wsg  

Re: [WSG] e-mail link

David Dorward
Tue, 02 Feb 2010 02:25:46 -0800

On 2 Feb 2010, at 09:54, Paul Novitski wrote:
> Another problem with using mailto is that it assumes that the website 
> visitor's browser can find an email client on their computer.

> One of the most common solutions is instead use a contact form

However, contact forms are much less usable then email clients (lacking 
features such as "CC to someone else" and "Save a copy to my sent items"). 

I'd recommend

* Use a regular email link
* Use the email address as the link text 
** Benefits printing
** Makes it obvious that it is a mailto: link and not a link to a contact page
** Allows copy/paste (for users not aware of "Copy email address" features on 
web browser context menus
* Use a form for users who prefer it or don't have access to an email client 
(including webmail)

-- 
David Dorward
http://dorward.me.uk



*******************************************************************
List Guidelines: http://webstandardsgroup.org/mail/guidelines.cfm
Unsubscribe: http://webstandardsgroup.org/join/unsubscribe.cfm
Help: memberh...@webstandardsgroup.org
*******************************************************************