Inbox Monster’s Creative Rendering platform gives users detailed visibility into how their emails render across inboxes and equips content teams with collaborative tools for improving content in real time.
This article outlines the workflow for generating Rendering Reports, sharing Rendering Reports, and making use of collaborative tools for both Inbox Monster users and non-users.
Creating your Rendering Reports
Inbox Monster's Rendering Tools enable marketers to see what their subscribers see using a variety of methods. There are three methods for generating and accessing Rendering tests, outlined below:
Sending to your Rendering Address
Adding the Rendering Address to your Subscriber File
Every instance of Inbox Monster has access to its own unique Rendering Address for deploying campaigns directly into the Rendering platform.
By adding this email address to a subscriber file, all campaigns sent and received will create a Rendering Test that will automatically populate within the Creative Tools > Renderings section of the Inbox Monster Platform.
To find your Rendering Address, navigate to Creative Tools > Renderings, and select “+ Create Rendering” then “Send to address”. You’ll then be presented with your Rendering Address:
This address is also available via Settings ⚙️ > Setup and Integrations > Rendering Email Address for users that might not have access to the Rendering suite of tools.
💡We recommend sending the Rendering Email Address individually, with no additional addresses, cc, or bcc.
For Salesforce Users: Salesforce Marketing Cloud can select content within Content Builder, choose "Preview and Test", and then add only the Rendering Email Address into the Individuals text box. Select preferred delivery profile and subject line prefix, then click Send Test to generate your Rendering Project.
Uploading HTML or TXT Directly
You can generate Rendering Tests by uploading any HTML or TXT email content into the Rendering section of the Inbox Monster platform.
Navigate to Creative Tools > Renderings and click on “+Create Rendering”.
In the popup module, select “Upload a file”, then “Upload file”
Inserting Content / ESP Integrations
You can also create Rendering Tests by pasting HTML directly into the platform. Navigation for this feature is similar to the above, starting with Creative Tools > Renderings, then selecting “+Create Rendering” and “Insert Content”
You’ll observe two tabs within this module: Template and HTML
The HTML Tab can be used to paste HTML directly into the platform, along with a Rendering Title and Subject Line. Select “Run Test” to generate a report via this method.
The Template tab can be used for any of the supported ESPs that Integrate with Inbox Monster. Below are some links for integrating with each of the supported ESPs.
When one of the supported ESP Integrations is implemented, along with necessary permissions for Template access, you’ll be able to generate Rendering Reports of your Templates from directly within the Inbox Monster platform, along with Rendering Test Title and Subject Line.
Whitelisting IPs
To ensure Link Validation and other QA tests remain comprehensive, we strongly recommend approving the following IP addresses:
3.136.16.19
3.140.233.31
18.220.127.138
Direct your IT team or technical contact to add the above addresses to your organization’s allowlist of IP addresses.
Included in the Report
Within the Rendering section of the Inbox Monster platform, you'll find the following for each campaign:
+118 rendering client previews
Including a wide variety of devices, operating systems, browsers, and applications.
Link Validation and Alt Tag showcasing
Image Validation and Diagnostics
HTML Post-Send Content
General and Device-Specific Commenting
Choosing Your Devices
If you'd like to adjust the devices represented in your rendering reports, you can toggle them on/off individually via the Gear Icon ⚙️ > Creative Rendering.
From this view, navigate to “Rendering Device Settings” via the navigation pane.
Devices can be toggled on/off at any time within this view:
Sharing your Creative Rendering Reports
Inbox Monster’s Rendering platform lets you share reports with non-platform users by duplicating the report onto a public URL that anyone outside of your Inbox Monster account can access.
Locating Your Rendering
To share a report, navigate from the Dashboard to the Rendering section by selecting Creative Tools > Renderings on the left side navigation pane.
Next, find and click on the Rendering Report that you'd like to share.
Note that the Rendering Report table provides at-a-glance details for the following:
Included number of Previews in the selected report
Comments pending within the selected report
Broken Links included within the content
Unsecure Links included within the content
Total HTML Size of the content, including images
Total Load Time for the content
Tagging is also available in this view for each filtering and selection
From within the Report, select the Share button and icon in the top right.
💡 The three dots (...) to the right of the share button also offer the options to Download the HTML Content or Export Previews. Previews export as individual images for each device in a compressed folder.
Upon clicking Share, you'll be prompted to select which sections of the Rendering you would like to have visible to non-platform users with the shared report link. You'll also be given the option to disable Comments on Proofs/Devices.
Once you've completed your adjustments, click Share at the bottom of the right side Share pane. You'll then be able to Copy and Share your custom Rendering URL.
Your Report Is Ready
Your Shareable Report can now be shared directly with anyone, regardless whether they have access to the Inbox Monster platform.
💡 These reports can also be branded with your logo and color scheme via the Setup and Integrations > Assessment Branding.
