What is Email Specific CSS?
Email specific CSS refers to the
Cascading Style Sheets that are used to style HTML emails. Unlike regular web CSS, email CSS must adhere to stricter guidelines and limitations due to the varied support across different email clients.
Why is Email Specific CSS Important?
Using email specific CSS ensures that your emails render correctly across a multitude of
email clients and devices. This can significantly impact the
user experience, engagement rates, and ultimately, the success of your email marketing campaigns.
Common Challenges with Email CSS
One of the primary challenges is the inconsistent support for CSS properties across different email clients. For instance, Gmail and Outlook have vastly different levels of support for CSS, which can make it challenging to create a
uniform experience. Another issue is the limited support for modern CSS techniques like flexbox and grid.
Inline CSS vs. Embedded CSS
In the context of email marketing,
inline CSS is often preferred over embedded CSS. Inline CSS involves placing style attributes directly within HTML tags, which is generally better supported by email clients. However, embedded CSS, which involves placing styles within <style> tags in the <head> section, can be useful for more complex styling but is not universally supported.
Best Practices for Using CSS in Emails
Here are some best practices to follow: Keep it simple: Use basic CSS properties and avoid advanced techniques.
Test extensively: Use tools like
Litmus or
Email on Acid to test your email across different clients and devices.
Fallbacks: Provide fallback styles for email clients that do not support certain CSS properties.
Use tables: For complex layouts, consider using HTML tables as they are better supported.
Limit external resources: Many email clients block external CSS and images by default, so inline your CSS and embed images when possible.
Commonly Supported CSS Properties
While support varies, these CSS properties are generally safe to use: Font-family
Font-size
Color
Background-color
Margin and padding
Border
Width and height
Tools and Resources
There are several tools available to help you with email specific CSS: Premailer: Converts your embedded CSS to inline.
MJML: A framework that simplifies responsive email design.
Can I email: A resource for checking CSS support in different email clients.
Conclusion
While using CSS in email marketing comes with its own set of challenges, adhering to best practices and leveraging the right tools can help you overcome these obstacles. By focusing on
compatibility and testing, you can create visually appealing and effective email campaigns.