Create Additional Test Contact Lists

Test Lists are designed for internal email testing and approvals. They help you send test messages without affecting your marketing audiences, contact counts, or reporting.

This article explains when to use Test Lists, how they differ from Marketing Lists, and how to create and manage them.

What is a Test List?

A Test List is a special list type used only for internal email testing. Test Lists are not used for marketing sends and are not intended to store customer or prospect data.

Test Lists are commonly used to:

• Preview email layout and content
• Review personalization and dynamic content
• Approve messages before launch

Why you should not use Marketing Lists for testing

Using Marketing Lists for testing can create long-term data problems.

• Internal email addresses may be counted as marketing contacts
• Test records can appear in reports and segments
• Accidental sends to internal addresses become more likely

Test Lists keep internal testing completely separate from your real audiences.

Where to find Test Lists

Test Lists are managed separately from Marketing Lists.

1. Go to Lists.
2. Select Other Lists.
3. Open Test Lists.

Create a new Test List

1. In Lists > Other Lists > Test Lists, click Add New.
2. Enter a name that clearly identifies the reviewers (for example, Marketing Team Review).
3. Add internal email addresses to the list.
4. Save the Test List.

You can add or remove email addresses from a Test List at any time.

Using Test Lists when sending email

When you send a test email:

1. Create or open the message.
2. In the Address step, choose Send to Test List.
3. Select the appropriate Test List.
4. Send the message for review.

Test sends do not affect send limits, reporting, or audience counts.

Best practices for Test Lists

• Use Test Lists only for internal email addresses
• Keep Test Lists small and focused
• Name Test Lists clearly so they are easy to select
• Review Test Lists periodically and remove outdated addresses