Dear Emma,
Before I send a big campaign, I'll typically send several 'test' versions around to my test group. And to help keep track of the tests, I add a marker like [test 1] or [final test] in front of my subject line. Problem is, I have to remember to change the subject line (and remove the 'test' part) before sending the real thing, and this week I forgot. Any ideas on how I might do it differently?
Sincerely,
Testing in the Garden State
Dear Testing,
Instead of using your subject line to indicate test mailings, consider using your RSVP name.
Our default RSVP (from) name is, as you may have guessed, Emma. But while we're in the process of testing drafts of the latest Ask Emma campaign, we'll change it to Emma [draft 1] or Emma [final draft] or, if we really want people to pay attention, Emma [read this now or we'll chop off the little toe]. By changing the RSVP name instead of the subject line, you're still clearly marking this as an internal test, but your subject line never changes, and your RSVP name simply reverts back to its default each time you get ready to send again. So your test group sees the 'real' subject line (an important part of the testing process), and there's less chance you'll accidentally send something labeled 'test' to your real audience.
Also, if you find that you end up sending four or five drafts every time, you might consider sending the test to yourself before you send it to the larger test group. (Create a 'Just Me' audience group and add yourself to it.) That way you can catch any obvious fixes early, allowing you to send fewer drafts and save little toes everywhere.
Hope that helps, and if this A has spurred another Q, by all means ask away.
Cheers,
Emma
Emma is a member of the Email Sender & Provider Coalition and the Messaging Anti-Abuse Working Group.
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