Re: [epub] Re: Email: HTML vs. Text?...

["Geof F. Morris, Chief Editor, TOTK.com Sports" <gmorris@xxxxxxxx>]

At 11:14 AM 7/24/00, you wrote:
 >Excellent observations all
 >
 >A very simple solution would be to provide your subscribers with the
 >option of joining your text or html list. ie have two separate lists.
 >
 >This is more work for webmaster.
 >at the same time it provides a range of services to visitor/customers.
 >
 >This methods also provides the info about how many of your readers
 >prefer text vs html.

	Let me weigh in on this debate.

	I recommend the switch to HTML-formatting only for an ezine that:

	1)  Has been around for at least a year.  This ensures that the editor 
(and publisher, and all of the writers, if you have a big ezine like Top Of 
The Key) is ready to make the jump.  This is an increase in publication 
preparation time, and that does make for some hard times.

	2)  Has some sort of database-oriented subscription system.  If you're 
updating it yourself, you're *going* to have issues.  Why?  Some of your 
readers will clamor for the option.  Some won't.  If you convert an 
existing plain-text ezine to HTML, you will have to react to all the change 
requests.  If your readers can update themselves -- and have the technical 
know-how to do it -- then go ahead.

	3)  Has a reader list requesting it.  Just ask them -- your readers are 
*experts* on your ezine.  If you don't feel comfortable asking them all, 
ask readers who have given you feedback before.  Ask friends who read the 
ezine.  If that works, maybe send that small subset a test issue or two, 
having them compare it to your well-formatted text ezine.  See what they 
think.

	I am *all* for providing reader choice, but frankly, I don't see the 
clamor for HTML ezines.  Maybe it's because I don't like them myself, and 
think that HTML is there to power the Web, not all Internet-related 
activities (I hate HTML in Usenet!), or maybe it's because I'm an old fart 
(having run an ezine since '96, with Top Of The Key out since '95), but . . 
.

	GFM
==================================================================
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