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Creating a Clipstream™ Video powered HTML mail Step 4

Step 4. Incorporating non-HTML or non-Java email properties
Make sure all mail recipients get a message and are given the choice to see the Clipstream™ Video video by creating separate versions of the email:

  • Create an error image .jpg or .gif that shows up if the recipient's HTML-enabled email client does not have Java enabled. This image includes a message that urges them to click on a link to a duplicate HTML page of the HTML email with the Clipstream™ Video accessible by the recipient's web browser and allows the page design to stay intact.
  • (optional) Create a pure text version of your email including links to launch a duplicate HTML page of the HTML email with the Clipstream™ Video accessible by the recipient's web browser.
  • (optional) Create a duplicate of the HTML mail that resides on a web server that has the Clipstream™ Video.
  • (optional) Create a second error image .jpg or .gif that appears if the user's web browser is not Java enabled. This image includes a message that urges them to go to a help page that tells them how to enable Java in their web browser if they want to see the video.
  • (optional) Create a personalized help page that tells the user how to enable Java in their web browser and email client or direct them to see the Clipstream help page that tells them to do it..

Non-HTML email recipients
A small percentage of email clients are not HTML capable and an HTML mail will not appear correctly in those email viewers. To ensure that the recipient receives a message, you must create a multi-part email containing a text version of the email that your mailserver administrator sends out with the HTML mail. This means you must create a text version of your entire message where graphic text becomes standard formatted text, body text is formatted using indentations, etc.

Clipstream™ Video will not play in a text-only email. However, you can include web links in the text that point the recipient to click on them so that they can open up a page where the video resides. Include a message that tells the recipient that they can view a streaming video and then include the link to that page. Some people create a complete duplicate of their HTML mail that exists as web page that they urge the non-HTML email recipient to click to.

Non-Java email recipients
Some recipients with HTML capable email choose not to enable their Java or don't know how to enable it. This also includes email programs that currently do not directly support Java such as Hotmail and AOL email users. To accommodate these recipients, create a error image (.jpg or .gif) approximately the same size as the applet that appears if Java is not detected in their email client. This image should contain a message that tells them that if they wish to view a streaming video, they should click on the image. If they choose to do so, it will launch their web browser and open up a duplicate of the HTML mail that exists on a web server.

Include a code like this in the Clipstream™ Video applet code that appears anywhere before the end of the </applet>:

<a href="http://www.yourdomain.com/duplicate_of_the_html_mail.html">
          <img src="http://www.yourdomain.com/errorimage.jpg" border="0" alt="Click Here to view this cool Clipstream™  Video video email.">
</a>

An example is the image below:

Non-Java enabled web browsers
Some users will not have Java enabled in their browsers which will prevent Clipstream™ Video from playing (although all popular browsers come with Java enabled as a default). To get Clipstream™ Video to play you must give the user a choice to enable Java by sending them to a help page that contains information on how to do this.

A good example of this is the visitor help page on Clipstream.com. A good way of directing users to such a page is to include another error image (.jpg or .gif) that appears in place of the disabled applet in the same way as your created an error image for the non-Java HTML mail. This error image will have a slightly different message that tells the user to click on it to go to the visitor help page.

Include an image and link like this in the applet code in your duplicate HTML email page. Note: this image and link replaces the error image that you have in your actual HTML email that you sent out.

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