Test lanes: test parts of your VSL without reshooting

What they are

Test lanes are versions of the same VSL running side by side. The first one is the Main project, your original video. Each variation is a copy of it with one or more sections changed: a section replaced with another video, a section cut, or a new video added at the start or the end.

What they are for

Most people leave a VSL in the first few minutes. Testing a different opening, hook or pitch is usually the shortest path to keeping more of them, and with test lanes you do it by uploading only the new section, without reshooting or re-uploading the whole video.

VSL stages

Once the video finishes converting, the AI reads the transcript and splits the VSL into four stages: Opening, Problem, Offer and CTA. They show up as a ruler in the editor and help you mark sections in the right spot. You can drag the boundaries between stages. Until the transcript is ready, the block shows that it's waiting for it.

How to create a lane

1. In your video library, click the video and go to the Settings tab.
2. In the Test lanes block, click Open lane editor.
3. Click Add variation. It starts as a copy of the Main project.
4. On the variation's strip, drag across the section you want to change.
5. Choose what to do: Choose the section video to replace it, Cut section to remove it, or Add video at the start and Add video at the end to add one.
6. To replace or add, pick the new section's file (MP4, MOV or WebM) and confirm with Upload section pilot.

From the lane's menu you can also Duplicate lane or Remove lane.

Save and start the test

1. Click Save. Section files are only uploaded at this point, and each section is converted before its lane is ready.
2. When every lane is ready, click Start test. Traffic starts being split between them.
3. To stop, click End test. The video goes back to playing the Main project for everyone, and the numbers collected so far stay in the history.

If you close the editor without saving, your changes are still there in this browser when you reopen it. Discard changes takes everything back to the last saved state.

How results are measured

The Main goal depends on the video's conversion. With a linked conversion, the goal is Conversion and the lane that sells the most wins. Without one, the goal is Retention and the lane that gets the most people to the pitch wins.

By default, traffic is split evenly. Once the test is live, the algorithm adjusts the weights based on performance. You can set a manual Traffic weight, as long as all lanes add up to 100%. While the test is live, each lane shows plays, retention up to the pitch, conversions and sales.

Rules and limits

• The Main project can't be cut. Always mark sections on a variation.
• Cuts land on the video's switch points, every few seconds. When you drag, the mark snaps to the nearest one.
• The new section needs the same resolution and encoding as the main video. If the aspect ratio differs, the editor warns you with Different format from the video.
• While the test is live, lanes are locked. End the test to edit.
• Only one test runs at a time on each video.
• Only account admins can edit lanes. Members open the editor in read-only mode.

Common issues

• Start test is locked. Hover over the button to see why: unsaved changes, no variation, another test already live, weights that don't add up to 100% or a lane that isn't ready yet.
• A lane shows a problem. The reason appears on the lane itself. The most common cause is a section with a different resolution or encoding from the main video.
• The section upload failed. The file is still on the lane: save again to resend it.