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Sending Test Emails

Learn how to test your email templates before going live to ensure perfect delivery and appearance.

Why Test Emails?

Section titled “Why Test Emails?”

Testing prevents issues before customers see them:

✅ Verify design - Check colors, layout, branding ✅ Test functionality - Ensure links work ✅ Check variables - Confirm data populates correctly ✅ Review copy - Catch typos and errors ✅ Test deliverability - Avoid spam folders ✅ Multiple devices - Check desktop, mobile, tablet

How to Send Test Emails

Section titled “How to Send Test Emails”

From Email Settings

Section titled “From Email Settings”
  1. Navigate to Email Settings
  2. Design/customize your email template
  3. Click Send Test Email button
  1. Test email dialog opens
  1. Enter your email address
  2. Click Send Test
  3. Check your inbox (and spam folder)

From Product/Order Pages

Section titled “From Product/Order Pages”

Test emails from specific order contexts:

  1. Go to Orders → Select an order
  2. Click Send Test Email (if available)
  3. Sends test with that order’s actual data

Benefits:

  • Tests with real product names
  • Shows actual file list
  • More realistic preview

What Test Emails Show

Section titled “What Test Emails Show”

Sample Data

Section titled “Sample Data”

Test emails use placeholder data:

Customer Data:

Name: John Smith
Email: test@example.com

Order Data:

Order Number: #1001
Order Date: Today's date

Shop Data:

Your actual shop name
Your actual shop email

Download Data:

Expiry: Your configured setting
Files: Sample file names

Download Button

Section titled “Download Button”

Test email download button:

  • ✅ Appears correctly
  • ⚠️ Links to test page (not real files)
  • Shows button styling

Note: Don’t download test files - they’re not real downloads.

Testing Checklist

Section titled “Testing Checklist”

Visual Checks

Section titled “Visual Checks”
  • Logo displays correctly
  • Logo size appropriate
  • Colors match brand
  • Text readable (size and contrast)
  • Button visible and prominent
  • Layout looks clean
  • White space balanced
  • No overlapping elements
  • Footer displays properly

Content Checks

Section titled “Content Checks”
  • Subject line compelling
  • No typos or errors
  • Variables populate correctly
  • Message clear and brief
  • Tone matches brand
  • Contact info correct
  • Expiry info included
  • Call-to-action clear

Technical Checks

Section titled “Technical Checks”
  • Email delivers (not spam)
  • Loads quickly
  • Images load
  • Links work (test page)
  • Button clickable
  • Mobile-responsive
  • Desktop appearance
  • No broken elements

Testing Across Email Clients

Section titled “Testing Across Email Clients”

Why Test Multiple Clients?

Section titled “Why Test Multiple Clients?”

Different email clients render differently:

Major clients:

  • Gmail (web, mobile app)
  • Apple Mail (Mac, iOS)
  • Outlook (web, desktop)
  • Yahoo Mail
  • Mobile apps

How to Test Multiple Clients

Section titled “How to Test Multiple Clients”

Manual method:

  1. Send test to multiple email addresses:
  2. Check each inbox
  3. Note any differences

Automated method:

  • Use email testing services (Litmus, Email on Acid)
  • See previews across 90+ clients instantly
  • Catch rendering issues

Mobile Testing

Section titled “Mobile Testing”

Test on Real Devices

Section titled “Test on Real Devices”

Send test email to phone:

  1. Open email on mobile device
  2. Check:
    • Text readable without zooming
    • Button easy to tap
    • Layout single-column
    • Images load
    • No horizontal scrolling

Mobile Testing Checklist

Section titled “Mobile Testing Checklist”
  • Opens without issues
  • Text large enough (16px+)
  • Button full-width or centered
  • Button large enough to tap (44px+)
  • Logo displays
  • No cut-off content
  • Loads quickly
  • Works in portrait and landscape

Desktop Testing

Section titled “Desktop Testing”

Browser Testing

Section titled “Browser Testing”

Test email in desktop clients:

Gmail (Chrome):

  1. Open Gmail in Chrome browser
  2. Check test email
  3. Verify appearance

Outlook (Desktop):

  1. Open Outlook desktop app
  2. Check test email
  3. Note any rendering differences

Apple Mail:

  1. Open Mail app on Mac
  2. Check test email
  3. Verify styling

Spam Testing

Section titled “Spam Testing”

Check Spam Score

Section titled “Check Spam Score”

Before going live, ensure email won’t go to spam:

Test tools:

  • Mail Tester (mail-tester.com)
  • GlockApps
  • Sender Score

How to use:

  1. Visit testing tool
  2. Get test email address
  3. Send test email to that address
  4. Tool analyzes and scores email

Spam Score Factors

Section titled “Spam Score Factors”

What affects spam score:

  • ✅ Valid sender domain
  • ✅ SPF/DKIM records configured
  • ✅ Clean content (no spam words)
  • ✅ Good text-to-image ratio
  • ✅ Working unsubscribe link
  • ❌ Spam trigger words
  • ❌ All caps subject
  • ❌ Too many links
  • ❌ Invalid sender

Target score: 8/10 or higher

Testing Variables

Section titled “Testing Variables”

Verify Variable Replacement

Section titled “Verify Variable Replacement”

Check that variables populate correctly:

In template:

Hi {customer.name}, your order #{order.number} from {shop.name} is ready!

