Before launching an automated email campaign to real customers, thorough pre-flight testing is crucial. Sending a test preview email allows store administrators to verify that subject lines render properly, email banners scale cleanly on mobile devices, call-to-action buttons function correctly, and dynamic customer merge tags display with expected formatting.
ReviewX includes a built-in Send Test Email tool that dispatches a real-time preview of your active email template directly to any email address you specify—including unsaved draft edits currently in the template editor.
The 60-Second Email QA Checklist
When reviewing your test email, check: (1) Subject line truncation on mobile inboxes, (2) Logo banner clarity on retina screens, (3) Legibility of typography in dark mode, and (4) Proper resolution of sample customer and order merge tags.
How the Test Email System Operates
When you trigger a test email in ReviewX, the plugin executes an automated preview compilation:
- Editor State Capture: ReviewX captures the live HTML content and banner image currently displayed in your Tiptap rich-text editor, ensuring you can test changes before permanently saving them.
- Dynamic Mock Data Injection: Because no real customer order is tied to a test dispatch, ReviewX intelligently populates merge tags with realistic mock data:
[customer_name]→ “John Doe”[order_number]→ “#1001”[site_name]→ Your WordPress store name[product_name]→ Sample product title
- Relay Verification: The email is sent through your active WordPress mailer or configured Custom SMTP server, validating your mail server configuration and inbox deliverability.
Step-by-Step Guide: Sending a Test Reminder Email
Step 1: Open Email Content Settings
From your WordPress administrative menu, navigate to ReviewX → Review Reminder and select the Email content tab at the top.
Step 2: Select the Template to Test
Choose the specific reminder template you want to inspect (e.g., First Review Request, Follow-Up Email, Photo/Video Request, or Thank You Email).
Step 3: Open the Test Email Modal
In the header toolbar of the email template editor, click the Send test mail button. This opens the Send test email modal (marked with Badge 1 in the screenshot above).
Step 4: Enter Test Recipient Email
In the email address field (Badge 2), enter your personal email address or a shared team inbox where you want to receive the preview.
Step 5: Send the Preview
Click the Send button (Badge 3). A confirmation toast message will appear confirming that the test email has been dispatched. Check your inbox within 1 to 2 minutes.
Troubleshooting Test Email Deliverability
| Issue Observed | Likely Cause | Recommended Fix |
|---|---|---|
| Test email not arriving | Default PHP mail() blocked by server |
Configure an authenticated Custom SMTP relay in ReviewX → Settings → Custom SMTP. |
| Email lands in Spam folder | Missing SPF/DKIM DNS records on domain | Add SPF and DKIM records to your domain DNS matching your SMTP relay provider. |
| Banner image looks blurry | Uploaded banner resolution too low | Upload a high-resolution retina banner (1200px width, under 500KB PNG or JPG). |
Frequently Asked Questions
Does sending a test email consume monthly cloud email quota?
Test emails sent through your configured Custom SMTP relay do not consume ReviewX cloud quota. If using default SaaS sending, test emails count minimally toward monthly operational limits.
Can I test the review submission link in the test email?
The review button in a test email links to a sample product on your store. Because test emails are not associated with a genuine order record, the live review submission form will reflect guest or logged-in administrator status.
Can I send test emails to multiple addresses at once?
The modal accepts one email recipient at a time. To test across multiple inboxes (e.g., Gmail, Outlook, Apple Mail), simply trigger the test modal again with a different address.
