Using Images in Emails? Read This!

Published: Thu, 08/01/24

Updated: Thu, 08/01/24

Image showing an email from a Sushi blog made up entirely out of images with a high complaint rate of 0.3% and a low open rate of 14%.

Hi there friend,

I’m gonna take things way back. During my senior year of high school, I served as the entertainment editor for our school magazine. For my fellow Gilmore Girls fans out there, I felt like Rory writing and editing for her school’s newspaper, The Franklin (minus the uniforms and a character like Paris out to make my life miserable).

Unfortunately, in my very first issue, I learned an incredibly important lesson the super hard way. 🫠

I designed the entertainment page, which incorporated several images of movies and TV shows that we reviewed that month. I was so happy with how everything turned out—but that happiness turned into utter dismay when we received our copies from the printer. All of the images on the entertainment page were missing.

I rushed to check my InDesign file. Sure enough, I had neglected to embed the images before sending it to the printer. The page looked incomplete and unprofessional, with tiny image icons and alt text where so many awesome images should have been.

This experience is similar to what happens when images get turned off in emails. Just like how my entertainment page looked incomplete (and, IMO, silly) without its images, your marketing emails can look odd if images don't load, especially if your email is image heavy, or worse, image only.

Image of two image-heavy email with the images turned off.

🫣 The Problems with Image-Heavy Emails

Loading Issues: Image-heavy emails can take longer to load, especially on mobile devices or slower internet connections, leading to frustrated recipients who may abandon your email before it fully loads.
Accessibility: Many email clients block images by default, which means your message might not be conveyed as intended. Without proper alt text, your recipients might miss out on key information.
Deliverability: Emails that contain a high ratio of images to text are often flagged by spam filters, reducing your chances of reaching the inbox.

🖼️ Best Practices for Using Images in Emails

Balance Content: Ensure a good mix of images and text. This not only makes your email more readable, it also improves deliverability.
Use Alt Text: Always add descriptive alt text to your images. This ensures that your message gets across even if the images don't load.
Optimize Image Size: Compress your images to reduce loading times without sacrificing quality. This enhances the user experience and keeps your audience engaged. A good rule of thumb is to keep your images under 200KB. In AWeber, we help optimize your images to ensure they will display properly in most mail clients!

Why AWeber's Templates are the Perfect Solution

At AWeber, we understand the importance of balancing visual appeal with functionality. Our email templates are designed to provide a harmonious mix of images and text, ensuring your emails are not only beautiful but also effective and accessible.

With our templates, you can:

Easily Customize: Personalize your emails to reflect your brand while maintaining a professional look.
Ensure Compatibility: Our templates are mobile-responsive and optimized for all devices and email clients.
Enhance Engagement: By following best practices embedded in our designs, you can improve your email performance and engagement rates.

Experiment with our templates and see how a balanced approach can enhance your email marketing efforts.

This Week’s Challenge

Are the emails you send regularly image heavy or image only? This week, look for ways you can reduce the number of images in your emails.

If you already have a good balance of images and text, take some time this week to check the file size of your images. Are they under 200KB? In the AWeber message editor, double check that the optimized option is selected in the image panel.

And make sure that all of your images have alt text!

What did you think of this email?

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

💔 I didn't really care for it.

Get Templates Designed Just for You!

Our custom email and landing page templates are designed to perfectly match your brand and captivate your audience. Each template is uniquely crafted to reflect your brand’s identity by incorporating your brand colors, logos, and fonts for a cohesive look.

Image showing a custom email and landing page template for a food blogger.

Our expert designers create templates that are both beautiful and functional, saving you time so you can focus on growing your business.

Our award-winning customer support team is always available to help whenever you need it. Learn more about our custom templates and see how AWeber can help you create stunning emails that drive results.

✨ Schedule a free consultation with our design team! ✨