Yesterday afternoon, Copernica disabled file downloads upon the discovery of a security risk by one of our users. The reporting user was able to download random files by manually altering URLs. To prevent abuse, all file downloads were disabled completely on the spot.
Split-run functionality temporarily unavailable
Due to maintenance, it’s currently not possible to use the split-run functionality of Copernica. Our R&D team is developing a new version of the split-run functionality that will eliminate all issues that prevented the previous version from working correctly.
Update: The split-run functionality is now once again available for users.
When this new split-run functionality will be released is yet unknown. Until then however, it won’t be possible to conduct split-run mailings in Copernica. We advise users to use A/B tests instead.
What’s the difference between splitrun and A/B testing?
In the world of email marketing split-run and A/B test are often used in the same context. Contrary to popular belief however, there is a difference between the two.
When conducting a split-run test, you send two versions of the same emailing to a small part of the send list. The best performing version of the two will then be sent to the rest of the group.
With an A/B test, you try out version A first, and send out version B a week later for example. Comparing the results of these mailings, you decide which version to use towards your target group.
Create similar circumstances
If you use A/B tests to compare two different versions of emailings, it is of course of great importance to create similar circumstances.
To give you an example:
You send version A on a Monday, resulting in a 55 percent open rate
You send version B on a Tuesday, resulting in 75 percent open rate
While one version might have scored better than the other, you still don’t know if it was document B that caused the difference, or that Tuesday is just a better day to send an email than a Monday.