Run Your First Test
A detailed guide to creating and running your first spam test
Run Your First Test
This guide walks you through creating a spam test and understanding the complete workflow.
Creating a Test
From the Dashboard
- Navigate to Spam Tests in the sidebar
- Click the New Test button
- Configure your test:
| Field | Description |
|---|---|
| Name | A descriptive name for your test (e.g., "Newsletter Campaign Test") |
| Provider Types | Which email providers to test against |
- Click Create Test
Provider Types
Choose which types of email providers to include:
-
Consumer - Free email services used by individuals
- Gmail, Yahoo Mail, AOL, Outlook.com, iCloud Mail
-
Business - Enterprise email services
- Microsoft 365, Google Workspace, Exchange
-
Protected - Mailboxes behind commercial spam filters
- Mimecast, Proofpoint, Barracuda
For the most comprehensive test, include all provider types. This gives you the best picture of your email's deliverability.
Sending Your Test Email
After creating a test, you'll see:
Test Email Addresses
A list of email addresses to send your test to:
Send your email to all provided addresses. Missing addresses will show as "Missing" in results.
Tracking Key
A unique identifier for your test:
Include this key somewhere in your email:
- In the subject line, or
- In the email body (visible or hidden)
Waiting for Results
InboxIssue monitors the test mailboxes for incoming emails. Here's what happens:
- Email arrives at a test mailbox
- InboxIssue detects the email using the tracking key
- Analysis runs on headers and authentication
- Results update in real-time on the test page
Typical Timing
| Provider Type | Expected Time |
|---|---|
| Gmail | 1-5 minutes |
| Outlook.com | 2-10 minutes |
| Yahoo | 3-15 minutes |
| Business (365) | 5-15 minutes |
Tests timeout after 60 minutes. If emails don't arrive by then, they're marked as "Missing".
Viewing Results
The test results page shows:
Summary View
- Inbox Rate - Percentage of emails delivered to inbox
- Total Tests - Number of provider tests
- Inbox / Spam / Missing counts
Per-Provider Details
Each provider shows:
-
Delivery Status - Where the email landed
- ✅ Inbox - Delivered to primary inbox
- ⚠️ Spam - Delivered to spam/junk folder
- ❌ Missing - Email not received within timeout
-
Authentication Results
- SPF, DKIM, DMARC pass/fail status
-
Spam Scores (where available)
- Microsoft SCL (Spam Confidence Level)
- Microsoft BCL (Bulk Complaint Level)
Troubleshooting
Email Not Received
- Check that you sent to the correct addresses
- Verify the tracking key is included
- Check your sending server for bounce messages
- Wait the full 60-minute timeout
All Emails in Spam
This usually indicates:
- Missing or failing SPF/DKIM/DMARC
- Poor sender reputation
- Content issues (spam triggers)
See Understanding Results for interpretation help.