Plain Text Email
Have you ever sat back and considered that there might be more than one format that you can send an email in? Probably not. But there is!
Among various formats, a “Plain Text Email” stands out for both its simplicity and effectiveness.
But what is a plain text email and why are they important?
Whether you’re brand new to email marketing or just looking for a refresher, this quick guide will dive into the world of plain text emails — exploring best practices, reasons for using them, as well as a common alternative.
What is a Plain Text Email
A plain text email is exactly what it sounds like — an email composed solely of text without any rich media elements such as images, custom fonts, or hyperlinks.
It's the digital equivalent of a traditional letter, absent any other elements like HTML. These emails are universally accessible and are compatible with every email client.
A plain text email ultimately looks like a 1:1 email you’d send to a friend or family member — not a traditional marketing email.
Take a look at this email we sent to our waitlist at Loops. As soon as a user signed up for our waitlist they received this plain text email from our co-founder and CEO that helped open up a conversation without any unnecessary formatting or images. Just straight to the point.
Plan Text Email best practices
When sending a plain text email, following best practices can significantly increase the effectiveness of your message. Here are some key points to consider:
Be Concise: Without visual elements, the focus is solely on your message. Be clear and to the point.
Personalization: Use a conversational tone to make the email feel like a true 1:1 conversation.
Structure Your Content: Use line breaks and additional spacing to create a readable layout.
Include a Clear Call-to-Action (CTA): Direct the reader clearly on what to do next. This should be the case with any email that you send (plain text or not).
Test for Different Devices: Ensure your email reads well on various devices and email clients. As a plain text email, this shouldn’t be an issue but it doesn’t hurt to double check.
By following these best practices, your plain text emails are more likely to be well-received and actioned by your recipient.
Why should I send a Plain Text Email?
Despite their simplicity, there are many benefits to sending plain text emails. Here are a few of the key benefits:
Higher Deliverability: Plain text emails are less likely to trigger spam filters compared to HTML emails. This means they have a higher chance of successfully landing in the recipient's inbox.
Compatibility: Every email client can display plain text emails correctly as you intended. This ensures that your message will be viewable by all recipients regardless of the device or email software they are using.
Focus on Content: Without the distractions of complex formatting, images, or other rich media, recipients are able to focus solely on the message you're sending. This can make your communication more direct and effective.
Personal Touch: Plain text emails often feel more personal and less like a traditional marketing email. This can help in building a more authentic connection with your audience, as the emails can resemble a personal 1:1 conversation.
Lower Technical Barriers: Creating plain text emails requires no special design skills or software. Just type and send.
Faster Load Times: Without large images or complex HTML code, plain text emails load quickly.
Accessibility: Plain text emails are generally more accessible for people using screen readers or other assistive technologies as there's no complex layout or elements that could pose a challenge for these tools.
While plain text emails may lack the visual appeal of HTML emails, their simplicity and reliability make them an increasingly valuable tool in various email marketing situations.
Plain Text Email alternatives
There are two main alternatives to sending a plain text email — rich text emails and HTML emails.
HTML emails are a type of email that are formatted using HTML (Hypertext Markup Language), the standard language for creating web pages. This allows for a much richer presentation of content compared to plain text or rich text emails. HTML emails allow for additional formatting and interactive elements.
Rich text emails are a type of email that lies somewhere between a plain text email and an HTML email. It allows for basic text formatting while not being as complex or versatile as HTML emails. Rich text emails allow for additional fonts and linking capabilities.
Key takeaways
A plain text email is an email composed solely of text without any rich media elements such as images, custom fonts, or hyperlinks.
A plain text email ultimately looks like a 1:1 conversation.
Plain text emails have higher delivery rates as they are less likely to trigger spam filters.
Plain text emails allow the recipient to focus on what matters most — the main message of the email.
Plain text emails are more accessible to your recipients or customers who are using assistive technologies like screen readers.
Ready to send better email?
