What's the best format for mass email

[newpencilcase]

I'm sending out an email to a large list of potential clients (I don't know any of them).

Do you think it's worth designing it so it looks more professional, or do you think just a straightforward text email with links to a website would be more likely to get a response.

It's a toss up between looking too 'salesy' and catching their attention.

Hmmm, I'm not sure - I think it could go either way. A designed email could look professional, but it could also look as though it is a mass email sent to lots of people and reduce the chances of people taking much notice of it.

Depending on what your field is, I think I'd be more inclined to take the personal approach and have it linking to a professional looking website.

Also beware things that might identify your message as spam and filter it into junk folders - e.g. sending 1 email to a mass list of people, having certain words in the subject line etc.

Following on from what cakeaddict said, where did you get this list of emails? It is actually illegal to send a mail to a B2C client without their explicit permission!

You should probably look at www.mailchimp.com or www.aweber.com for easy-to-use, adaptable mail programmes which with a bit of savvy from you will avoid you hitting the spam folders.

You need it to be responsible and, as most people read mails on hand-held devices you're better off sticking to a 1-column layout.

People love graphics & a "pretty layout" - but you tell that to Carrie Wilkerson who sends her stuff out in plain text and sells a bomb! Horses for courses!