Each shareable report can be customized to contain Device Previews and many associated insights, including:
Validation for Links with Alt Text and Status
Validation for Images with Size and Loading Time
Default Content Preview and Split View Editor
Plain Text HTML Preview
Comments made by Inbox Monster users
Spam Assassin Content Scoring and Flagged Item Descriptions
WCAG Accessibility Standards and Spell Check
Full Proofing and Commenting features (if enabled)
You'll also be able to access this and other shared reports via the Monster Analysis option from the left side navigation pane.
Collaborative Workflow with Rendering Reports
How to enable your team with tools to test, discuss, and improve your content within the Inbox Monster Creative Rendering platform.
Rendering Reports can be shared with users inside and outside of your Inbox Monster account. Use the collaborative features to facilitate discussion via Comments, highlight key items via Proofing, and edit and re-run reports all within the platform.
This article outlines each of these processes:
💡 Note: Non-Inbox Monster users who have been given access to Shareable versions of rendering reports are referred to as "External Viewers"
These External Viewers are able to view full reports, as well as Comment, Respond, and Proof, but are unable to alter HTML or Re-Run any element of Rendering Reports.
Creative Projects Dashboard
There are clickable tiles at the top that allow you to automatically filter projects based on the tile context.
The Filter options have also been enhanced, allowing you to filter projects by Tags or Broken Links, Unresolved Comments, etc.
We’ve also added ‘Card View’. This view creates a new visual representation of all Creative Projects. Click the ‘Card View’ toggle to use this view.
Commenting and Proofing
Inbox Monster's Creative Rendering platform enables Administrators, Users, and External Viewers to comment on individual device previews or for general, non-device specific observations.
They can also Reply to comments to confirm receipt and continue the conversation.
General Commenting
General Comments can be left by any user or viewer of a Rendering Report by clicking on the Add Comment button in the top right corner of the report.
General Comments can be assigned to either the Desktop or Mobile general preview.
General Comments are now visible to all Users and External Viewers within the Proof section of the Rendering Report.
Device Preview Commenting
Device Preview Comments can also be left by any user or viewer of a Rendering Report by clicking on the desired Device Preview, then clicking on the Comment icon at the top of the preview.
You'll then be presented with a text box to input the Device-specific comment, then click Add to save and exit.
Administrators and Users will also be able to Reply, Resolve, or Edit their comments once Added.
Replying to and Resolving Comments
Administrators, Users, and External Viewers all have the ability to Reply to both General Comments and Device Preview Comments.
General Comments can Replied to and Resolved from the Proofing view, and Device Preview Comments can be Replied to and Resolved from both the Proofing view and the specific Device Preview.
You and other users can resolve or reply to these comments.
Replies are visible to all users and viewers, and include Author and Timestamp:
Checking the Resolve Box will remove the comment from default view. Resolved comments can still be viewed via the Proofing tab, selecting the filter dropdown on the top right corner.
Editing HTML Content
Within each Rendering report, the Editor section combines traditional HTML preview and editor tools into one comprehensive tool.
The Editor lets you make edits to code and preview those changes in the same view.
For code changes to appear in the preview, you must click the ‘Save’ button.
In the screenshot above, the HTML content has been altered but not saved.
To save changes, click Save Changes in the top right corner.
You'll be prompted to either overwrite the current HTML (Save HTML) or Save a New Version, with Custom Version Naming and Save Notes.
Once saved, the changes will be reflected in Proofing and the Editor preview pane.
When Saving a new version of your Creative Rendering, each subsection will be Re-Processed to reflect your changes.
Starting Fresh with Adjusted Content
Reports can be Re-Run from the majority of the subsections, but you can also start fresh with edited content via the following method:
To start fresh with a new Rendering Report that includes updated Content Analysis and Accessibility, download your updated HTML content by clicking the three vertical dots in the top right of your report, then selecting Download HTML.
The downloaded HTML content can then be pasted directly into the HTML upload portal via Creative Tools > Projects > Create Rendering Test.
Internal Testing of Rendering Content
Internal Testing of Rendering Content can be performed by Administrators and Users at any time using the Send Test button at the top right of the Report's Proofing section.
The test can then be sent to up to 5 email addresses. Separate email addresses using a comma.
Example:
💡 If you're having difficulty receiving the Internal Tests, you may need to safelist no-reply@inboxmonsterpreviews.com.
💡 Test sends are sent from inboxmonsterpreviews.com
Before deploying, we recommend running a Campaign Report to gauge inbox placement for your send.
Contact your Account Manager to learn more about inbox placement testing.
Usage Tracking
If you'd like to track Usage for the Inbox Monster Rendering suite of tools, navigate to Creative Tools > Rendering, then select the Usage tab toward the top of the page.
Within this view, you'll have access to the following details for your selected time frame:
Rendering Reports Generated
Total Previews Generated
Device Previews over time, by Type
Previews created by User
Note: Rendering Reports created using the Rendering Address will be auto-assigned to the Account Admin/Owner.
For questions about the Inbox Monster Rendering platform, visit our Help Center or reach out via email or the in-app chat in the bottom right corner of the platform.