| Plain Text
The advantage of Plain-Text is that, it can be read by all recipients, the message file size is small and faster to send.
Recommended further reading.
The disadvantage is that you can't make it
look as appealing as fruits salad, but... a professional and pleasing to read
quality plain-text message can still be crafted... see sample below.
 Use plenty of white space to help the reader focus
Use heading and sub-heading to break up the text
Use short sentences and short paragraphs
Use text size 10-12 and auto wrap format at 65 characters per line.
Use dashes, asterisks etc. as separator for different sections of the message
You
can send a request for an ISSN number from the Library of Congress by sending
an email to issn @ loc.gov and
you need to attach a complete copy of your publication
Notes:
Text newsletter can also be prepared by using "Words for Windows" or any other
word processing software such as "Notepad, Wordpad" etc. set to 65 characters
per line, a freeware called Ezine Assistant is available at
www.ezineassistant.com
An
example of a plain-text message Vol.4 Issue No.26 -- July 2002
---------------------------------------- ~:~ M o r n i n g - D e l i g h t s ~:~
Dedicated to the art, skills and passion
involved in sharing knowledge online.
~:~:~:~:~:~:~:~:~:~:~:~:~:~:~:~:~:~:~:~:~
Today's Morning Delights is excerpt from:
Internet Tip of the Week by Bob Osgoodby
free subscription at
http://adv-marketing.com
U.S. Library of
Congress ISSN: #1522-1660
Internet Tip of the Day
by Bob Osgoodby
******************
RED FLAGS
Most of us think of hype as exaggerated or extravagant claims, made especially in advertising or promotional material. Sometimes it is deceptive and deliberately misleading. While we have become a bit immune to this through constant exposure, it always seems that someone comes up with a fresh approach that is not immediately recognized. There are a number of "Red Flags" being raised.
Con artists have been around since the beginning of time, and are always willing to take advantage of another "hot prospect". But every scam has "red flags" and a little common sense should prevail so you do not fall prey to them. Let's examine a few we get by email everyday. <><><><><><><><><><><> VACATION
"Complimentary Vacation Package" - this one has been around a long time, but has now found its way to the web. It starts off with "Congratulations! You will be our guest in Orlando, Florida, home of Walt Disney World, for 4 days and 3 nights. All compliments of Major Vacation Resort Developers." Reading it, you might feel you have won a contest. In actuality, this is not the case. It is a high pressure sales campaign designed to sell you a "timeshare" vacation package.
Another variation promises deeply discounted vacation packages. You pay for a package that seems great on the surface, but in reality is either third rate accommodations or doesn't exist at all.
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If you are not receiving the "Tip of the Day", go to our
website: http://adv-marketing.com/business/subscribe2.htm
and sign up today.
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WINNER
"Guaranteed Winner" - they state - "You're going to get one of these top five prizes, guaranteed!" In this scam you normally send some information, and either return it by email or fill out a form on a web site. They require that you supply your telephone number to be eligible. You will then be contacted by a telemarketer who confirms that you have been chosen for one of the five "valuable" prizes; however, you must pay a processing fee for handling, customs duties or taxes, and you must send a check or money order to them by overnight mail. The prize usually winds up being small trinkets of minimal value, discount coupons or vouchers, worth far less than what you paid. Or, you might receive an e-mail informing you that your order has been received and processed, and your credit card will be billed for the charges. The trouble is, you haven't ordered anything. They contacted you using bulk email, using inactive return addresses which prevent you from refuting the orders by email. They do provide a telephone number in the area code 767, which is actually in the West Indies. They try to keep callers on the line as long as possible, and you are reportedly billed as much as $25 per minute. Be aware that your local telephone company may bill for services provided by other companies, and not be able to provide you relief. <><><><><><> STOLEN MONEY
Another current scam floating about the web offers you a cut of stolen money from Nigeria that was stolen and they need your help getting the money out of the country. They of course want a cut of the money that they claim will be wired to your personal bank account. You of course are expected to pay them their share up front. The money however never arrives in your bank. <><><><><><> MEGA$NETS
One group sends hundreds of thousands of unsolicited emails to people directing them to web sites promoting the Mega$Nets and MegaResource programs. When you visit one of their web sites you can download copies of the software program which contains a list of five names and addresses. The software program and web sites direct you to send twenty dollars to each of five people listed in the software in order for you to get yourself placed at the top of the list of names. This is simply a variation of the old fashioned chain letter. Actually, there are a lot of chain letters floating about the web and all should be avoided.
