The first question should be why, not how. Please consider the value to the user over the value to the business. A countdown timer is designed to use the psychological principle and persuasion tactic of limited duration. This is very triggering for people with anxiety disorders and creates anxiety for people who don’t. It even triggers PTSD for those that deal with timers in emergency scenarios. Try a gentle reminder with positive language first.
Sure. Simply use the ! not condition.
<! -- [if !mso]><!-- -->
your non outlook image here
<![endif] -->
<! -- [if gte mso 9]>
your outlook alternate image here
<![endif] -->
There are tons of discussions on this here in the community, plus tons of articles like this:
https://medium.com/tealmedia/creating-bulletproof-html-emails-e0e4866c3f8
Absolutely.
<!--[if gte mso 9]>
your outlook alternate image here
<![endif]-->
Beware of the double download. Many email clients will download both images, even though you are hiding one and showing another.
While methods described here will work, it is important to consider why you would do this. Links have states: default/link; focus; hover; active; and visited. Each should have appropriate and accessible affordances (plural). Removing an underline from a link is like removing a door handle from a door. If you replace the underline with some other display properties, please ensure that you use more than one and that they are clearly differentiated from surrounding text. Then, test.
Please consider that something that is not broken does not require a fix.
It is possible to solve for conversion-centered design tactics and human-centered needs and preferences at the same time.
Fortunately, we have plenty of data that suggests by solving the human problems, you will better support the business ones. These things do not have to be at odds.
The best part of Jason’s article is: “Always test and reflect on your campaigns to find what works best.” Just be sure that testing includes people with a range of abilities in a range of contexts.
Alignment matters.
As an industry, I hope we can teach and update people on the use of this term. A “CTA” should be a singular call-to-action that the business prefers the audience to take – and may be personalized, contextual or dynamic to an individual person within that audience. The user should be able to take this action via ANY interaction method, and not simply a link that has been styled to look like a button (which nearly always has poor and inconsistent affordances).
That said, IF you are using a button-like-object, please consider that eye tracking horizontally across the viewport between elements of different horizontal alignment: adds cognitive load to all users, decreases readability, and is an accessibility challenge for certain audiences, like those with dyslexia.
The short answer is: test with your audience.
Why? Hijacking native scroll behavior is nearly always inaccessible and adds cognitive load.