Plain Text Emails: Why you should use it

Plain Text Emails: Why it Works and When You Should Use it for Email Marketing?

Samira Farzana

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Once set out on literary voyages, I now explore the complexities of content creation. What remains constant? A fascination with unraveling the “why” and “how,” and a knack for finding joy in quiet exploration, with a book as my guide- But when it’s not a book, it’s films and anime.

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“Less is more,” they say, and it’s especially true for emails. In a world filled with flashy graphics, plain text emails stand out with their simple elegance.

Don’t be fooled by the ‘simplicity’. This old-school format is making a comeback, and for good reason.

Let’s dive into why plain text emails matter and how you can make use of them in your email marketing strategy.

What is a Plain Text Email?

A plain text email is exactly what it sounds like —text without any formatting. No image, bold, italics, underlining, fancy fonts, just plain old words on a screen. This stripped-down format might seem outdated, but it has several advantages that can significantly impact your email marketing strategy.

How? You will know in the next segments!

Plain Text Emails vs. HTML Emails

Okay, let’s talk email styles. On one side, we’ve got HTML emails – all glammed up with fancy fonts, eye-catching images, and clickable buttons. They’re like the stylish friend who always turns heads.

On the other hand, there’s plain text. Simple, no-nonsense, and refreshingly straightforward. You can think of it as that reliable buddy who’s always there for you, no matter what.

HTML Email vs. Plain Text Email — An HTML Email is on the left and a plain text email version of the same email is on the right

HTML emails are great for making a splash, but they can be a bit high-maintenance. Images might not load, and some email clients can be picky about formatting. Plain text, on the other hand, is the ultimate minimalist. It’s always there, loads super fast, and there’s no drama about how it looks.

The key differences between plain text emails and HTML emails are:

Aspect	Plain-Text Mail	HTML Mail
Format	Simple text, no formatting	Supports rich text, images, links, and styling
File Size	Generally smaller due to lack of media	Larger due to images, styles, and scripts
Load Time	Loads instantly	May take longer to load due to complex elements
Spam Filters	Less likely to be marked as spam	More likely to be flagged as spam due to rich content
Rendering Issues	None, displays uniformly	May look different across email clients
Accessibility	High, as most email clients handle it well	Can be less accessible for some users due to the complex design
Mobile Optimization	Always optimized for mobile phones	Some mobile screens don’t handle HTML well

Why Do You Need to Send Plain Text Emails?

Let’s face it, in a world where our inboxes are bombarded with flashy, image-heavy emails, plain-text emails can seem a bit… well, plain!

But here’s the thing: sometimes, simplicity wins.

Why?

Pros of Using Plain Text Emails

Alright, let’s get into why text-only emails can be your secret weapon. First off, they’re like the reliable, no-frills friend who always delivers. Here’s why:

Higher Deliverability: Your emails may go to spam if you fail to maintain a proper text-to-HTML ratio. Plain-text emails are less likely to be flagged as spam. So your emails have a better chance of landing in the recipient’s inbox, not the dreaded spam folder.
Faster Loading Times: No one likes waiting for images and graphics to load, especially if they’re on a slow connection. Text emails load instantly, ensuring your messages are read without any lag time.
Better Accessibility: These emails are universally readable. They look the same on any device and email client, which means your message is consistently delivered, regardless of how your recipient is accessing their email.
Cost-effective: Because text emails are smaller in size, they can be cheaper to send, especially if you’re dealing with large volumes. This is a win for your budget without compromising your reach.
Bypass HTML Restrictions: Some customers customize their email inbox settings to block HTML emails entirely, which means your fancy HTML message might never reach them. Text-only emails can pass this barrier effortlessly, ensuring your communication gets through.
Personal Touch: Email personalization can do wonders when done right. When you see an HTML email, you know it came as a marketing effort. Plain-text emails on the other hand feel like they’re coming from a real person. They can feel more personal and less like a marketing ploy.

So, while they might not have all the glitz and glam, text-only emails have some serious advantages that can make a big difference in your marketing efforts.

But hold on, is it only rainbows and butterflies?

Cons of Using Plain Text Emails

Alright, we’ve sung the praises of text emails, but it’s only fair to consider the flip side of the coin

As with anything, plain-text emails come with their own set of challenges. They might be straightforward and effective, but they’re not without their limitations. A few limitations that email plain text has are:

Limited Design Options: You love those eye-catching visuals and creative layouts, right? Well, with plain-text emails, you’re going to miss out on those. No bold fonts, no vibrant colors, no images. It’s just text—plain and simple.
Harder to Promote Your Brand: Email is a wonderful opportunity for businesses to foster customer relationships by cultivating their brand recognition among subscribers. Companies insert their remarkable logos or images in their corporate color scheme with the sole reason—to spread brand awareness in their audience. With plain-text emails, however, your company’s identity becomes more difficult.
Less Prominent Call-to-Action (CTA): As you can’t create stylish visual elements, you also can’t highlight your call-to-action (CTA) as prominently. So, you need to take extra effort and time to make sure your CTA stands out, just by your words.