In test email:

Hi John Smith, your order #1001 from My Shop is ready!

Variable Testing Checklist

Section titled “Variable Testing Checklist”
  • {customer.name} shows sample name
  • {customer.email} shows test email
  • {shop.name} shows your shop name
  • {shop.email} shows your email
  • {order.number} shows sample number
  • {download.expiry} shows expiry days
  • No variables showing as {variable}
  • Spacing around variables correct
Section titled “Testing Link Functionality”
Section titled “Download Button Link”

Click the download button in test email:

Expected behavior:

  • Button is clickable
  • Links to test/sample page
  • OR shows “This is a test email” message
  • OR leads to app with explanation

Note: Test emails don’t provide real downloads - that’s intentional.

Section titled “Other Links”

Test any other links:

  • Shop URL: {shop.domain}
  • Support email: {shop.email}
  • Custom links in footer

Verify:

  • Links clickable
  • Open correctly
  • Lead to right destination

Testing Email Delivery

Section titled “Testing Email Delivery”

Check Inbox Delivery Time

Section titled “Check Inbox Delivery Time”

After sending test:

Typical delivery times:

  • Postmark: 1-10 seconds
  • MailerToGo: 10-30 seconds
  • Delayed: Over 1 minute (check spam folder)

If Test Email Doesn’t Arrive

Section titled “If Test Email Doesn’t Arrive”

Check:

  1. Spam/Junk folder - Common for test emails
  2. Email address - Typed correctly?
  3. Email provider status - Any outages?
  4. Email logs - Check in app for delivery status
  5. Firewall/filters - Corporate email blocking?

Solutions:

  1. Wait 5 minutes
  2. Check spam folder
  3. Try different email address
  4. Check email provider configuration
  5. Contact support if persists

Testing Customizations

Section titled “Testing Customizations”

After Each Change

Section titled “After Each Change”

Test email after:

  • Changing colors
  • Updating text
  • Modifying logo
  • Adjusting layout
  • Adding variables
  • Changing button

Quick test cycle:

  1. Make change
  2. Send test email
  3. Check result
  4. Iterate

A/B Testing Emails

Section titled “A/B Testing Emails”

Test Variations

Section titled “Test Variations”

Create multiple versions to test:

Version A:

Subject: Your download is ready
Button: Download Files

Version B:

Subject: {customer.name}, your files are here!
Button: Get My Files

Test with:

  • Small group of test emails
  • OR actual orders (split test)
  • Track which performs better

Common Test Email Issues

Section titled “Common Test Email Issues”

Issue: Images Don’t Load

Section titled “Issue: Images Don’t Load”

Cause: Email client blocking images by default

Solution:

  1. Click “Download images” in email client
  2. OR use email client that auto-loads images
  3. Test with images on and off

Issue: Layout Broken

Section titled “Issue: Layout Broken”

Cause: Email client rendering issues

Solutions:

  1. Test in different client
  2. Simplify design
  3. Check HTML/CSS (if custom)
  4. Use email-safe code

Issue: Colors Look Different

Section titled “Issue: Colors Look Different”

Cause: Different displays/email clients

Solution:

  1. Test on multiple devices
  2. Use web-safe colors
  3. Check in both light/dark mode
  4. Acceptable if minor difference

Issue: Button Not Clickable

Section titled “Issue: Button Not Clickable”

Cause: Technical rendering issue

Solutions:

  1. Check button code
  2. Test in different client
  3. Verify HTML structure
  4. Contact support if persists

Testing Best Practices

Section titled “Testing Best Practices”

1. Test Early and Often

Section titled “1. Test Early and Often”

Don’t wait until perfect:

  • Test rough draft
  • Get early feedback
  • Iterate based on tests
  • Test again after changes

2. Test on Real Devices

Section titled “2. Test on Real Devices”

Emulators aren’t enough:

  • Use actual iPhone
  • Test on Android phone
  • Check on tablet
  • Try different desktop clients

3. Get Second Opinions

Section titled “3. Get Second Opinions”

Have others review test emails:

  • Team members
  • Friends/family
  • Test customers

Fresh eyes catch issues you miss.

4. Document Issues

Section titled “4. Document Issues”

Keep log of testing results:

  • What works
  • What doesn’t
  • Client-specific issues
  • Resolution notes

5. Test Before Every Launch

Section titled “5. Test Before Every Launch”

Before starting email notifications:

  • Send final test email
  • Check on 2-3 devices
  • Verify all variables
  • Confirm links work
  • Check spam score
  • Get approval

Test Email Frequency

Section titled “Test Email Frequency”

When to Test

Section titled “When to Test”

Must test:

  • Before enabling email notifications (first time)
  • After major template changes
  • After changing email provider
  • Before promotional campaigns
  • After updates to app

Good to test:

  • Monthly (routine check)
  • When customers report issues
  • After template tweaks
  • New team members reviewing

Next Steps

Section titled “Next Steps”