Composing a bulk Email.

The body of your email is composed in the big space under the FCKeditor (the tool bar with icons that look similar to Word) For help using the FCKeditor click here.

The best way to keep your HTML email in the correct format, is to start off using a table. To insert a table, click on the insert table icon , and on the menu that appears, decide how many rows and columns you want.

Set the size of the table to be between 600 and 700 pixels, and please remember that if you have a banner as a header or a footer that you want to put into the mailer - make the table the same size as your top banner. If you make it bigger, the text and rest of your mail will go further than the banner to the full width of the table.

The "#firstname#" is a command for the system to automatically fill in the first names of the contacts added to this email, personalising each one. There are list of other fields provided at the bottom of the page, for example #surname#. These can just be copied and pasted into the email body where needed. Remember to make sure that the fields you want the system to complete have information in them, otherwise they will be left blank.

VERY IMPORTANT: There is often confusion around the difference between the from and reply to address and the name field.

• From Address: This is the address that will appear as the address that the mail was sent from. This is also the address that all bouncebacks will go to. This means out of office replies and failed delivery messages. If you do not want the bouncebacks to come into your own inbox, then you need to change this From address. Please do make it an address that you will check, as working through the bouncebacks and sorting them out is a very important part of maintaining your database.
• There is a space between the From link and from address that has space to put your name in it. You can also change this to read the companies name, or anything else. This name will appear before the from address at the top of the mail. To easily add your name and email address, simply click on the From link.




• Reply-to: The reply to address is the address that mail will be sent to if the recipient responds. So if they have received the mail, and click on Reply - that reply email will be sent to this address.

Remember to put in the subject of your mail. Try to avoid marketing type wording, as this is often picked up as spam. Also avoid lots of exclamation marks.

Once you have composed your email click the "Preview" button at the top of the page.

Any contacts who have incorrect email addresses, no email addresses or have been unsubscribed from the database will appear in the "Error" box.

If you wish to go back to change the email click the "Back to compose" button. If you are happy with how the email looks, click the "send" button at the top of the page.

NB: Please remember to test your bulk mails on a group of users or colleagues first. Once you have clicked Send there is no way to stop the mail send or recall the messages.