Forward link in HTML email

Question

I need to create a "forward to friend" link in a HTML email that will mimic the forward button on the mail client (ie launch a new window with a pre-filled body), is this possible?

ie:

<a href="forward-action">Forward this email to a friend</a>

If not, what's a simple approach to achieve an as similar as possible result?

ps. I'm aware this is pretty much pointless functionality, it's a request from client.

Answer 1

I wonder if your client would go for this:

1. create a jazzy Forward to a Friend button.

2. that button should open up a page on the client site.

3. that page should contain an email a friend form.

Much easier to accomplish.

Answer 2

You cannot imitate or initiate the forward action in any mail client (web or desktop) currently on the market today. You have several other options available though:

• Offer an online version of your email and include a link to it in your mailto tag:

  <a href="mailto:Enter%20an%20email?subject=Your%20Subject%20Line&body=Thought%20you%20might%20be%20interested%20in%20this%20http://www.yourdomain.com">
  Forward to a friend</a>
  

• Include a callout in your email (near the top, preferably) encouraging your recipients to forward the message to their friends.

• Include a link to a web form where your recipients can provide other people's email addresses and send these new email addresses copies of the mailing. (The only issue with this one is that the recipient's address book is not available to them easily, which probably hinders sharing - test to know what your demographic is like).