Fix what stops a campaign from going live
What each line under "Before it can go live" means, and how to fix it so the Turn on button works.
Updated
When something would stop a campaign from working, the board lists it under the title after Before it can go live, and Turn on (or Publish changes) stays grey. Click a line to jump to the step it is about. The same line shows in red on that step's card and at the top of its side panel.
Amber lines on a card are warnings. They never block turning on.
Blanks to fill in
| What it says | What to do |
|---|---|
| Step 3: the "Shop now" button needs a web address | Open the step and paste the page the button should open, starting with https:// |
| Add the message for step 2 | Write the DM |
| Add the reply for step 1 | Write at least one version of the public reply |
| Add the question for step 2 | Write what the Ask for email or phone step asks |
| Step 2: add what to say when the answer does not look right | Fill in If the answer does not look right |
| Step 4: pick a tag | Type at least one tag to add or remove |
| Step 5: pick where to send it | Pick a Zapier or webhook address, or add one first under Settings, Alerts |
| Add a keyword, or answer every comment | Type a word on the trigger, or switch Which comments to Any comment |
| Pick where this campaign listens | Tick at least one platform on the trigger |
| Pick at least one ad | Paste the ad ids for an "ad that opens a DM" campaign |
| Add a first step | Click the + under the trigger |
Messages the platform would refuse
Facebook and Instagram let a business message someone who only commented once, within 7 days. After that, the person has to tap a button or reply before you can send more, and then only within 24 hours of their last message. The board checks this for you.
| What it says | What it means |
|---|---|
| Step 3: They need to tap a button or reply first | This DM comes after the one private reply. Give the DM before it a button that waits for a tap, then put this step on its Tapped lane. See The opening DM with a button |
| Step 2: Needs a tap or a reply first: add a DM with a button above | Ask for email, Ask for phone and Check they follow need the person to have answered first. Put a DM with a button before them |
| Step 5: More than 23 hours after their last message, so it could not be sent | A wait pushes this message past the 24 hour window. Shorten the wait, or move the message before it |
| Step 2: The first message must go within 7 days of the comment | Shorten the waits before the first DM |
| Step 3: TikTok buttons cannot open links | TikTok DM buttons can only be tapped to continue. Change the button to Continue, or send the link as text |
| Step 2: add a button to tap, or stop waiting for a tap | Wait for their tap is on, but the DM has nothing to tap. Add a Continue button or a quick reply |
| Step 5: send a link before checking for a click | A Clicked the link? branch needs a link in an earlier DM step: a link button, or a web address typed into the message |
Setup a trigger needs
| What it says | What to do |
|---|---|
| Instagram needs Questions to tap for this link. Turn it on in Setup, When someone messages you | Go to Setup, When someone messages you, and turn on Questions to tap for that Instagram account |
| Facebook needs Welcome new people for this link. Turn it on in Setup, When someone messages you | Go to Setup, When someone messages you, and turn on Welcome new people, which adds the Get Started button on Messenger |
| The link name can use letters, numbers, dashes and underscores | Change the Link name on the trigger |
Warnings that do not block
- Step 4 is skipped on TikTok (or YouTube, Threads): the campaign listens on several platforms and one of them does not allow this step. People there skip it and carry on with the next one. See Every step, and where it works.
- If Instagram does not show the buttons, they can reply to continue: on the first message after a comment, Instagram may show the text without the buttons. A reply of any kind counts as the tap.
- Klaviyo is not connected, so this step is skipped: everything else still runs. See Send people to Klaviyo.
- This step is not connected, so it never runs: a step is left over from an edit. Remove it or link it back in.
Related
- Build a campaign on the flow board Add steps with the + buttons, change them in the side panel, and turn the campaign on once nothing is blocking it.
- The opening DM with a button, and why it matters Facebook and Instagram allow one message to someone who only commented. A button in that first message is what lets the rest of your campaign run.
- Start a campaign from a chat link or QR code Make a link or QR code that opens a chat with you, print it on packaging or put it in your bio, and start a campaign when people use it.
- Every step, and where it works What each campaign step does, and which of Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, Threads and WhatsApp allow it, with the reason when one does not.
Still stuck?
Tell us what you were trying to do and what happened. A person replies, usually within one business day.