Test Lists and Tracked Email Test Sends

[Jarrett Thacker]

Finally, the ability to send test emails with tracked links and re-written variable fields!

The setup: Create a new, or convert an existing list to a test list; the checkbox "Email Test List" gives you such power.     

To populate, a batch action has been added to the Users table for quickly adding users to test lists (by first creating prospects from the users if a matching prospect doesn't exist).  Or you can subscribe from the prospects table.

Fine print: Test lists cannot be dynamic, public, or scheduled for archiving.

Nitty Gritty: Once a test list is set up and populated, tracked emails can be sent from the wizard test step when creating emails and email templates.  Clicking on a tracked or unsubscribe link will bring the user to a success page explaining what would happen had this been a typical list email.  But what's the point of all this if you can't report on clicks and view visitor activities?  You can!  Navigate to Reports->Emails and click 'Test send emails report' to see the stats.  Prospect activities will also be updated with a description prefaced by "Test Email".

More fine print: The tracked and unsubscribe link success pages do not cookie the visitor.  This prevents a mess of visitor association changes, but still creates a visitor activity for reporting.  Completion actions will not run for test sends.  Also, all newly provisioned accounts moving forward have 'Internal Test List' set to be a test list by default...how aptly named.

If you have any follow-up questions, let me know!

Have a great weekend,

Jarrett

[Melanie Foster]

Thanks, Jarrett! 

Melanie Foster :: Client Solutions Specialist  Social Media::  Twitter | LinkedIn | Facebook Helpful Pardot Links :: Knowledge Base | Idea Exchange

[Vincent Migliore]

This doesn't say enough, but thank you.

[Michael Westphal]

[Stephen Powis]

Nice one jarty

[Mark Larson]

So awesome. Take a bow.

-Mark

On Fri, Aug 9, 2013 at 4:57 PM, Michael Westphal <michael....@pardot.com> wrote:

On Fri, Aug 9, 2013 at 4:53 PM, Vincent Migliore <vincent....@pardot.com> wrote:

This doesn't say enough, but thank you.

On Fri, Aug 9, 2013 at 4:51 PM, Melanie Foster <melanie...@pardot.com> wrote:

Thanks, Jarrett! 

Melanie Foster :: Client Solutions Specialist  Social Media::  Twitter | LinkedIn | Facebook Helpful Pardot Links :: Knowledge Base | Idea Exchange

On Fri, Aug 9, 2013 at 4:43 PM, Jarrett Thacker <jarrett...@pardot.com> wrote:

Finally, the ability to send test emails with tracked links and re-written variable fields!

The setup: Create a new, or convert an existing list to a test list; the checkbox "Email Test List" gives you such power.     

To populate, a batch action has been added to the Users table for quickly adding users to test lists (by first creating prospects from the users if a matching prospect doesn't exist).  Or you can subscribe from the prospects table.

Fine print: Test lists cannot be dynamic, public, or scheduled for archiving.

Nitty Gritty: Once a test list is set up and populated, tracked emails can be sent from the wizard test step when creating emails and email templates.  Clicking on a tracked or unsubscribe link will bring the user to a success page explaining what would happen had this been a typical list email.  But what's the point of all this if you can't report on clicks and view visitor activities?  You can!  Navigate to Reports->Emails and click 'Test send emails report' to see the stats.  Prospect activities will also be updated with a description prefaced by "Test Email".

More fine print: The tracked and unsubscribe link success pages do not cookie the visitor.  This prevents a mess of visitor association changes, but still creates a visitor activity for reporting.  Completion actions will not run for test sends.  Also, all newly provisioned accounts moving forward have 'Internal Test List' set to be a test list by default...how aptly named.

If you have any follow-up questions, let me know!

Have a great weekend,

Jarrett

--

Mark Larson 

Solutions Coordinator

Pardot Marketing Automation

404-492-6845 x351 

Training | Knowledge Base | Idea Exchange | Blog

[Ian Snead]

Baby got a brand new bag, niiiiiiice Jart!

[Anna Sims]

 

Anna Sims :: Product Instructional Designer:: 404.492.6845 x279
Pardot - An salesforce.com Company
Helpful Links :: Knowledge Base | Ideas | Connections 2013! |

On Fri, Aug 9, 2013 at 4:53 PM, Vincent Migliore <vincent....@pardot.com> wrote:

[Brian Steele]

Folks are liking the new test list options, but we're getting some clients remarking that they are missing the ability to send to random emails or just enter one email address on the fly to send the email to.

Thoughts on adding this back or plans to address that missing functionality?  

[Zach Bailey]

We're already discussing it. Stay tuned.

[Brian Steele]

Good to know... that being said:

Thanks for all the work on this - so. awesome!

[Zach Bailey]

For now, people can go back to the old functionality by deleting the empty test list we set up in their account for them. This will make the old "type in an email address" interface display.

[Anna Sims]

The documentation's been updated so clients know how to revert back to the email test process: http://www.pardot.com/faqs/emails/send-test-emails-to-a-test-list/

With Jacquie's suggestion, I added a <div class="alert"> around the note, so clients can't miss it!

 

Anna Sims :: Product Instructional Designer:: 404.492.6845 x279
Pardot - An salesforce.com Company
Helpful Links :: Knowledge Base | Ideas | Connections 2013! |

[Zach Bailey]

Yeah, I was actually mistaken - we didn't set up test lists automatically for people. So, the only situation that would cause the old way to disappear is if they went ahead and created at test list themselves. All they have to do in that case to get back to the old way is just delete their new test list(s).

On Monday, we'll release an update that will show both options side by side even if they have test lists. Not going to rush an update out over the weekend since this is pretty easy to work around.

-Zach

[Jarrett Thacker]

Obviously I missed a key statement in my original email.

If a client has no test lists, the functionality will revert back to the old functionality.  So, if they try this out and it *completely* screws up their workflow, they can simply delete (or edit and uncheck 'Email Test List') the lists that are test lists, and everything will be familiar again.

To make this easier, I'll add a toggle to the wizard page that gives clients both types of functionality.

Jarrett

[Jacquie Hauth]

Article updated! 

http://www.pardot.com/faqs/emails/send-test-emails-to-a-test-list/

Thanks for the clarification! When we have both methods ready to use, we can update the documentation too.

Jacquie Hauth

Client Solutions Manager | Pardot - A salesforce.com Company

(404) 492-6845 x235 | @PardotJacquie

Get Answers: http://pardot.com/help | Share Best Practices: http://forum.pardot.com

[Nick Sweeney]

Awesome!

Nick Sweeney :: Solutions Coordinator :: 404.492.6845 x343

Pardot - An salesforce.com Company

Helpful Links :: Knowledge Base | Ideas