NOTE: If you have a question you'd like to ask,
                 Click Here to Submit Your Question

Dear Holly,

Is there a reason you send your newsletter in text instead of HTML? I am getting ready to write some autoresponder messages, and need to know if it's better to use text or HTML. Thanks.

— Jackie C.

Dear Jackie,

That's an excellent question. And, yes, there IS a reason I send my newsletter in text rather than in HTML. Actually, there are THREE reasons…

1. HTML views differently in different email programs. So, while an HTML message may view correctly in most programs, some of my readers may receive a message with very strange formatting. Even worse…they may receive a message that is full of HTML code, which would make the entire newsletter unreadable.
2. HTML takes up more space. Some people (especially those using free email accounts) have limited space available in their inboxes.
3. An HTML file is larger than a text file. So, HTML takes longer to download…not a problem if you're using a broadband connection, but very time-consuming for people using dial-up modems.

I also send all my autoresponder messages in text instead of HTML. Here's why…

• When you send an email to a friend, do you write it in text or do you write it in HTML? Everyone I know just bops out a quick text message.

And, when you receive an email message in HTML (with color, etc.) what do you do?

I know I am so used to receiving colorful HTML ads that, when something arrives in HTML, I delete it without reading it. Obviously, when I send a series of messages via my autoresponder, I want the recipient to read the message. I've found they're more likely to do that if the message looks like it came from a friend…which means I must write it in text.

— Holly Cotter

NOTE: If you have a question you'd like to ask,
                 Click Here to Submit Your Question

Dear Holly,

I do appreciate your insights–but, this latest email hits where it hurts…in my current independent contractor, art director, pocketbook. Yes, you suggest employers save money by hiring graphic and web designers as independent contractors, but we're the ones stuck with the double SS and FICA tax!

To have to subtract 25% of my meager pay for taxes, it doesn't make this kind of work worthwhile. It kind of makes us indentured servants at the employers will, to just dispose of if we make too much noise about inadequate pay. And it makes it that much harder to land a full time position.

(But, as you say, there are many hungry workers out there…). Please, some helpful hints for the designer caste?

— Ron L.

Dear Ron,

I wish I had better news for you, but independent contractors like yourself are in the exact same position as me and the other self-employed business owners who are hiring you.

Whether you realize it or not…you are in actuality a small business owner yourself. In YOUR case, your business is the service you provide to other small businesses.

Like you, all small business owners must pay both the employee and employer taxes and other withholdings. There are no easy answers. If you're self-employed, you're going to pay double to Uncle Sam.

However, there IS good news…

If you structure your business right, you can earn more as a self-employed small business owner than you ever could as an employee. You can also provide yourself with more job security than you'd have if you worked as an employee for someone else.

— Holly Cotter

NOTE: If you have a question you'd like to ask,
                 Click Here to Submit Your Question

Dear Holly,

I'm writing messages for my autoresponder. How do I keep
the messages formatted correctly? Right now they look like
gobbledy-gook.

— Carol P.

Dear Carol,

You'll be happy to learn there are a couple of very easy,
simple tricks you can use to ensure your messages appear
in correct format in your reader's inbox…

1. Use a Text Editor

   A Text Editor is a program that keeps hidden spaces and
   other unwanted characters from being added to your message
   …so, what you see when you're typing is what will appear
   in your reader's inbox.

   If you are a Windows user, you probably already have
   "Notepad" on your computer. If you use this as your text
   editor, you want to make sure the word-wrap feature is
   turned OFF.

   Or, you can download a more powerful text editor for FREE. TextPad is the one I use…just download the free evaluation
   version, which you can use on an unlimited basis:

2. Use Hard Returns

   Since different email programs wordwrap sentences
   differently, you…

   • ALWAYS want to format your document so there are no more
     than 60 characters in each line. (A character is a
     letter, a number, a punctuation mark, or a space.)

   • When you get to the end of each line, insert a hard
     return by hitting the "ENTER" key…this will return you
     to the margin on the next line.

Once you have written your autoresponder messages using
the text editor, you can then copy and paste your properly
formatted messages into your autoresponder system…with
the full assurance that your messages will arrive in each
reader's inbox in correct format.

— Holly Cotter