In lemlist campaigns, sequencing and lead management determine when each step is executed (or skipped) for every lead. This guide explains how campaign sequences work, what you can and can’t change after launch, and how to troubleshoot common sequencing issues.
Before you start
You must have access to the campaign you want to review or manage.
It helps to know your campaign sending schedule (selected sending days/hours) and the delays configured between steps.
Step 1: Understand how lemlist campaign sequences work
Campaigns follow the sequence of steps you define during setup (for example: invitations, follow-ups, profile visits). Once launched, leads move through steps based on timing rules and conditions.
Branches based on lead behavior: If a lead doesn’t take the expected action (for example, doesn’t accept an invitation within the configured timeframe), lemlist can move them into a different branch (such as a “no” branch). This can trigger different follow-ups or actions than the “yes” path.
Delays are based on your sending schedule: Steps progress based on the delays you set, but the campaign schedule affects when those delays “count.” If your campaign only sends on certain days, the next step may occur later than expected because non-sending days are not considered active sending time.
Bounces stop future steps: If an email bounces at an earlier step, the lead is excluded from subsequent email steps.
Skipped Steps in Multichannel Sequences: In multichannel campaigns where certain steps (e.g., email) cannot be executed for a lead, those steps, along with any associated delays, are skipped. The next available step (e.g., LinkedIn DM) is executed immediately to ensure smooth progression.
Delays count sending days only: Campaign delays count only the sending days selected in your campaign schedule. For example, if your campaign sends Monday to Friday, a 1-day delay after a Friday step sends the next step on Monday. If your campaign sends every day of the week, a 2-day delay after a Monday step sends the next step 48 hours later, on Wednesday.
Reply Handling and Campaign Continuation: If a lead replies, lemlist will stop the sequence.
Manual Tasks Dependency: If a manual task such as a call or note-taking is included, the sequence pauses for the specific prospect until the task is marked as 'Done.' For instance, a follow-up email will only trigger after completing the corresponding call task. This ensures accurate workflow management and manual intervention where needed.
Step 2: Know what you can (and can’t) change after launching a campaign
Once a campaign is active, there are important limitations due to how tasks and sending queues are created.
Moving and adding steps in an active campaign: You can’t reorder steps by drag and drop once a campaign is active, but you can move a block of steps with Cut and paste, and you can add new steps. See Copy and paste the steps in your sequence and Add a step to a running campaign. To remove a specific step for an individual lead, use the Skip button on any non-completed step in the lead’s sequence view (available in the Launch panel and Outreach queue). See Skip a step for an individual lead in a sequence for details.
Switching a step to manual after launch: If you change a step from automatic to manual after the campaign is launched, the step is still sent automatically. Set manual steps before you launch the campaign.
Manual tasks and pausing:
what still happens: Manual tasks remain visible in the Tasks section while a campaign is paused, but you can’t send them: Send & mark done is disabled until you resume the campaign.
However, new tasks will NOT be generated in the Tasks section while a campaign is paused. When you pause a campaign, leads stop progressing through the sequence, so they don’t reach new steps that would trigger task creation. Any tasks that were already created before pausing will remain in the Tasks section.
Delay adjustments can help control pacing: You can adjust delays to influence how quickly leads move through steps. For example, starting with longer delays and reducing them later can help you control progression more carefully.
Conditional Steps and Delays: Steps like "If email is opened" must include a delay (e.g., at least 1 day) to allow for proper detection and routing of leads.
Step 3: Troubleshoot common sequencing issues
Issue: Step 2 doesn’t execute after Step 1
Check the delay + sending schedule: If your campaign only sends on specific days, the delay may appear longer than expected.
Check for bounces: If the lead bounced on Step 1, they won’t receive Step 2.
Prospects Not Moving to Next Step: If conditional steps like "If email is opened" are not set with a delay, the system cannot detect opens in real time, misplacing leads into incorrect branches. Adjust conditions to match campaign goals.
Issue: Messages appear to skip Step 1
Check branching logic: If the lead doesn’t respond or take the expected action in Step 1 (for example, ignores an invitation), they may be redirected to a different branch (such as a “no” branch), where a follow-up step becomes the next action.
Issue: An email is sent even though the sequence is paused
Check whether the step was already queued: A step already queued to send within minutes may still go out before the pause takes effect. Future steps stop.
Manual tasks: Manual email tasks can’t be sent while the campaign is paused, because Send & mark done is disabled until you resume the campaign.
Campaign Stops After Replies: When a lead replies to your campaign, the sequence will automatically stop for that lead, marking it as completed. This prevents duplicate communication.
Best practices
Set appropriate delays upfront: Especially for large lead lists, use realistic delays between steps so leads progress consistently.
Finalize the sequence before launch: Because active campaigns have editing limitations, test your sequence logic and timing before going live.
Monitor campaign reporting regularly: Use campaign reporting to validate that leads are progressing as expected and to catch issues early.
Be careful with manual tasks: Manual tasks wait in the Tasks section until you complete them. While the campaign is paused, they can’t be sent.
Avoid archiving discussions during active campaigns to prevent sequencing issues.
Regularly monitor folders to ensure replies are correctly located.
Configure delays appropriately for all conditional steps to ensure accurate progression.
Summary
Sequencing in lemlist is driven by your configured steps, delays, campaign sending schedule, lead behavior (including branching), and bounce handling. Since some sequence changes are restricted after launch, planning and testing before activation, and careful management of manual tasks, are key to avoiding unexpected sends or timing gaps.