After reading this, the first question that probably came to your mind was, ‘Which one to choose then?’ Well, we will answer that now, if the answer is not clear yet.

The Key Takeaway: Which One Should You Use?

Now, let’s go to the basic question again: do you need plain-text emails?’

Well, measuring the pros and cons is very visible; the pros outweigh the cons. If you’re still confused, ask yourself, ‘What’s the point of fancy image if your audience can’t receive your mail at all?’

There you go. You have your answer.

To use HTML emails, you need a sophisticated CRM tool with a robust server to ensure quick loading and automation. Without these, you might run into all kinds of issues such as broken emails, poor email deliverability, slow sending, etc.

Despite that, 24% of email marketers meet these technical requirements and opt for HTML emails. If you lack these resources, consider following the 19% of marketers who prefer plain-text emails. They value the straightforward, no-fuss approach that ensures their messages are always delivered and read. One of our users, Jose Luis Duron put his bet on plain text emails and needless to say, he is very happy with how his email performs!

But you can try another option. That is— sending both HTML emails and text-only emails, like 63% of email marketers.

Big corporations and enterprises can afford the cost and effort of sending hybrid emails, you might not be able to do that, right?

Don’t worry, there’s a cost-effective and efficient way to include plain text emails with your campaigns.

Easy Way to Include Plain-text Emails: Multipart Emails

Multipart email tools are a lifesaver if you want to leverage plain-text emails within your email campaigns. What this feature does is include both HTML and plain-text versions of your email in a single message. This way, the recipient’s email client will automatically display the format they prefer.

Note that, some tools convert HTML emails to plain text emails based on the receiver’s preference, which is different than multipart emails. Regardless, both kinds of email ensure easy email reading for the recipients whether they prefer HTML or plain-text. If you’re already using an email marketing tool, we’ve gathered a few which support multipart emails and plain-text conversion features. Check out if yours supports it!

Features	FluentSMTP	Mailchimp	SendGrid
Automatic ConversionBased on preference	✅	✅	✅
Premium Features in Free Version	✅	❌	❌
User-friendliness	✅	❌	✅
Deliverability	✅	✅	✅
Free of Cost	✅	❌	❌
Analytics	✅	✅	✅
WordPress Integration	✅	❌	❌
Simple Setup and Integration	✅	❌	❌
Customer Support	✅	✅	✅

Does FluentCRM have Plain-text Emails?

You probably already use FleuntCRM or any CRM tool for email automation. Enabling plain text emails is a breeze with FluentSMTP.

Follow these easy steps to switch to a cleaner, more straightforward format:

Open FluentSMTP in your WordPress dashboard.
Go to the settings and find the Email Simulation option.
Click the box ‘Add Multipart Plain Text HTML Emails (beta).’

See the image here for clear guidance.

Enable Multipart Version with FluentSMTP — How to enable multipart plain text in FluentSMTP

Clarity Over Clutter: Plain Text Emails Win the Competition

In a crowded inbox, simplicity stands out. Plain text emails cut through the clutter with their clean, straightforward approach, ensuring your message isn’t lost in the noise. By focusing on clarity, you improve deliverability, speed up load times, and avoid spam filters. They also feel more personal, making your communication feel genuine.

So, next time you’re crafting an email, consider going with plain text. With the right tools, you can easily balance simplicity and effectiveness, in emails to make a lasting impression!

Frequently Asked Questions

A few questions that you might be wondering about:

Plain text emails are emails without any formatting. This kind of email are sent without any flashy images, bold or italic text, underlining, or any fancy fonts. The purpose of this kind of email is to give the readers a simpler and easier reading experience.

Plain text emails are less likely to be flagged as spam, load faster, and are accessible on all devices and email clients. They also provide a personal touch that can make your communication feel more genuine.

Generally, yes. Plain text emails are less likely to be flagged by spam filters because they don’t contain complex HTML elements that might be perceived as suspicious. So, they are more likely to be delivered than HTML emails.

Yes, plain text emails work seamlessly on mobile devices, ensuring your message is readable regardless of the recipient’s device.

Yes, plain text emails can include links, but they appear as full URLs rather than hyperlinked text. This can be beneficial for transparency and user trust.

Multipart emails contain both plain text and HTML versions of an email. The recipient’s email client displays the version it supports or the one preferred by the recipient, ensuring compatibility and optimal user experience.

Yes, you can send plain-text emails with FluentCRM by enabling the multipart email feature in FluentSMTP.

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