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How to send myself a test of a triggered transactional email or SMS before turning on/sending
How to send myself a test of a triggered transactional email or SMS before turning on/sending

When sending SMS and Smart (Transactional) Email, you may want to test that your personalisation [variables] are working correctly.

Updated over a week ago

πŸ‘‰ This article is relevant to Smart (Transactional) email and SMS. For Automated Journeys and Campaigns click here.

Testing transactional emails

Ensure you have created completed both steps of the transactional email creation process (creating an email template, and connecting a trigger).

Send the test

Next you'll need to navigate to the Triggers page and locate the trigger you'd like to test.

Press the email icon in the 'Test' column of the trigger table:

If you see a green banner in the top right - great! Your trigger worked, and a test is on it's way to the email address you signed up with.

If you see a red banner in the top right - there's something wrong with your trigger. Typically it's that you have not verified your domain with Peptalkr.

Review the test received

Now you should head over to your email inbox and locate the test email. The test should arrive within a couple of minutes.

Things to check include:

  1. The email sender name is as you expect

  2. The text inside the email reads correctly - particularly if you have inserted any personalisation variables.

  3. When you click 'Reply' - replies are going to the correct email address.

  4. You have included a working 'Unsubscribe' link IF the trigger has been set to 'Marketing'

  5. The design looks good and spacing is adequate

πŸ‘‰ If you are using personalisation variables please note that the test will output randomised values. For example, if you have used the [practitioner] variable, your test will insert the name of any practitioner from your Cliniko account - not necessarily the specific practitioner your trigger is targeting.

The real trigger will insert the specific variable data to the receiving patient. The test is just about ensuring you do see a value and not a bracketed variable or a blank value - which would indicate there is a typo in the variable.

It's also about ensuring they read correctly - such as taking a space where needed, or adjusting the wording surrounding your variable to read properly.

Turn on your trigger

All looks good? Go ahead and turn it on!

πŸ€” If you suspect your trigger is not firing correctly - for example, people are incorrectly receiving, or not receiving an email - the problem will be with your trigger configuration. Please check carefully your settings, and if you can't work out the problem get in touch with us and we'll be happy to assist you.


Testing SMS

Ensure you have added some SMS credits to your account before you test. Test SMS will cost credits as we send you an actual SMS.

You should also ensure you have added your mobile number to the Settings page of your account so we know where to send the test to.

Send the test

Next you'll need to navigate to the Send SMS page and locate the trigger you'd like to test.

Press the message icon in the 'Test' column of the trigger table:

If you see a green banner in the top right - great! Your trigger worked, and a test is on it's way to the mobile number you specified on the settings page.

If you see a red banner in the top right - there's something wrong with your trigger or settings. Typically it's that you have not added a test mobile number to the Settings page of your account, or you have no SMS credits.

Review the test received

Now you check your phone - the test should arrived within a couple of minutes.

Things to check include:

  1. The SMS sender ID (the word/name at the top of the SMS in place of a phone number) is as you expect. Seeing 'Peptalkr'? You need to register a custom SMS sender ID.

  2. The text inside the SMS reads correctly - particularly if you have inserted any personalisation variables.

  3. The spacing and grammar is correct.

  4. You have correctly included any links and they work when clicked (such as cancellation, booking, and form links)

πŸ‘‰ If you are using personalisation variables please note that the test will output randomised values. For example, if you have used the [practitioner] variable, your test will insert the name of any practitioner from your Cliniko account - not necessarily the specific practitioner your trigger is targeting.

The real trigger will insert the specific variable data to the receiving patient. The test is just about ensuring you do see a value and not a bracketed variable or a blank value - which would indicate there is a typo in the variable.

It's also about ensuring they read correctly - such as taking a space where needed, or adjusting the wording surrounding your variable to read properly.

Turn on your trigger

All looks good? Go ahead and turn it on!

πŸ€” If you suspect your trigger is not firing correctly - for example, people are incorrectly receiving, or not receiving an SMS - the problem will be with your trigger configuration. Please check carefully your settings, and if you can't work out the problem get in touch with us and we'll be happy to assist you.

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