---
title: "Test basic content changes"
slug: "test-basic-content-changes"
abstract: "Run a basic content test after you change content on a page."
---
# Test basic content changes

When you update content on a page, you can create a content test that tests the new and old versions of your website's content to find out which content is most effective with visitors. This topic describes how to set up a test and how to start a test.

> [!note]
> **Before you begin**
> -   [Set up goals](https://doc.sitecore.com/xp/en/users/100/sitecore-experience-platform/create-and-deploy-a-goal.html "Create and deploy a goal") with engagement value points, and assign the goals to pages or actions on your website.
>
> -   Define at least one [variant of the component](https://doc.sitecore.com/xp/en/users/100/sitecore-experience-platform/create-variants-of-a-component.html "Create variants of a component") that you want to test.
>
> -   Set up a [personalization rule for the component](https://doc.sitecore.com/xp/en/users/100/sitecore-experience-platform/test-personalized-components.html "Test personalized components").
>
> -   Ensure that the *Approve with Test* command is part of item workflow. This command triggers a preview and starts the test dialog. You can copy this command into your workflow from the Sample Workflow. It needs to be available to items in the *Awaiting Approval* state.
>
> ![Approve with Test command in the Sample workflow](https://doc.sitecore.com/api/markdown-image/xp/en/users/100/sitecore-experience-platform/images/Approve_with_test.png)

## Set up a test

To set up a test in the Experience Editor:

1. Save and submit the item that you want to test.
2. In the notifications at the top of the page in the Experience Editor:
    - If you are using a workflow, click **Approve with Test**:

        ![FF89147D8C19451287407E093B3F539D.png](https://doc.sitecore.com/api/markdown-image/xp/en/users/100/sitecore-experience-platform/images/FF89147D8C19451287407E093B3F539D.png)

    - If you are not using a workflow and you have enabled test notifications, click **Create a test**:

        ![0E6656BCF14A4D6BB84E795451784FB3.png](https://doc.sitecore.com/api/markdown-image/xp/en/users/100/sitecore-experience-platform/images/0E6656BCF14A4D6BB84E795451784FB3.png)

3. Enter a comment and click OK.

    The **Preview and start test** dialog box opens. On the **Preview** tab, you can preview the test and predict the outcome:

    ![34D2ED9ED0AB400EB049E40B1AB28CD5.png](https://doc.sitecore.com/api/markdown-image/xp/en/users/100/sitecore-experience-platform/images/34D2ED9ED0AB400EB049E40B1AB28CD5.png)

### Adjust test parameters

You can use the default settings for all of the test parameters. To learn about custom test configuration, you can read about [content test configuration](https://doc.sitecore.com/xp/en/users/100/sitecore-experience-platform/preview-and-start-a-content-test.html "Preview and start a content test").

## Start a test

There are a few things you need to be aware of before you start a test:

- A test may fail if it includes a page that has an unpublished variation. To prevent the test from failing, publish the variants involved in the test.
- If there is a workflow associated with the page, we recommend that you also check the workflow state.

After you start a test, you must not modify it. For example, do not edit the content that you are testing.

To start a test:

1. In the **Preview and start test** dialog box, click **Start test**.
2. To make the test go live and publish the test to your website, you must publish the page. In the **Publish Item** dialog, select **Smart publish** and the **Publish related items** option.

    > [!note]
    > If you use a [workflow](https://doc.sitecore.com/xp/en/users/100/sitecore-experience-platform/workflows-and-the-workbox.html "Workflows and the Workbox") that includes Auto Publish, you do not need to publish manually.