What is HTML Tidy?
HTML Tidy is a tool for cleaning up and standardizing
HTML code. Originally created by the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C), it helps in correcting common coding errors and ensuring that the HTML is compliant with
web standards. This is particularly useful in
Email Marketing, where clean and consistent code is crucial for ensuring that emails render correctly across various
email clients.
Cross-client compatibility: Different email clients interpret HTML differently. Clean and standardized code reduces the risk of rendering issues.
Improved readability: Tidy HTML is easier to read and maintain. This is beneficial for teams working collaboratively on email campaigns.
Reduced bloat: HTML Tidy can remove unnecessary tags and attributes, making the email lighter and faster to load.
Compliance with standards: Ensuring that your HTML complies with standards can improve your email's chances of passing through spam filters.
Prepare your HTML: Before running HTML Tidy, ensure that your email's HTML is complete. Include all necessary inline styles, media queries, and fallback options.
Run HTML Tidy: You can use online tools, command-line utilities, or integrated development environment (IDE) plugins to run HTML Tidy on your code. These tools will scan your HTML, fix errors, and suggest improvements.
Review and edit: After HTML Tidy processes your code, review the output to ensure that all elements are still functioning as intended. Make any necessary adjustments.
Test across clients: Before sending your email, test it across different email clients to ensure consistency. Tools like Litmus and Email on Acid can help with this.
Unclosed tags: Missing closing tags can break the layout of your email.
Improper nesting: Ensuring that tags are properly nested is crucial for maintaining the structure of your email.
Deprecated tags: Replacing deprecated tags with modern equivalents can improve compatibility and performance.
Redundant attributes: Removing unnecessary attributes can reduce the size of your email and improve load times.
Manual review needed: HTML Tidy can suggest changes, but it's essential to manually review the output to ensure it meets your specific needs.
Not a replacement for testing: Even with tidy HTML, you should still test your email across various clients and devices.
Limited email-specific optimizations: HTML Tidy focuses on general HTML improvements and may not address email-specific issues like inline CSS or media query support.
Conclusion
HTML Tidy is an invaluable tool for anyone involved in Email Marketing. By ensuring that your emails are built with clean, standardized code, you can improve deliverability, cross-client compatibility, and overall user experience. However, it's essential to complement HTML Tidy with thorough testing and manual reviews to achieve the best results.