[Mailman-Users] An interesting statistic.

[Chuq Von Rospach]

I thought people might find these numbers interesting.

One of my servers sends out newsletters. Those newsletters are 
avilable both in HTML format and text format -- users can subscribe 
for whichever they prefer, although HTML is the default. Because of 
limitations in the AOL clients, we force AOL.com addresses to the 
text version.

I think this list gives a good indication of acceptance of HTML email.

My numbers:

HTML: 85.4%
AOL:  12.9%
Text:  1.5%

In other words -- given a choice, only 1.5% of subscribers choose 
text-only. I can't disclose the size of the subscriber base, but the 
list is in the seven digit world (greater than 1 million, less than 
ten) and has been around long enough that the subscriber base is 
stable.

Something for the "text is king" email people to think about... It's 
pretty clear that MIME and/or HTML acceptance is beyond endemic in 
the general public.

(and if 13% of the general subscriber base is AOL, the "AOL can go to 
hell" groups are hurting only themselves, too...

Anyway, the data is data. The rest is IMHO.

-- 
Chuq Von Rospach - Plaidworks Consulting (mailto:chuqui at plaidworks.com)
Apple Mail List Gnome (mailto:chuq at apple.com)

Be just, and fear not.