Help Desk - Send HTML emails using the Outlook for Windows desktop client
The Outlook email client does not natively provide the option to create HTML emails. However, the email client does offer the option to insert HTML code into the message body and render the code into visual content that can be emailed to your Office 365 Group or Google Group.
The tips below are intended for casual, informal emails such as interdepartmental newsletters, announcements, etc.
If you would like access to more marketing email features (i.e., click rate, email editor design), you may want to consider using Eloqua instead.
What you'll need
- Outlook for Windows desktop client.
- Basic knowledge of HTML/CSS, existing HTML file, or a pre-formatted HTML template.
- Office 365 Group (ex: buckyteam@office365.wisc.edu) or Google Group (ex: buckyteam@g-groups.wisc.edu).
Steps
- Create an HTML template, use existing HTML code, or search for a pre-formatted HTML template.
- Insert the HTML file into your Outlook email message.
- (Optional) Send a test HTML message and improve, if needed.
- Send the final version of your HTML message to your Office 365 Group or Google Group .
Limitations
Below are some of the limitations you may encounter when sending HTML messages using the Outlook for Windows desktop client:
While you have the option to insert HTML files into your email message, that does not guarantee the message will render for all email clients (ex: Eudora, Thunderbird, Gmail, iOS mail, etc). You are encouraged to check the markup of your HTML message before sending it to your email group.
Outlook does not provide robust marketing email features that tend to come with services such as MailChimp, Eloqua, Constant Contact, etc.
Resources
Internal
- UW-Madison G Suite - Getting started with Google Groups
- UW-Madison Office 365 - Getting started with Office 365 Groups
- UW-Madison Office 365 - Download/Install Office
- Eloqua Marketing Automation KnowledgeBase
External
- Guide on how to create an HTML Email
- Email newsletter tools
- HTML Email Check (check the markup of your HTML email)
Support
If you are experiencing issues with your Outlook email client, please contact the DoIT Help Desk.