How to send HTML email using Microsoft Outlook or Windows Live Mail

Few days ago, I had to send an html email with a fairly complex structure and with few images and backgrounds. I composed the html of it but when I was about to send it, I came to know that Microsoft Outlook, Express or Windows Live Mail (that’s what I use) doesn’t give any facility to this. It was quite surprising for me. I didn’t find any easy solution to it by searching on internet. Wise men say that create a way if you don’t find any.

As you may know, Windows Live Mail supports including HTML signatures and we can import external html files as well. This is what I incorporated.

Please follow the steps below:

Step 1: Compose the email

Compose the email in html. Read more information and guidelines on composing html emails here.

1. Create new html file and compose it according to your requirements
2. Save it as an html file on your computer (emailtemplate.html in our case)

This is how our email looks in design view. I used few <p>, <strong> , <img> and <table> tags for instance.

Step 2: Create new Signature

In your Windows Live Mail(Or Outlook)

1. Go to Tools > Options
2. Go to Signatures tab
3. Press New Button
4. Select File
5. And browse the HTML file that you just created.

Step 3:  Insert in your email

1. Compose new email
2. From Signatures drop down
3. Select the latest signature that you just created (HTML Email in our case)

Feel free to comment if you need more help!