Preview or Preheader text
This is the text that follows the subject line in most email client inboxes. Preview text sounds like exactly what it is – a text preview of the content inside the email. Use it to provide a short, to-the-point synopsis of what you’re communicating (keep it to 50 characters or less).
When you don’t set the preview text, the client will automatically pull text from the body of your email, which not only looks messy, but is also a wasted opportunity to engage your audience.
Sample code
Best Practices
- Limit preheader messages to 85-100 characters.
- Test preheader content by viewing it in multiple email clients for an idea of how many characters recipients see.
- Test the email and preheader on mobile devices by viewing your content in traditional vertical view and horizontal view.
- If the text for the preheader is visible like in Lotus Notes, try setting the font-size to 1px or changing the color of the text to the same color as the background.
Helpful Suggestion:
Simplify the creation of your preheader by setting the content as your table of contents for your articles. Many email programs allow you to do this easily.