The Random split node is used to create a random split of contacts in your marketing automation program, based on a given probability of contacts going down either one of the routes.
For example, let's look at how to split (A/B) test two different automated "welcome" email automations. You can compare your established series (Route A) against a new version that contains more emails (Route B). By splitting your new contacts and sending a certain percentage to each route, you can directly compare their performance. This data shows you whether the new, longer series is more effective and helps you decide if you should make it your permanent welcome program.
Configure a random split in a program
Drag a random split node from the side panel onto the canvas, making sure that it attaches to a previous node.
Select the node to set the chances of contacts going down each program branch. A panel slides in from the right side of the screen.
To set the probability percentages with the slider control, you can either use the slider or type the percentage directly into the field.
Understanding the splitting logic
The split is based on an individual probability for each contact, not a fixed division of the whole group.
For example, with an 80/20 split, we are not pre-sorting 100 contacts to send exactly 80 down one path and 20 down the other.
Instead, every single contact that arrives at this point has an independent 80% chance of going to Route A and a 20% chance of going to Route B. While the results will get very close to 80/20 over thousands of contacts, in a small sample, the numbers may be slightly different
Select APPLY.
The Random split node is set.
Next, you need to ensure both branch connectors are attached to the subsequent nodes you want your contacts to progress to.
In our simple example given at the top of the page, contacts passing through the '80%' chance random split node go down the route that receives the campaigns of the currently used welcome program. Those contacts falling within the 20% category are sent down the other route and receive the campaigns of the newly devised welcome program (with the extra campaigns).