Web-version

An email web-version is a link recipients can find in an email and seamlessly view its content in a web browser. It’s usually placed at the top of an email and allows users to open even those emails that don’t load properly in subscribers’ inboxes.

In this article, we’ll explain why it’s essential to add a web-version and share some best practices for including a web-version link.

Why is it important to add a web-version?

When you have a web-version of your email campaigns, you ensure recipients can open and explore your content under different circumstances. For example, if your email provider has trouble with displaying your emails or specific elements, such as visuals or call-to-action buttons, subscribers will still have a chance to view the content using a web-version. They can usually find the link at the top of your emails. Below, you’ll find some more crucial reasons to add a web-version to your email campaigns.

• Better user experience. When subscribers can’t load your email or some elements are missing, they will probably delete it. However, providing a web-version of your email ensures that recipients can explore your content regardless of the issues that emerge when they use their inboxes. With a web-version, you’ll avoid any kind of frustration and provide an excellent user experience.
• Easily shareable. Since a web-version typically includes a shareable URL, your subscribers can easily share information about your special offers, exclusive deals, and product launches with their friends and family. This enables them to become your free brand advocates and helps establish broader brand awareness. This is particularly beneficial for events where experts share their knowledge and skills. To encourage sharing, you can add a special button.
• Minimum problems with spam filters and image blocking. When you send promotional messages to your target audience via email, email clients may block certain elements of the message. These elements include images, links, and formatting. As a result, your emails may appear incomplete and unclear to users. However, by providing a web-version, you ensure that all images and external content will be visible, allowing subscribers to view the complete message.

Now that you know why it’s essential to provide users with a web-version of your emails, let’s discover some working best practices that will help you add a web-version link properly.

6 Best Practices for Adding a Web-Version Link

When you add a web-version to each of your email campaigns, you ensure that the content you share gets to the intended recipients in its full format. However, to do everything right and get satisfied subscribers, you need to know some tips on adding your web-version link right. So, let’s explore.

1. Place your link at the top of your emails. The ideal place for your web-version link is at the top of your email campaigns. This makes it easy and quick for subscribers to find in case they encounter any inconvenience or issues with your emails in their inboxes. By doing this, recipients can immediately find a solution by clicking on the link.
2. Use a permanent URL. Consider using your email marketing platform or your company’s site to host the web-versions of your emails. When you provide a permanent link, users can access information anytime they choose, even when your email campaigns have already ended. Besides, your link enables you to monitor engagement and monitor the number of clicks. This information may become valuable when you evaluate the quality of your emails and identify potential issues with their display.
3. Make it mobile-responsive. An increasing number of people prefer smartphones to laptops for checking their inboxes. This is the primary reason you should make your emails and their web-versions mobile-friendly. While developing your web-version, keep in mind navigation, layout, formatting, and call-to-action buttons that are well-suited for the small screens of your subscribers’ smartphones. In addition to creating mobile and desktop versions, consider testing both to ensure that fonts, buttons, and layouts appear appealing.
4. Ensure that every element functions properly. Check the web-version of your emails for the following elements: images, links, buttons, formatting, and layout. They should all function correctly and match what you have in your email. You can test the web-version using different browsers and devices to see if it appears good or if there are issues that need fixing.
5. Adjust its elements to be relevant. Unlike emails, your web-version doesn’t need to include an unsubscribe button or an email footer. However, it’s a good idea to add a social sharing button so users can easily share the information with their friends. Additionally, a link to your website's homepage would be suitable.
6. Test your web-version before making it visible to users. Before sending any email campaigns, test everything thoroughly. Send emails to your inbox as well as to your colleagues' inboxes. This will help you assess whether all the content and email elements display correctly. Also, use different browsers to open your web-version and see how it looks. Check your emails and their web-versions for broken links, slow-loading images, and layout issues, and fix any problems before sending these emails to users.

Overall, the web-version prevents users from having a negative experience with your brand if the email client has issues with your content. It enables you to display all the information you need and communicate with your target audience without any obstacles related to some email elements. Providing a web-version of your emails is a must if you want happy customers and a positive brand image.

Last Updated: 20.02.2025