Loops is a better way to send product, marketing, and transactional email for your SaaS company.
Have you ever sat back and considered that there might be more than one format that you can send an email in? Probably not. But there is!
Among various formats, a “Plain Text Email” stands out for both its simplicity and effectiveness.
But what is a plain text email and why are they important?
Whether you’re brand new to email marketing or just looking for a refresher, this quick guide will dive into the world of plain text emails — exploring best practices, reasons for using them, as well as a common alternative.
What is a Plain Text Email
A plain text email is exactly what it sounds like — an email composed solely of text without any rich media elements such as images, custom fonts, or hyperlinks.
It's the digital equivalent of a traditional letter, absent any other elements like HTML. These emails are universally accessible and are compatible with every email client.
A plain text email ultimately looks like a 1:1 email you’d send to a friend or family member — not a traditional marketing email.
Take a look at this email we sent to our waitlist at Loops. As soon as a user signed up for our waitlist they received this plain text email from our co-founder and CEO that helped open up a conversation without any unnecessary formatting or images. Just straight to the point.
Plan Text Email best practices
When sending a plain text email, following best practices can significantly increase the effectiveness of your message. Here are some key points to consider:
Be Concise: Without visual elements, the focus is solely on your message. Be clear and to the point.
Personalization: Use a conversational tone to make the email feel like a true 1:1 conversation.
Structure Your Content: Use line breaks and additional spacing to create a readable layout.
Include a Clear Call-to-Action (CTA): Direct the reader clearly on what to do next. This should be the case with any email that you send (plain text or not).
Test for Different Devices: Ensure your email reads well on various devices and email clients. As a plain text email, this shouldn’t be an issue but it doesn’t hurt to double check.
By following these best practices, your plain text emails are more likely to be well-received and actioned by your recipient.
Why should I send a Plain Text Email?
Despite their simplicity, there are many benefits to sending plain text emails. Here are a few of the key benefits:
Higher Deliverability: Plain text emails are less likely to trigger spam filters compared to HTML emails. This means they have a higher chance of successfully landing in the recipient's inbox.
Compatibility: Every email client can display plain text emails correctly as you intended. This ensures that your message will be viewable by all recipients regardless of the device or email software they are using.
Focus on Content: Without the distractions of complex formatting, images, or other rich media, recipients are able to focus solely on the message you're sending. This can make your communication more direct and effective.
Personal Touch: Plain text emails often feel more personal and less like a traditional marketing email. This can help in building a more authentic connection with your audience, as the emails can resemble a personal 1:1 conversation.
Lower Technical Barriers: Creating plain text emails requires no special design skills or software. Just type and send.
Faster Load Times: Without large images or complex HTML code, plain text emails load quickly.
Accessibility: Plain text emails are generally more accessible for people using screen readers or other assistive technologies as there's no complex layout or elements that could pose a challenge for these tools.
While plain text emails may lack the visual appeal of HTML emails, their simplicity and reliability make them an increasingly valuable tool in various email marketing situations.
Plain Text Email alternatives
There are two main alternatives to sending a plain text email — rich text emails and HTML emails.
HTML emails are a type of email that are formatted using HTML (Hypertext Markup Language), the standard language for creating web pages. This allows for a much richer presentation of content compared to plain text or rich text emails. HTML emails allow for additional formatting and interactive elements.
Rich text emails are a type of email that lies somewhere between a plain text email and an HTML email. It allows for basic text formatting while not being as complex or versatile as HTML emails. Rich text emails allow for additional fonts and linking capabilities.
Key takeaways
A plain text email is an email composed solely of text without any rich media elements such as images, custom fonts, or hyperlinks.
A plain text email ultimately looks like a 1:1 conversation.
Plain text emails have higher delivery rates as they are less likely to trigger spam filters.
Plain text emails allow the recipient to focus on what matters most — the main message of the email.
Plain text emails are more accessible to your recipients or customers who are using assistive technologies like screen readers.