Embedding images in marketing emails is a simple but effective way to make your content stand out to subscribers. That’s why it’s generally considered one of the more important email marketing best practices. Email marketing images can dynamically display products, share information (in the form of infographics), and reinforce your brand, among other uses.
However, you need to be certain an email image serves its intended purpose, and is displayed clearly in the email itself. That means you need to ask yourself certain questions regarding how to embed an image in an email.
Always verify your email lists before sending to make sure you not only avoid sending out a broken email, but also that your use of images in email delivers the highest possible return on investment, ask yourself these key questions:
1) What is the Best Practice for Email Image Size?
The first thing to understand when learning how to embed images in email is that you want them to be high quality. This is key to making the best possible impression on your subscribers. A fuzzy or blurry image will simply make you look unprofessional.
On the other hand, if the file size is too large, it may cause your email to load slowly. Thus, making sure your image files aren’t greater than 1 MB is an email image size best practice you should always adhere to.
2) How Do My Subscribers Check Email, and How Can I Format My Email Image for That Device?
Consider what devices your followers typically use to check email when embedding an email marketing image. Surveys indicate most people now check emails on mobile devices. That means they’re going to be viewing emails on small screens.
This should impact how you format them, as well as the type of email images you embed. For example, if you were to include a text-heavy infographic with small font sizes for mobile, it may be difficult for a subscriber to consume the information.
Additionally, cluttering the email with too many large images can overwhelm a reader using a mobile device. Research how your followers generally check their inboxes before you insert an image into an email.
3) What Type Of File Should I Use When Embedding Images In Email?
Different file types offer different benefits when it comes to an email marketing image. For example, a JPEG is fairly compressed. It allows you to avoid unintentionally causing slow load times when embedding an image in an email. However, JPEGs are not the highest-quality images. They’re effective for photographs, but not for infographics or other email images that may feature text you want subscribers to read.
Embedding an image in email as a PNG file is a better choice in those instances. You might also want to use a PNG if the image features strong, dynamic colors.
4) Will My Email Marketing Image Show Up?
It’s a simple question, but one you don’t want to overlook! Not all email clients reliably load images. That’s why it’s a good idea to check your emails on a variety of popular email platforms (research which platforms your subscribers use so you know what to focus on) before sending them. If your email marketing images aren’t loading, you may need to adjust your file size first.
Again, there are many reasons why embedding an image in email can benefit your business, including the fact that it’s part of email marketing best practices. You just need to make sure that you’re leveraging images to their full potential. Asking yourself these questions before you insert images into email will ensure that you do.