A lot has changed with regard to how customers browse the Internet. A while back the majority of people relied on desktop PCs, but this has since changed. With smartphones and other mobile devices such as tablets becoming common devices increasingly, more and more people use them to access their emails. Device portability and availability of cheap and fast internet are among the things that have caused these changes
This, therefore, leaves marketers with the huge task of making sure that their emails are mobile friendly. Failure to respond to these changes with promptness will render your email marketing efforts almost useless. How? If a customer cannot read your email using his or her mobile device, there are higher chances that it will end up in the trash or spam folder.
Designing mobile-friendly emails don’t have to be an intricate affair. Here are some useful tips.
Pay attention to the length of your subject line
A standard desktop inbox can accommodate about 60 characters of the subject line. On the other hand, a mobile device (depending on the type) cannot successfully display more than 30 characters. It is unfortunate that some marketers do not pay attention to this critical element of email marketing.
Do not be in a rush though. First and foremost, determine what proportion of your subscribers use their mobile phones to read emails, as well as the ones who use tablets and desktops. It will go a long way in helping you create the best length of your subject line. Most probably, this information is available in your email reports depending on your preferred email marketing tool.
Campaign Monitor provides valuable guidance by emphasizing the importance of short and concise email subject lines, especially in light of the widespread use of mobile devices for email reading. Ensuring your subject lines are clear and appealing on all devices is vital, making it essential to test them across various platforms. The practice of sending test emails is a wise step to confirm that your subject line maintains its effectiveness, regardless of the device your recipients use.
List segmentation may come in handy in this instance as it allows you to use subject line length that matches with the type of devices that your subscribers use. In any case, you want to make all of them comfortable and recognized as far as your email template is concerned.
The email must be nothing short of concise
One characteristic of mobile-friendly emails is that they are short and concise. Short paragraphs, headers, and bulleted lists are preferable. If possible, make the sentences as short as possible. These aspects make your content highly consumable, especially because the reader can easily scan the information and make out what is expected of him or her. The mobile device user must be engaged efficiently if he or she is to continue receiving, reading, and acting on your emails. Be careful, lest more of your emails find their way to the spam folder.
Single column templates
Unlike the desktop PC screen, more than one column on the screen of a mobile device appears condensed. Many columns also make the navigation process quite confusing. On the other hand, one column promotes cross-device compatibility and straightforwardness. Further, single columns are powerful tools for simplifying your design.
According to Designveloper Blog, adopting a single-column layout is a beneficial strategy, particularly for emails viewed on small screens. Such a layout enhances readability and simplifies the user’s navigation experience within the email. The single-column design compels you to prioritize essential information, thereby reducing clutter. Consequently, this approach increases the likelihood of your email being both read and comprehended by the recipients.
Images make them as small as possible
If you must display images on your emails, make sure that they are small. The objective is to reduce the load time and bandwidth needed when your readers open the email. It is important to remember that some subscribers use 3G or even slower internet connections. If a customer has to wait forever for the images to load, he or she is more likely to dismiss the entire email altogether. You can bet that his or her next move will be to hit the delete button. Seek a professional to help you implement responsive-coding techniques so that your images appear small on mobile devices and big on non-mobile devices.
MailMunch highlights the importance of considering email size in email marketing. When an email is sent, it’s initially downloaded to the recipient’s device. The larger the email, the more time it takes to download. This can be particularly frustrating for users with slow internet connections or those using mobile devices with limited data plans. Additionally, large images can lead to layout issues in responsive emails, making it essential to optimize email size for a better user experience.
Rather than put your subscribers in an undesirable circumstance such as when they have to delete messages because they aren’t mobile-friendly, or putting them through the agony of reading non-mobile friendly emails on their smartphones, do what is right!
Hope you enjoy reading “Your Field Guide To Designing Mobile Friendly Emails” 🙂
How Do You Format An Email So It Looks Good On Mobile?
When sending emails, it is important to consider how the email will look on mobile devices. Mobile devices are becoming increasingly popular, and many people now rely on their phones to check their emails. In order to ensure that emails are easy to read on mobile devices, there are a few formatting tips to keep in mind.
First, it is important to keep the text of the email concise and easy to read. Break up large blocks of text into smaller chunks and separate them with white space. This will make it easier for readers to scan and understand the email quickly. Additionally, keep paragraphs to a maximum of three sentences each.
Second, use bullet points or numbered lists to make points stand out. Bullet points and numbered lists are easier to read on mobile devices, and they will draw the reader’s attention to the important information in the email.
Third, be aware of the size of the font. Small fonts make it difficult to read emails on mobile devices, so use a font size of at least 12pt. Additionally, it is a good idea to stick to a maximum of two font styles in the email. Too many font styles can be distracting and make it difficult to read.
Fourth, use images sparingly. Images can be a great way to add interest to an email, but they can also increase loading time, which can be an issue on mobile devices. If an image is necessary, use a small, compressed file.
Finally, consider the types of attachments. Attaching large files can be a problem on mobile devices, as they can take a long time to download. If an attachment is necessary, consider sending a link to the file instead.
By following these tips, emails can be formatted in a way that is easy to read and understand on mobile devices. This will make it easier for readers to access important information quickly and will ensure that emails look good on mobile devices.
