Creating high impact emails right in your GoDaddy compose window is really quite simple. Templates with image links can be easily created by embedding HTML code. The code created in a simple web page design program can link to your hosted images. Most web based email applications do not allow you to paste this code into the compose window but I have found a simple and unique way. Emails with code already embedded can be saved as templates using my method. Using this technique allows you to create custom formatted emails with no attachments making the email file size very small.

To embed HTML code in your outgoing GoDaddy email, including images linked to web pages, a simple web page needs to be created. I use Dreamweaver but any web page design program will work. When inserting images be sure to always use their absolute URL. Example: http://www.ipsna.com/peat.jpg (my signature image)

This way when the code is copied from your web page the images will appear no matter where the code is pasted eliminating the need for attached images. Obviously your images must first be uploaded to a web server somewhere. When you link an image to a specific web page, again, you must use the complete web page URL.

Try not to use actions that insert Javascript code into your web page because some email servers will bounce your email or flag it as spam. While I have tried using embedded Javascript code with very good results I do not recommend using it.

This technique does not work using a Hotmail nor Yahoo web bassed email account but they receive the emails just fine.

Please Note: There is a Known Bug in GoDaddy's WORKSPACE V5.2 that does not allow templates to be created using this technique with Apple's Safari web browser. Emails sent to a recipient using Safari as their web based email reader are not effected by this bug, only the ability to create the embedded HTML templates. In Safari all appears well in the compose window but upon send all of the text becomes a link to nowhere. If you create and save a template using Firefox or another browser you can still use Safari to open an existing template and modify the text before sending as long as you do not try to add any additional text links. In this case your text links should be created in your web page layout before copying the code. I use Firefox V3.6.8 and prefer it to Safari anyway but if you don't want to switch to another web browser just use Firefox or another web browser to create and save your embedded HTML templates.

Step one: Create a simple web page

After you have previewed the page in a web browser and all the links work it is time to copy the code. In Dreamweaver you can create in the design mode (illustrated above) and then switch to code (illustrated below). I highlight the code by swiping through it (highlighting) and then just copy it using the edit menu. I usually just copy from the body tag to the body tag as illustrated below.

I have underlined the first half of an absolute URL in the snapshot below just as a reference. This is the half that usually needs to be added and can be done easily in Dreanweaver's simpler design mode.

Next I go to my GoDaddy email account and open a new compose window. Make sure you are in the Rich Text mode and go to the link icon as illustrated below and a window will open up allowing you to paste the code. See the next snapshot for a view of the popup window and procedure.

The Insert/edit link window was originally designed to create simple text links but if you highlight the "http://" and delete it you can now paste your HTML code that you copied directly into that field. IMPORTANT: You must also enter a title, I usually just type in TT. The illustration below does not show that I entered a title into the "Title" field but I did and just make sure you do. Then and only then click on the insert button to insert your code.

The illustration below shows how your code and images will suddenly and magically appear with only one minor touch-up to perform. I have circled the one extraneous tag that needs to be removed. Just swipe through it and delete it. Please note: The links will not be active in the compose window until after you send the email. Be sure to save as a template before you send a test copy to yourself or you will have to start a new compose window and paste the code again. When the email comes in you can double check the active links and test to make sure they take you to the intended web pages. Saving as a template is illustrated in the next snapshot.

You are now ready to save the composed email as a template as discussed above or you can continue entering your text before saving as a template and testing. You can cut and paste text from just about any file or enter your text by hand. The save icon is circled below. If you prefer you can enter all the text in your web design program before copying the code.

The final template is shown below and has already been saved as a master template, ready to be called up anytime and personalized before sending. I further personalized it by created one more link using the Insert/edit link function the way it was originally intended to be use. In this case it is a link to this tutorial from the email. I then saved it a final time. Again, if you prefer, you can enter all your text and text links in your web design program before copying the code. Remember to always use absolute URLs when linking text as well.

Much more complex HTML can be inserted but this should give you an idea how easy it is to do. The links will all still be active after the recipient forwards or replies to your email but some of the formatting may change slightly.

If you have any questions or comments please email me at peat@ipsna.com or if you want me to email you the final version shown below to see how well it works just drop me a note.

Good luck,

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