Send a test email
See the email in your own inbox before the real send: where to send it from, how it differs from the real thing and why it might not arrive.
A test email is the way to see how a campaign looks in a real inbox before you send it. The subject, preview text, design and links arrive exactly as they will in the real send. Only three things differ; they are listed below.
Where to send it from
- On the Design step, under Content tools on the right: Send a test email.
- On the Review & Send step, in the strip under the Email design card: Send test.
- In the editor's top bar: Send test.
All three open the same dialog.
Send it
Open the Send a test email dialog
Use any of the three places above.Enter your address in Send to
One address is enough. Enter sends it too.Click Send test
MailGraf confirms with Test email sent. If it is not in your inbox, check the spam folder.
Three differences from the real send
- The subject gets a [Test] prefix.
- Merge tags such as the first name stay empty.
- It does not use your sending allowance, and the campaign's status does not change; a draft stays a draft.
What a test needs
A verified sender address is enough. The verified sending domain that a campaign needs is not required for a test; a single verified address will do. Without a design, or with the unsubscribe footer removed, the test does not go out either; the wizard tells you why.
The reminder on the Review step
On the Review & Send step, the strip under the design card shows where you stand: amber with You haven't sent a test email yet if no test has gone out, green with Test email sent to and the address once it has. The strip is a reminder only; you can send without a test, but one look in a real inbox is always worth it.
Frequently asked questions
Does a test email count against my allowance?
No. Test sends do not use your sending allowance.
Why is the personalisation empty in the test?
In a test, merge tags such as the first name come through empty. In the real send, every recipient gets their own details.
The test did not arrive. Why?
The usual reason is an unverified sender address. Check the verification status next to the address on the Setup step. A missing design or a deleted unsubscribe footer also stops a test.
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