topic Re: Testing Smart Content? in Blog, Website & Page Publishing

Testing Smart Content?

DG_TP — Mon, 29 Oct 2018 16:23:01 GMT

The Smart Content functionality is really awesome, but it would be great if users could immediately be able to test a page and see all of the Smart Content. For instance, I'm creating different copy based on the list the website visitor is part of, and I have four different copy versions. I can't test each copy option or preview each one. I can only preview the default. It's hard to move forward with Smart Content when I don't have 100% certainty that it will look right to those users.

Re: Testing Smart Content?

rsheldon — Mon, 29 Oct 2018 19:03:36 GMT

Hi @DG_TP,

You can test out each of your smart rules by using the "Preview as a specific contact" feature on the page!

To find it, click on the eye icon in the left sidebar. You'll see the option to "Preview as a specific contact," and you'll want to choose a contact who is a member of the list your smart rule is targeting. You can repeat this for each of your smart rules, picking contacts who fit the smart rule criteria.

This article also goes through how to preview your smart content: https://knowledge.hubspot.com/articles/kcs_article/cos-general/add-smart-content-to-your-website-pages-landing-pages-and-emails

Hope this helps!

Best,

Rachel

Re: Testing Smart Content?

DG_TP — Wed, 31 Oct 2018 13:53:19 GMT

Excellent! Tank ya!

Re: Testing Smart Content?

ReUpEducation — Thu, 06 Dec 2018 01:45:08 GMT

This either doesn't work or no longer works. I only get the default content in preview mode if I'm previewing as a specific contact that should get the smart content. I have to send a test email, receiving email as the contact, to see the smart content.

Re: Testing Smart Content?

rsheldon — Thu, 06 Dec 2018 20:14:10 GMT

Hi @ReUpEducation,

The instructions here are specifically for previewing Smart Content on website or landing pages! To preview Smart Content in your emails, you do have to send yourself a test email using the option to receive the email as a specific contact who meets the smart rule. This article goes over that in more detail, or check out the steps in the "Add smart text to your emails" section of this article.

Best,

Rachel

Re: Testing Smart Content?

rbeckwith — Sat, 19 Jan 2019 04:12:31 GMT

I'm having the same problem as above, however, the email I'm setting up is a confirmation for event registration in multiple locations. The contact is added the event's registration page for the specific location and then sent a confirmation with smart content (based on list membership) as part of a workflow. I cannot preview the smart content as a specific contact because no one has registered yet, and I can't open registration until my confirmation email is approved, and I can't approve my confirmation email unless I can be 100% sure what it will look like to my contacts. it's a vicious cycle.

My workaround is to change my personal contact file to get on each of the registration lists and go back and test the email. I have MANY events to set up, so you can see how this process would get tedious.

Is there a better way?

Re: Testing Smart Content?

megannorris — Fri, 26 Feb 2021 00:06:35 GMT

Same issue as rbeckwith - I have no contacts in my lists yet which are based on future dates contacts will inbound (updating a block for an event that will pass while the campaign is running), so I have no way to preview the content to ensure it is displaying properly.

Re: Testing Smart Content?

ABajekal3 — Wed, 03 Dec 2025 19:56:54 GMT

This should not be resolved yet. The test emails don't display the smart rules as intended. They always display default settings only. Even when I look at a specific contact.

Re: Testing Smart Content?

SamTassey — Thu, 04 Dec 2025 21:59:34 GMT

Hello @ABajekal3,

Thanks for posting in our Community! I see that you're having trouble testing your smart rules. Like @rsheldon posted above, this functionality should work when 'previewing as a specific contact'

As noted in your documentation on the matter, its states "All smart modules will display the version that applies to the contact you're testing. To preview a smart subject line, send a test email instead."

With this in mind, if you're having trouble setting this up or if the issue persists when 'previewing as a specific contact', then I may suggest reaching out to our Support Team for the quickest solution, as it seems your team is likely on a Professional+ plan!

I hope this helps!

Sam, Community Manager