DKGSI

Attachments vs Hyperlinks: How do you send your state/chapter newsletters?

More and more states and chapters are getting their newsletters to their members by using hyperlinks rather than attachments. In either case, using a PDF file is preferred because a PDF uses less memory and can be opened by anyone.

The Problems with Attachments

• Attachments can raise flags by both spam filters and recipients because attachments are viewed with suspicion.
• Attachments have file size limits. While it is still best to keep file sizes small, many quality images in a newsletter can make the file quite large. An old rule of thumb is to limit files to 10 MB, but that is becoming less practical.
• Attachments can use up a lot of storage in the email account. Some email accounts will bounce a message if the storage is full, preventing the message from getting through to the intended recipient.

Advantages of Using Hyperlinks

• Providing a link eliminates the issues of spam filters and file sizes.
• You can link to a cloud service such as Dropbox or a page on your website.
• Sending members to your website may encourage them to look at other pages on the site.
• Sharing via Dropbox allows you to track who has accessed the file.
• Should you catch an error and edit a file, the link will always be to the latest version.