# Build the Campaign

Build a WhatsApp Follow-up campaign: steps, delays, and messages, then turn it on.

A campaign is the series of messages sent automatically to every contact in the list. Each step sends one or more messages, after a set delay or at a set time.

No list yet? Create one first in [Create a List](/dashboard/whatsapp/follow-up/buat-list). The example in this guide: the *Barista Class Participants* list.

#### 1. Open the list's campaign

Open the list from **WhatsApp** › **Follow-up**, then click **Campaign**.

![The campaign menu](/assets/dashboard/whatsapp/fus-b1-menu.png)

1. Choose **Manage campaign**.

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#### 2. Add the first step

![An empty campaign](/assets/dashboard/whatsapp/fus-b2-kampanye-kosong.png)

1. Click **Add step**.

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#### 3. Fill in the step

![Filling in a campaign step](/assets/dashboard/whatsapp/fus-b3-langkah.png)

1. **Step name**: just for you, for example *Day 1: welcome*.
2. **Step type**:
   - **Delay**: sent after a set delay. The first step counts from when the contact joins the list, the next ones from the previous step.
   - **Schedule**: sent at a set date and time, for example a reminder the day before class. The time follows your device's time zone.
3. **Delay time** and **Time unit**: for example *5* **Minutes**. You can also pick **Hours** or **Days**, up to 365 days.
4. **Message text**: write the message. Click **First name**, **Last name**, or **Full name** under **Insert** to include the contact's name, for example `{first_name}`.

The preview on the right shows the message as the recipient sees it in WhatsApp.

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#### 4. Add the next step

![Messages, files, and the next step](/assets/dashboard/whatsapp/fus-b4-pesan-aksi.png)

Scroll down in the same step.

1. **Attach a file** adds one file per message, for example a PDF catalog. Images are sent with the message text as their caption. **Add message** adds another message in the same step (up to 5), so a long message can be split into several chats.
2. **Actions after sending** (optional): see [Optional settings](#optional-settings).
3. Click **Add step** for the next step, for example *Day 2: class schedule* with a 1-day delay. Repeat step 3 to fill it in.

{% hint style="info" %}
When a new contact joins, the step with the nearest time is sent first. To keep the order, put **Schedule** steps before **Delay** steps.
{% endhint %}

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#### 5. Save and turn on the campaign

Click **Save campaign** at the top right.

![Save the campaign](/assets/dashboard/whatsapp/fus-b5-simpan.png)

1. Choose who follows this campaign:
   - **All contacts**: contacts already in the list are scheduled now. If your list already has 300 contacts, all 300 start receiving the first step.
   - **New contacts only**: only contacts who join after this. Existing contacts get nothing.

   For a new, empty list, both choices do the same thing.
2. Click **Save campaign**.

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#### 6. Check the result

A **Campaign saved** notice appears, and you're back on the list page.

![Campaign active](/assets/dashboard/whatsapp/fus-b6-aktif.png)

1. The list's status changes to **Campaign active**. Every contact who joins the list from now on starts this campaign right away.

## Optional settings

- **Message variants**: above the message, click the plus sign to create another variant. One variant is picked automatically for each contact, so not everyone gets exactly the same text.
- **Actions after sending**: run once every message in that step has been sent, for example **Remove contact from list** in the last step so contacts don't get repeat messages, or **Save contact to list** for another list.
- **Random delay between deliveries** in **Other settings** at the bottom: adds a random delay between deliveries to different contacts, so they look more natural.

## Stopping the campaign

Click **Campaign** › **Stop campaign**. The status becomes **Campaign stopped**, and deliveries that come due while it's stopped are cancelled. Click **Campaign** › **Start campaign** to run it again.

Tips so it doesn't feel spammy: keep the wording light and personal, leave reasonable gaps between messages, and make sure every message has a clear purpose (education, a call to action, or clarification).

## Troubleshooting

| Message | Fix |
| --- | --- |
| *This agent's subscription is not active, so the campaign cannot be saved.* | Renew your plan in [Billing](/dashboard/akun/billing), then save again. |
| *Some fields still need fixing.* | Open the step marked *Some fields need fixing* and complete the fields marked in red, for example an empty message. |
| *The campaign was not saved. Try again.* | Try saving again in a little while. |
| *WhatsApp is not connected.* | Connect your WhatsApp number first in [Connect Your Accounts](/dashboard/mulai/hubungkan-akun#whatsapp-pro-plan). |

## Next step

The campaign is active, but the list is still empty. Continue to [Set Up Triggers](/dashboard/whatsapp/follow-up/trigger) so contacts join automatically.