This community thread discusses the feature or improvement: HTML in notification emails for Google AdSense.
Feature Details
Is it possible to generate HTML notification emails?I'd like to put ads in them.
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HTML in APG vNext Notification Emails and AdSense Policy
Google AdSense policy prohibits placing AdSense ad code in emails. APG vNext's HTML notification emails must not include AdSense scripts or display ads. This thread clarifies what IS and isn't allowed in APG vNext notification emails and how to format the HTML correctly to avoid triggering AdSense policy alerts.
What Is Prohibited in Notification Emails
- AdSense ad unit code (
<ins class="adsbygoogle">) - Any JavaScript that loads ads
- Links to pages that are themselves iframes of ad content
What Is Allowed
- Links to your forum (which contains ads) - these are fine
- Your forum's logo and brand imagery
- Thread/post excerpts with "Read More" links
- Member avatars hosted on your server
- Text-based ads from non-Google ad networks (check your network's policy)
Correct Email Template Structure
<!-- /email-templates/new-reply.html -->
<!DOCTYPE html>
<html>
<head><title>New Reply Notification</title></head>
<body>
<img src="https://yourforum.com/assets/images/logo.png" alt="Logo" />
<h2>New Reply from {AuthorName}</h2>
<p>{PostExcerpt}</p>
<a href="{ReplyUrl}">Read the full reply</a>
<hr />
<p>
<a href="{UnsubscribeUrl}">Unsubscribe</a>
</p>
</body>
</html>Disabling HTML in Notifications to Avoid Risk
<add key="APG.Email.Format" value="PlainText" />
<!-- Plain text emails cannot contain ad code - eliminates the risk entirely -->Related Resources
Including AdSense Ads in HTML Forum Notification Emails
Google AdSense does not permit displaying AdSense ads inside HTML email messages — the AdSense Terms of Service explicitly prohibit embedding AdSense ad code in email. Any notification email that includes AdSense JavaScript code will not display ads (JavaScript does not execute in email clients) and may result in AdSense policy violations if Google detects the policy breach. APG vNext notification email templates should not include AdSense ad code. Instead, monetise notification emails through native advertising placements (text-based sponsored content sections styled to match the email design), affiliate links to relevant products, or a call-to-action to return to the forum where AdSense ads are displayed.
Email-Safe HTML Rendering
HTML in notification emails must follow email-specific HTML standards that differ significantly from web HTML. Email clients strip or ignore JavaScript, CSS animations, CSS Grid, CSS Flexbox, and many modern CSS properties. APG vNext's notification email templates use table-based HTML layouts with inline CSS that renders consistently across Gmail, Outlook, Apple Mail, Yahoo Mail, and other major email clients. When customising notification email templates in Admin Panel → Email → Templates, test the modified template in multiple email clients using a service like Litmus or Email on Acid before deploying to your member base. A template that renders well in a browser preview may render very differently in Outlook due to Outlook's use of Word's rendering engine rather than a standard browser engine.
Dynamic Content in Notification Emails
APG vNext notification email templates support dynamic content tokens that are replaced with member-specific or event-specific data when each email is generated. Available tokens include the member's display name, the thread title, the post excerpt, the forum name, a direct link to the thread, and the member's notification preferences URL. Use these tokens to create personalised, contextually relevant notification emails that feel targeted to the specific event rather than generic. Members are significantly more likely to click through notification emails that include the actual thread title and a relevant excerpt of the new reply they are being notified about than generic notifications that just say "you have a new reply."
Optimising Notification Email Click-Through Rates
Forum notification emails compete with every other email in a member's inbox for attention. Optimise click-through rates by ensuring the notification subject line communicates the specific value of opening the email (the thread title, the name of the person who replied, or a preview of the reply content) rather than using generic subject lines like "New reply in your thread." APG vNext notification email subject line templates are configurable in Admin Panel → Email → Templates → [Notification Type] → Subject Line. Use the available dynamic tokens to include the thread title and commenter name in the subject line. A/B test subject line formats by sending different variations to different member segments and comparing open rates in the APG vNext email analytics report. Subject lines that include the responder's name and a snippet of the response consistently outperform generic subject lines by 20-40% in open rate.
Mobile Optimisation for Forum Notification Emails
More than 60% of forum notification emails are opened on mobile devices. APG vNext notification email templates use a single-column layout that renders well on both mobile and desktop screens. Key mobile optimisation requirements include: minimum 16px font size for body text (smaller text requires pinching to zoom on mobile), minimum 44px touch target height for all buttons and call-to-action links (prevents accidental taps), at least 15px padding around all interactive elements, and a clear primary call-to-action button (View Reply) that is visually distinct from secondary links. Test notification emails on iOS Mail and Gmail for Android before deploying any template changes, as these are the most common mobile email clients for community forum members.
Looking for more help? Browse the support forum or check the Knowledge Base.