Why Do I See Red X's?

Why do I see red X's in my HTML email, instead of seeing the actual images?

Images for an HTML email are typically stored on an external Web server. The email itself usually contains hidden links to allow those external images to be displayed in the email.

However, many of the newer email clients will, by default, prevent images from being displayed within the HTML email. In the latest version of Microsoft Outlook and some other email clients, instead of showing the actual image, Outlook will instead display a red X and a request to choose whether or not to display the actual image. (However, there are ways to disable this function in Outlook so that all images are displayed by default.)

These red X's appear because Microsoft and other email software companies recognize that some email deployment companies include invisible images within the HTML as a way to track who is receiving and opening the email. ThinkSend uses this technique to help our clients track their email marketing campaigns, but it can also be used by spammers - and this is what they "red X" feature is meant to prevent.

There is no technical way to get around this issue. You can only advise your recipients to allow images to be displayed either by default or for each individual email.

• For more information on this issue as it relates to Outlook 2003, click here.
• For more information about how this issue relates to Outlook Express, click here.

Can I use something instead of an image in my email?

ThinkSend will include an ALT tag with each image in your email campaign. ALT tags are hidden text tags that describe the image. Some email clients will display this ALT tag text when images are prevented from being displayed by default. However, please note that many email clients do not display ALT text as an option.