Welsh MSs: Pre-launch recipient lookup testing

Welsh MS lookup testing

If your action requires matching or selecting a Welsh MS - especially if you use tailored messaging and/or merge fields - then further testing is advised.

Why?: the wide and growing range of recipient lookup (and supression) plus message tailoring options means it is easy to have incorrect settings.

Basic Welsh postcode match testing

Test for negative results, not just for positive. e.g. positive: an MS is a current cabinet or party member; negative: MS was a cabinet member in this/previous government, was a party member but switched/removed or a postcode is from outside Wales.

1. Minimum: Test postcodes from multiple constituencies and regions in Wales plus one each from England, Scotland and Northern Ireland (to know what happens when you do and ensure only Scottish MSs are targeted)
2. Suppression list?: if you are excluding regions, parties or individuals from the action, be sure to verify they are excluded

Sample UK postcodes for testing

1. Wales: LL54 5DU (Arfon + North Wales region), CF10 2YG (Cardiff South and Penarth + South Wales Central region), SA62 5QX (Preseli Pembrokeshire + Mid and West Wales region)
2. Non Welsh postcodes: England: MK18 4LN, Scotland: AB10 1SN, Northern Ireland BT1 1TS, BT1 1AA
3. Invalid postcodes: W10 (partial), 123 456 (invalid format), BT1 1BG (correct format, old and unused), NW1 1ZZ (correct format, non-existent)

Advanced Welsh MS targeted image and message testing

If your target specific images and messages at specific MSs or groups, the hirarchy is: indiviual setting > cabinet minister setting > party setting > fallback setting. For example, if you wish to have a different image/message sent to the First Minister/a specific minister vs the rest of the cabinet, the specific individuals need their own settings to override the fact they are also a government minister (and even in a specific party)

1. Individual targeting?: if you have tailored images and/or messages for specific named MSs, test their specific postcodes and ensure the images and/or message(s) are correct for each
2. Group targeting?: If you are tailored images and/or messages by group (e.g. government minister) then make sure you test with postcodes for 1-2 MSs in each group.
3. Party targeting?: If you have tailored images and/or messages by party, test postcodes for MSs from each party you wish to include and each party you wish to exclude. Note that for some parties they may have different local names e.g. Labour and Labour (Co-op) so be sure to test for MSs of both.
4. Merge fields?: If you are using merge fields into the message either from standard variables or data you've supplied, test to make sure it formats properly on the message step all the key cases.