Take a random sample of contacts

Learn to create an address book filled with a random sample of contacts taken from your address books or segments.

Overview

You can create an address book from a random sample of contacts taken from your choice of existing address books or segments in your account. Some potential use cases:

Use case 1 - Forms

You could use this to send a follow-up campaign (linking to a feedback survey) to a random number of contacts who had received a previous campaign. This ensures you get a random selection of responses.

Use case 2 - Control groups

To make the most of campaign testing, you might be split testing using subject lines and content for a couple of campaigns. You can extend this by using a random sample control group.

Use the functionality to create your control group from an address book or segment. Then, when you run split tests or a series of triggered campaigns, you can separate your control group so they don't receive them. This way, when the testing is complete, you can compare engagement, ROI, sharing, and more, between your control group and your tested group. If all goes well, your test group will show better results, and you know for sure that your tests have added real value.

Take a random sample of contacts from address books

To create an address book from a random sample of contacts in an existing address book or address books:

1. Go to Email > Contacts > All contacts.
2. Select the check box for the address books from which you want to take a random sample.
3. Expand the MORE ACTIONS menu, and select Take random sample.
4. For Address book name, enter a name for your new address book.
   
5. Expand the Folder drop-down menu, and choose a folder for your new address book.
6. For Percentage to sample, drag the slider to choose a percentage of contacts to sample.
   

   You can also enter a percentage in the box.

7. Select OK.
8. A confirmation that your address book will be ready shortly is displayed. Select the close icon to complete the process.

Take a random sample of contacts in a segment

To create an address book from a random sample of contacts in a segment or segments:

1. Go to Email > Contacts > Segments.
2. Select the check box for the segment from which you want to take a random sample.
3. Expand the MORE ACTIONS menu, and select Take random sample.
4. For Address book name, enter a name for your new address book.
   
5. Expand the Folder drop-down menu, and choose a folder for your new address book.
6. For Percentage to sample, drag the slider to choose a percentage of contacts to sample.
   > You can also enter a percentage in the box.
7. Select OK.
8. Once complete, you can find your random sample address book in Email > Contacts > All contacts.