Creating the HTML

• Creating the HTML for an email is almost identical to creating HTML for a Web page. You can accomplish this using a standard text editor like Notepad or, if you are unfamiliar with HTML itself, a what-you-see-is-what-you-get (WYSIWYG) editor like Adobe's Dreamweaver or the free NVU Web Authoring System. Keep in mind that any graphics you use in the design will need to be uploaded to the Web somewhere in order to be seen by your recipients. If you don't have a Web server to upload graphics to, it is better to keep your design more simple and just use color and layout elements.
  
  

Previewing and Editing the HTML

• After your first pass as creating the HTML for the email you will want to preview it. That means saving the HTML filing and then opening it with your Web browser of choice. Make sure everything is lining up properly and is formatted how you want it. You can keep this preview open as you make changes and edits in your text or WYSIWYG editor, and then hit the "Refresh" button on your browser to see those changes.
  
  

Checking for Spam Flags

• The people who send all those spam email messages to your Inbox also realize the power of HTML email and abuse it regularly. As such, there are several HTML methods and coding structures that are automatically assumed by email servers to be spam until proved otherwise. You want to make sure your HTML email is not flagged as spam. There are a number of free online tools like CheckMyMail and Contactology's Message Quality Score that make doing that a simple task.
  
  

Sending from Your Desktop

• If you are sending your HTML email to a small number of people and will be using your local email program to do so, then open the HTML file in your browser, hold down your "Control" key and hit your "A" key to select everything in the browser window, select "Edit" from the menu bar and click on "Copy." Start a new email message in your email program, click inside the "message body" box, select "Edit" from the menu bar and click on "Paste." The contents of your HTML file should now make up the body of your new email message.
  
  

Sending from a Newsletter Service

• If you are sending to a larger group of people, sometimes a desktop or personal email program won't cut it and you will want to sign up for an email newsletter service like Aweber or Mailchimp. Both services provide a very simple process for setting up and sending an HTML email to your mailing list.