For marketers and makers · Creative testing
Creative testing: ads, social posts, packaging, video and more
Creative testing can help when you have two social posts, packaging fronts, covers or ad designs and need an outside read. This creative testing platform asks one focused question of 5 to 50 verified UK adults. We aim for first answers within about 15 minutes in UK daytime; replies can take longer for now. It is a first reaction to still images, not a test of campaign performance.
We review requests by hand.
Questions for posts, packaging and covers
Choose one decision and keep the format consistent. You might compare two podcast covers, three packaging fronts, a pair of social posts or stills from a video. Examples of questions that fit a quick take:
- Example: Emberwear compares three still designs for one product: a social post headed “EVERYDAY COMFORT”, a packaging front headed “MADE FOR YOUR DAY” and a poster headed “FIND YOUR PACE”. Which one makes the product clearest?
- Which illustration makes the instruction easier to understand?
- What do you think is being offered after seeing this cover?
If the format itself changes, ask what each person noticed; do not claim the vote isolates the effect of colour or wording alone.
What creative testing results show
Illustrative Emberwear example: B gets 10 of 20 picks, A six and C four. The example reasons say the packaging front makes the product easiest to recognise, while the poster leaves the offer unclear. The six people who chose the social post may still have spotted useful detail. Compare those reasons before choosing a direction. This small mixed group does not predict conversion.
How to compare three routes
Upload one combined image showing two or three still creative routes. Label each option clearly and ask one neutral pick-one or first-impression question. Members answer blind; the results show the split, their reasons and a short summary. For a fair design comparison, keep the placement and product constant. If you compare different formats, treat the result as a broad clarity check.
The Ask page covers other formats; ad pretesting focuses on adverts.
Where a creative testing platform helps
A social image may make sense to the designer while a first-time viewer misses the product. A packaging front may be clear on a screen but cramped on a shelf. Real people can point to the element they saw first and the meaning they took from it. That helps you revise a creative route before a larger test. See how answers are checked.
Honest limit: Only still images and quick takes are available today. A ranking task, live website click test or full video test is planned for later. One frame cannot test motion or sound. A mixed UK pool may differ from your buyers or followers, and position can influence a small split. Keep confidential material out of a question shown to members.
What it costs
Asking is free during early access, by invitation. At paid launch a quick take starts from 30p an answer plus 50p a question (launch example); 20 quick takes would come to about £6.50. You see the quote before asking.
Your questions, answered
What is creative testing?
Creative testing asks how people respond to a visual idea, whether it is a social post, package, cover, poster or advert. On PennyForYours, you show still images, ask one focused question and read each reason. It is a directional opinion test, not a measurement of sales or click-through.
How should I compare two creative ideas?
Decide what you want to learn first. For a close comparison, keep the product and placement the same while changing one design direction. If you compare a social post with packaging or a poster, ask about broad clarity rather than claiming one isolated element caused the vote. Read the minority reasons as well as the winning count.
Can I rank more than three creatives?
Not with the current quick-take format. You can offer two or three options for a pick-one question. A ranking format is planned for later; until then, run separate comparisons if you have more routes and avoid pretending those separate pools form one ranking.
Can I test a confidential client campaign?
Questions are shown to the people answering without your name or business, not in a public feed. They still see the creative on their own screens. Remove embargoed, personal or commercially sensitive details you could not show a stranger yet.
Can I test video creative?
Not in the current format. Upload a still frame or storyboard image and ask about that specific visual. The answer does not test motion, sound, pacing or the full video. A dedicated video format is planned for later and should not be assumed available now.
How much does this test cost?
During invitation-only early access, asking is free. At paid launch, the example rate is 30p per answer plus 50p per question, so 20 answers would be about £6.50. You see the quote before posting. Two or three alternatives can share one question. If you change both the format and message, the price buys a first reaction rather than an isolated test of either change.
Find out what people really think.
Free during early access. No card needed.
Free during early access. We review requests by hand. Have an invite code? Join