Since the holidays are coming up and everyone is busy, we've decided to dedicate the next several weeks to some quick tips that you can implement into your email program quickly.

This week's tip has to do with Image to Text Ratio...

A common question that comes up with clients is "what's the acceptable ratio of image to text in an email?"

Simply put, the image to text ratio is just the proportion of text to images in the message content.

There are no published ISP "guidelines" on image to text ratio, however many of them DO consider messages containing all (or mostly all) images as a technique that spammers use to avoid filters that are looking at the text of the message.

Here are a few tips with regard to your image to text ratio:

#1: Use common sense! Use images where they enhance the message, but not to "hide" text from filters or to try to "sneak past" the spam filters. Not only will this infuriate admins at the ISPs that DO come across your messages, but it will also likely cause higher complaints with your subscribers.

#2: If you do have a high image to text ratio (for good reason, such as a big box store displaying their top selling items for the week), consider adding text to the header and/or footer of your messages. You can remind people when, why and how they signed up for your emails.

#3: Use alt tags. Alt tags are simply the text that shows up in place of an image when an image does not load by default. For example, if you're advertising an upcoming webinar and have a picture of a video screen, create an alt tag that says "your topic webinar" instead of a default title generated from your image software.

Written by Heather Seitz

For over a decade Heather Seitz used email marketing to build successful companies and had to solve the biggest barrier to consistent profitability: deliverability. Today she is the Co-Founder and CEO of Email Delivered.

For more information on how to maximize email conversion and keep your subscribers engaged for long term profitability, visit http://www.emaildelivered.com/blog. Remember to sign up for the FREE Email Delivered Pulse newsletter for articles, tips, and recommended resources for email marketers.

Be Sociable, Share!

• 
•