Send test SMS messages

Test your SMS messages by delivering them to a registered phone number for a 1-to-1 look at what your contacts will see.

While our SMS preview feature gives you a quick look at how your messages will appear, you’ll only be able to see your variables and get a general idea of how your longer messages will be split. With a test send, you’ll see exactly what your contacts will experience before launching full campaigns.

Important: Test sends still count toward your send count for the month. In addition, test sends must adhere to quiet hours.

• Set up your account for tests
• How to send a test SMS

Set up your account for tests

To complete a test send, you must have purchased the SMS marketing add-on and have completed the registration process. To send your first test, you’ll need to add a phone number and opt that number in to receive SMS messages.

Once a number has been added for SMS test sends, an ‘SMS Test Sends’ list will be auto-generated, containing your testing phone number(s). These numbers will be contacts in your Constant Contact account—contacts that have opted in for SMS—but they will not be included in your standard lists alongside all of your other contacts. Instead, they will be contained in this auto-generated list. 

Add a contact to receive test SMS sends

1. Draft your SMS message and click Schedule.
   
   
   
   
2. Expand the Send Test dropdown. 
3. Click Manage.
   
   
   
   
4. Choose your method for adding contacts. 
5. Enter the email address for the contact. 
6. Fill out the contact form and click Save. 
   
   

Opt in to receive SMS messages

1. Click Channels > Sign-up forms. 
2. Click + Create a sign-up form. 
3. Click the Sign-up forms link under the SMS section. 
4. Click Sign-Up Landing Page. 
5. Click the form content. 
6. Select the SMS Test Sends list from the dropdown.
7. Drag and drop the SMS opt-in field into the form.
8. Click Continue. 
   
   
   
   
9. Modify the confirmation page and click Continue.
10. Modify page settings as needed and click Continue. 
11. Click Activate. 
12. Share the landing page link with testers so they can opt in to receive SMS. 
    
    

How to send a test SMS

1. Draft your SMS message and click Schedule. 
   
   
   
   
2. Expand the Send Test dropdown.
   
   Note: To add a new number for testing, click Manage. 
   
   
3. Click Send Test. 
   
   

Inspect the test SMS message that was sent to your phone number and make adjustments as needed.

Note: Free trial customers cannot complete a test SMS send; however, you can preview your SMS message to get an idea of what your contacts will experience. 

Questions?