What software do I need for an email newsletter? Should I create it in a word processor or email program? Which email program should I use? Those questions came from a visitor to
Manager's Guide to Newsletters website. She planned to start an email newsletter that would go to parents of students at her school and wanted to know about software she would need.
In response, we'll look at these two important questions for newsletter publishers.
Word processor or email program? This can be one of simpler issues, at least if your mailing list is not too large at start-up. You can write your newsletter in any email program, or any word processor that allows you to save your work as plain text (ASCII). Most writers prefer to use a word processing program for at least first draft, since it provides more text manipulation features and saving options.
Once you've written, rewritten, spellchecked, and proofread your newsletter in word processor, copy and paste it into body of your email program (we'll discuss how to handle that text in next article in this series).
Of course, you'll need an email program of some kind to send out your newsletter, regardless of where you wrote it. Among email programs, check both those stand-alone programs and those integrated with browsers.
The most common program is Outlook Express, which comes bundled with Internet Explorer, and that in turn comes bundled with Windows. But, don't overlook possibilities in Netscape and Opera suites. In addition, there's also a new challenger, Mozilla Thunderbird, which is associated with Firefox browser.
Turning to stand-alone email programs, take a look at Eudora (which offers an advertising-supported version and a version you can buy). It has a solid reputation among many email newsletter publishers, and I consider it best all-purpose email client for my PC (however, I don't like it on my Mac, where I use built-in program, Mail).
