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Deliverability Letter

Test List

Also known as: Test Segment, Preview List

A test list is a small group of people who receive your email before everyone else. It is a simple way to spot problems before a full send.

A test list is a small group of team members, friends, or test inboxes that you send a campaign to first. They see the same email your full list will get. This early send helps you catch broken links, layout issues, and spelling mistakes. You can fix these before the real audience sees anything.

Most teams send to a test list 30 to 60 minutes before the main send. People on the list check that links point to the right pages and that images load on desktop and mobile. They also make sure merge fields like first names show real data, not placeholders. This step protects revenue and prevents avoidable mistakes.

Include people who use different email clients such as Gmail, Outlook, and Apple Mail. Ask each person to quickly reply if they spot an issue so you can track fixes. Keep a short checklist that covers links, layout, copy, and tracking. Over time this becomes a fast habit that makes every send safer.