, the ability to send HTML emails natively is a boon, allowing for more creative and interactive communication without the need for third-party plugins.

Moreover, learning HTML is not as daunting as it seems. With a bit of practice and the use of tools like Mailchimp, which offers HTML templates and a range of tools for email marketing, you can easily master the art of creating compelling HTML emails.

So, if you’re looking to boost your email marketing campaign, it’s time to embrace HTML emails. Not only will it help in grabbing your customers’ attention, but it will also pave the way for a more personalized and immersive communication strategy.

Contact us to discuss your HTML email requirements and how we can help you.


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