You CAN read this email

Published: Thu, 12/14/23

Hi there friend,

I’m about to write the most obvious thing I’ve probably ever written in this newsletter. It’s important that your readers can actually read your newsletter.

I recently read a great blog post that made me want more from that author. So I found their newsletter and signed up.

I was looking forward to the first email, so when I saw it hit my inbox, I was like a kid on Christmas (a very boring kid on Christmas). But when I opened it, it was practically unreadable. The text was too small, it was squished up against the edges of my email client window, and it just looked like a mess. It’s like I asked Santa for a Nintendo 64 and got a new bath towel set.

So I didn’t read it.

Like I said, it’s really important that your readers can actually read your email. We build templates and design tools people use to send billions of emails every month, and I have a few important readability tips to help you in your own messages.

🔍 Don’t make your readers squint

Keep your font size at at least 16px. This is not just about style; it's about making your content comfortably readable for everyone. No more squinting or zooming in!

This text is 12px. It’s too small for many people to comfortably read.
This text is 16px. This is a good size for most people to comfortably read.

📖 Break down your message into manageable paragraphs

In his Saturday Night Live monologue, Nate Bergatze joked about how he doesn’t read books because “every book is just the most words, [they don’t] let up.”

There’s a lesson hidden in there. Large blocks of text can be overwhelming. Break your content into shorter paragraphs. It makes your email more digestible and keeps your readers engaged!

A comparison of an email with very tight spacing (that looks bad) vs one with more spacing (that looks good).

🔖 Guide your reader with headings

(Headings like this one 👆)

Use headings to break your email into related parts to make it easier for readers to consume. This not only organizes content; it helps guide your readers through the story you’re telling. Headings provide a roadmap, making your email easier to navigate and scan for the information a reader is most interested in.

🌈 Make sure your text color is high enough contrast

Ensure your text color contrasts well with the background. People shouldn’t have to work to be able to interpret the words in your email.

But here's a twist - avoid using true black. Why? It's easier on the eyes and reduces strain. Aim for a dark gray that's soft yet clear.

My favorite trick here is to add the tiniest bit of red or blue to your text color (something like the color code #19334c or #3f2941). Most shadows in the real world have a little bit of color from the world around them, so adding just the slightest hint of color makes them feel more real.

This text is too low contrast. It could be very difficult to read.
This text is a great contrast.
This text is too high contrast. Enough of it could cause eye strain.

🕊️ Let your content breathe

White space is the space around text or graphics. But it’s not just empty space; it's a crucial design element that enhances readability and focus.

Use appropriate line height (I prefer 1.5) and padding around your content so it doesn’t squish up against the edges of your readers email client or device. This is especially important to make sure your emails read well on phones and other small screen devices.

A graphic showing a big block of text (that looks bad) compared to that same text broken up into multiple paragraphs (good).

🔗 Don’t make readers guess where links go

Make sure your links and buttons are descriptive. Instead of vague phrases like "click here," use specific labels that tell your reader exactly where they'll go.

Link up text in your paragraphs (see what I did there) when possible so folks can follow the train of things that interest them in the moment.

By incorporating these tips, you're not just sending emails – you're creating a comfortable and engaging reading experience for your audience.

So get to it!

What did you think of this email?

❤️❤️❤️ Loved it. Can't wait to get the next one.

💔 I didn't really care for it.

Keep your emails consistently readable and beautiful with just a few clicks

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