If you bring up marketing automation or email marketing with someone, it seems to be just a matter of time until split testing comes up.

And if you use Keap (formerly known as Infusionsoft), you may or may not have noticed that there isn’t an easy split testing feature built into the campaign builder.

Update: Since this was originally published Keap has introduced some native split testing functionality. (Read More)

Well, fortunately some smart people have already solved this with third-party solutions like MyFusionHelper and PlusThis.

Those tools are great, and there are dozens of use cases for either one, but just last week I realized that you could use use Zapier to implement split testing in Keap as well.

I’m sure I’m not the first person to figure this out, in fact there may even be an easier way, but this was the first time I’d stumbled onto this and so I wanted to share in case it helped you out too.

Anyway, without further ado; here are the steps for using Zapier to split test in Infusionsoft:

  1. Create a custom field (whole number type) in Infusionsoft, and name it Split Test.
  2. Choose the trigger for your zap: This will be what initiates the zap, you could choose to have it run when any new contact is created, or when a specific action takes place, like a tag is applied.
  3. Use the built in Zapier formatter function: This step will use the Spreadsheet Style Formula option to randomly generate a number. For that part you’ll use the RANDBETWEEN(min, max) formula. If you want to split into two groups you’d use RANDBETWEEN(1, 2), and if you wanted to split into thirds, or quarters you’d just change the second number.
  4. The third step will be to update the contact record in Infusionsoft by mapping this new value to the Split Test field you created in test one.
  5. Then, use this value to branch contacts between your various sequences, or in searches to determine your broadcast groups. (Yes, this will require a little manual effort.)

For those of you who are more visual learners, enjoy this short video walking you through the process:

Yes, I know, this isn’t a perfect solution, and it may not be as elegant as some of the other options out there – but if you already have a Zapier subscription then this is one way to get a little more bang for your buck. I’d love to hear if you end up using this, or if you have clever ideas to simplify this further!

Oh, and if you like stuff like this, then download my Monkeypod Toolbox ebook for the complete list of tools I trust: