Back to Resources
Strategy12 min read

A/B Testing for SMS Campaigns

How to test and optimize your message performance for better results

What is A/B Testing?

A/B testing (also called split testing) is a method of comparing two versions of a message to see which one performs better. By testing different elements, you can make data-driven decisions to improve your SMS marketing results.

Why A/B Test?

Small changes can have big impacts. A/B testing helps you discover what resonates with your audience, leading to higher open rates, more clicks, and better conversions.

What to Test

Message Copy

Test different wording, tone, and length

Call-to-Action

Try different CTAs like "Shop now" vs "Get yours"

Personalization

With name vs without name

Emojis

Test messages with and without emojis

Send Time

Morning vs afternoon vs evening

Offer Type

% off vs $ off vs free shipping

How to Run an A/B Test in Pinglo

  1. 1Create your campaign and click "Enable A/B Testing"
  2. 2Write Version A of your message
  3. 3Write Version B with one element changed
  4. 4Set your test audience size (we recommend 20-30% of total)
  5. 5Choose your success metric (clicks, conversions, replies)
  6. 6Launch the test and wait for results
  7. 7Pinglo automatically sends the winner to the rest of your list

A/B Testing Example

Version A

"Hi Sarah! Don't miss our 25% off sale. Shop now: link.co/sale"

Click rate: 4.2%

Version B (Winner)

"Sarah, your exclusive 25% discount expires tonight! 🔥 Claim it: link.co/sale"

Click rate: 6.8% (+62%)

In this example, Version B won by creating urgency ("expires tonight") and using an emoji. The click rate improved by 62%!

Best Practices

Test only one element at a time for clear results
Use a large enough sample size (at least 1,000 per variant)
Wait for statistical significance before declaring a winner
Document your tests and learnings
Apply winners to future campaigns
Keep testing - what works today may not work tomorrow

Pro Tip: Continuous Testing

The most successful SMS marketers never stop testing. Make A/B testing a regular part of your campaign strategy, and you'll see compounding improvements over time.

Start A/B Testing Today

Pinglo makes it easy to test and optimize your SMS campaigns.

Start Free Trial