Testing is a waste of time, right?

What 30 seconds can do…

I almost sent “Hi [First Name]” to my members this morning.

Not “Hi Andrea” or “Hi Sarah” – literally “Hi [First Name]” with the brackets and everything.

This was a simple call reminder to people I genuinely respect and care about. But instead of their actual names, they would have received a careless placeholder greeting.

Spot the difference:

  • What I thought I was sending: “Hi Andrea, Just a quick reminder about our call at 10:30am…”
  • What would have actually gone out: “Hi [First Name], Just a quick reminder about our call at 10:30am…”

This isn’t how I would choose to greet anyone, let alone my members who I work hard to support. It’s the kind of detail that could undermine the care I put into everything else I do for them.

How did I catch it?

I hit the test button. Always.

It takes 30 seconds to send yourself a test email. But when you care about your relationships, those 30 seconds matter.

This wasn’t a technical glitch or a platform error. This was me copying placeholder text and forgetting to update it. The kind of mistake that happens when you’re moving fast and feeling confident.

The lesson isn’t about perfection – it’s about having systems that honor the relationships we’re building.

Testing isn’t just about checking if your email delivers or your links work. It’s about seeing your content through your audience’s eyes. It’s about making sure every touchpoint reflects the care you actually feel.

My testing checklist:

  • Send to myself first, always
  • Check it on mobile (because that’s where most people read)
  • Read it out loud (catches awkward phrasing)
  • Click every link
  • Check merge tags actually merge

Is it a waste of time?

Yes, it adds some time to every send.

To be completely honest, I often feel like I’m wasting my time as I’m doing it! I reuse email layouts, I check everything, I’ve been doing this a long time. Everything should be in order, right?

But it’s saved me from mistakes and from accidentally showing less care than I actually feel enough times that I know it is worth testing, every time.

Your turn: What’s your biggest “almost sent” disaster? And more importantly – what’s your testing routine?

Because the best content creators aren’t the ones who never make mistakes. They’re the ones who catch them before they impact the relationships that matter.

Is testing a waste of time?
25 June 2025
Andrea @ Coppertops

Andrea @ Coppertops

I help small Irish businesses get found online with clear websites, simple marketing, and tech that behaves itself.

Work with me your way:
done‑for‑you if you want it handled,
done‑with‑you if you want a partner,
or do‑it‑yourself with a helping hand.

Through Chemistry Calls, website builds the Coppertops way, and the Nurture IT membership, we make digital feel doable.

Expect straight answers, tidy systems, and gentle encouragement to press publish — because empowering people to do what they thought they couldn’t is my favourite part of the job.