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Subscribers to Bob Osgoodby's Free Ezine
"Tip of the Day" and get a Free Ad for your Business at
this Site: http://adv-marketing.com/business/subscribe2.htm
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CREDIT CARD
Another email promises guaranteed Credit Card approval! One group offered Visa cards to the credit-challenged "to put you back in the mainstream of financial life in high style" at an interest rate of only 4.9%. How? Through the magic of using offshore banks in tax haven countries. There is however a $100 processing fee and $25 per month charge regardless of use.
<><><><><><> WHO'Ss WHO
Some people really believe that they have been selected to be in the Internet Version of "Who's Who". This one started years ago and was sent to every company executive in the country - They will include your listing at no charge - oh, would you like a copy? "Send $98 to us and it will be delivered to your doorstep." <><><><><><> MAKE MILLIONS
There is no way to adequately cover all the scams that permeate the web. Before jumping into any of these "make a million while you sleep" plans, use a little "due diligence" and check them out. If you see any of these "Red Flags", run, don't walk to your nearest delete button. The money you save will be your own.
<><><><><><>
That's it for now - have a Great Week
Best Wishes
Bob - bob @ adv-marketing.com
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We hope you enjoy our weekly Newsletter. If you have a favorite "Tip" that
would be of interest to our subscribers or an article that would be of
interest, please send it to:
articles @ adv-marketing.com Subscribe to Bob Osgoodby's Free Ezine the "Tip of the Day" at:
http://adv-marketing.com/business/subscribe2.htm
and get a Free Ad for your Business at his Web Site? Great Business and Computer Tips - Monday thru Friday.
We respect your privacy, and will not make your email address known to anyone,
for any reason. Remove instructions are at the end of each Newsletter.
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Recommended further reading...
Email marketing tips:
Online Ads Sell
Hyper Text Markup Language HTML is the authoring language used to create
documents on the World Wide Web. It is a non-proprietary format based on
SGML and can be created and processed by a wide range of tools, from simple
plain text editors--type it in from scratch--to sophisticated WYSIWYG
authoring tools like: MS FrontPage or Macromedia Dream Weaver.
HTTP is described and standardized in rfc 1945
http://sunsite.org.uk/rfc/rfc1945.txt
Although HTML was originally designed for web browsers; it didn't take long for software manufactures to incorporate the same technology into their email programs.
HTML is designed to specify the logical
organization of a document, with important hypertext extensions and could be
viewed by much different reader of different abilities, for example: Microsoft
Explorer or Netscape Navigator "Browser" or "email client" like: MS Outlook
Express and Eudora.
Therefore, if your email client ie: MS Outlook Express is HTML enabled, anyone can email an entire webpage to you and it will display exactly the way it looks like on the web. You can also click on a link in the page to launch your web browser and go directly to that site (if you are online).
HTML defines the structure and layout of
a Web document by using a variety of tags and attributes that starts with <HTML><HEAD></HEAD><BODY> and ends with </BODY></HTML>. All the
information you'd like to include in your Web page fits in between the <BODY>
and </BODY> tags.
There are hundreds of other
tags used to format and layout information in a Web page. For instance,
<P> is used to make paragraphs and <I> … </I>is used to italicize fonts. Tags
are also used to specify hypertext links (normally underlined text in
blue)--that direct users to other Web pages with a mouse "click".
To create HTML webpage and email without having to learn Hypertext Markup Language, free software are available for download from; 1st Page at
www.evrsoft.com or
Netscape Composer - utility of Netscape Navigator browser.
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