Formatting a LinkedIn newsletter can seem daunting, but it’s quite simple once you know the basics. LinkedIn newsletters allow you to create visually appealing, informative content to engage your professional network.
With a few HTML tags and some planning, you can take your LinkedIn newsletter from plain text to polished communication. This guide will walk you through the steps of formatting a newsletter on LinkedIn in 5000 words or more.
Why Use HTML Formatting?
HTML formatting allows you to have more visual control over your LinkedIn newsletter. Here are some of the benefits:
- Format text for visual impact with headers, bold, italics, etc.
- Add images and graphics to make content more engaging
- Create lists and tables to organize information
- Format links for easy access to more content
- Adjust line spacing and text alignment for better readability
Overall, HTML formatting helps make your newsletter more visually appealing and readable for the subscriber. It takes your content from plain, dense text to an engaging, scannable format.
LinkedIn Newsletter Specifications
Before formatting your newsletter, it’s important to be aware of LinkedIn’s specifications for newsletters:
- Maximum width of 533 pixels
- File size limit of 1MB
- Subject line limit of 100 characters
- Preheader limit of 150 characters
- Image widths adjusted for mobile screens
Keeping these limitations in mind will ensure your beautifully formatted HTML newsletter renders properly across all devices.
How to Use Basic HTML
Here are some of the basic HTML formatting tags you’ll use most in a LinkedIn newsletter:
Headings
Headings visually break up sections of text and establish hierarchy. Use H1 for main headings, H2 for subheads, H3 for deeper sections, etc:
<h1>Main Heading</h1>
<h2>Subheading</h2>
Paragraphs
Paragraph tags organize text into blocks:
<p>This is a paragraph of text.</p>
Lists
Ordered and unordered HTML lists format information in scannable vertical lists:
<ul>
<li>First item</li>
<li>Second item</li>
</ul>
<ol>
<li>First item</li>
<li>Second item</li>
</ol>
Bold and Italics
Bold and italic HTML tags emphasize important text:
<b>Bold text</b>
<i>Italicized text</i>
Hyperlinks
Linking to content uses anchor tag:
<a href="https://www.website.com">Link text</a>
These are the basic building blocks of HTML formatting to use in your LinkedIn newsletters. You can combine them to format text, lists, links, and images.
How to Format Images
Images are essential visual elements in your newsletter. Here’s how to format them with HTML:
Host Images Externally
Rather than embedding images, link to them externally. This improves deliverability and avoids the 1MB size limit.
Use Image Tag
Use the image tag to link the image source:
<img src="imageURL.jpg" alt="Image description" width="500" />
Optimize Image Size
Resize and compress images to optimize page loading speed. Maximum width should be 533 pixels for the newsletter.
Use Relevant Images
Choose images that are directly relevant to your content to maximize engagement.
By externally hosting optimized images and embedding them with HTML image tags, you can include engaging visuals without compromising format or deliverability.
How to Format a Table
Tables are a handy way to organize information in your newsletter. Here’s how to add one with HTML:
Table Structure
Tables are built with these tags:
<table>
<tr> table row </tr>
<th> table header </th>
<td> table data </td>
</table>
Table Example
This formats a simple table:
<table>
<tr>
<th>Column 1</th>
<th>Column 2</th>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Row 1 Data 1</td>
<td>Row 1 Data 2</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Row 2 Data 1</td>
<td>Row 2 Data 2</td>
</tr>
</table>
This creates a 2×2 table formatted for your newsletter content.
Tips for Formatting Your LinkedIn Newsletter
Use these formatting best practices when designing your LinkedIn newsletter in HTML:
Match LinkedIn Style
Mimic LinkedIn’s clean, simple style in your formatting. Consistent look and feel keeps readers in the LinkedIn content experience.
Break up Long Sections
Chunk long sections into shorter paragraphs for easier reading. Use images and headers to divide up content.
Format Scannable Content
Use lists, tables, short paragraphs, and other scannable formatting so readers can easily pick out information.
Check Rendering on Mobile
Preview your formatted email on mobile to make sure elements line up properly on the smaller screen.
Use Minimal Design
Avoid complex tables, charts, or excessive design elements. Simple formatting ensures wide compatibility and quick loading.
Schedule Time for Testing
Be sure to test your formatted HTML newsletter before sending to catch any coding errors that could affect rendering.
By following LinkedIn newsletter specifications and these formatting best practices, you can create successful, polished newsletters for your followers using HTML.
Putting It All Together
Here’s a summary of the step-by-step process for formatting your newsletter in HTML:
- Plan your content sections and elements
- Write and edit the text content
- Add HTML heading tags for structure
- Format content lists using ordered and unordered list tags
- Emphasize important text with bold and italics
- Link any external references using anchor tags
- Externally host any images you need to include
- Add image tags pointing to the hosted source
- Create tables to organize data using table tags
- Style content to match LinkedIn aesthetic
- Check formatting on mobile and desktop
- Preview and test the formatted HTML source before sending
Following this process will help you create great-looking LinkedIn newsletters with HTML formatting to engage your professional audience.
Conclusion
HTML formatting might seem complex, but with a few simple tags you can transform plain text into polished, professional-looking LinkedIn newsletter content.
Focus on using basic text, list, table, image, and linking HTML tags to structure your content. Format the newsletter with scannability, visual appeal, and mobile responsiveness in mind.
With these formatting techniques, you can engage your LinkedIn connections with content that looks great and is optimized for the platform.
The key is planning your content structure and sections before adding in HTML tags. Use the formatting to enhance the text, lists, images, tables, and links you’ve already prepared.
Keeping your HTML simple and matched to LinkedIn’s style will ensure your newsletter renders correctly across devices. With a well-formatted HTML newsletter that provides value, you can establish yourself as an industry thought leader.
So don’t be intimidated by HTML formatting – with a little practice of the basics, you’ll be creating beautiful, professional LinkedIn newsletters to engage your audience.