TL;DR
When a step fails in multichannel campaigns: lemlist skips the failed step and all subsequent steps from the same channel, then immediately sends the next step from a different channel (ignoring delays). Example: If LinkedIn invite fails, lemlist skips remaining LinkedIn steps and sends next email immediately. In email-only campaigns, failed email bounces lead to unsubscribe section and campaign stops. Track skipped steps in Activity and Stats reports.
Additionally, various interruption scenarios such as disconnected inboxes or pending LinkedIn invitations can also impact the campaign's flow, requiring proactive measures.
Symptoms
LinkedIn step shows Failed status in lead activity
Email step shows Bounced in campaign reports
Subsequent steps from same channel marked as Skipped
Next step from different channel sent immediately (ignoring scheduled delay)
Campaign stops after failed step with no alternative channels
Lead moved to Unsubscribe section after email bounce
Environment
Applies to:
Multichannel campaigns (email + LinkedIn + calls)
Email-only campaigns (different behavior)
All campaign types where steps can fail due to connection issues, invalid data, or bounces
How Failed Steps Work
Email-Only Campaigns
When email fails:
Email bounces
Lead automatically moved to Unsubscribe section
Campaign stops (no further contact possible)
All remaining steps skipped
To continue: Must manually update lead status
Multichannel Campaigns
When any step fails:
Failed step marked as Failed
All remaining steps from same channel skipped
Next step from different channel sent immediately (delays ignored)
Campaign continues with available channels
If no other channels available: Campaign stops
Step-by-Step Examples
Scenario 1: LinkedIn Fails First
Sequence:
Step 1: LinkedIn Invitation (2-day delay)
Step 2: LinkedIn Message (1-day delay)
Step 3: Email (3-day delay)
Step 4: Email
If Step 1 fails:
LinkedIn Invitation marked Failed
Step 2 (LinkedIn Message) Skipped
Step 3 (Email) sent immediately (delay ignored)
Step 4 sent 3 days after Step 3 (delay respected)
✅ Result: Campaign continues with email channel
Scenario 2: Email Fails in Mixed Campaign
Sequence:
Step 1: Email (2-day delay)
Step 2: Email (1-day delay)
Step 3: Email (1-day delay)
Step 4: LinkedIn Visit (2-day delay)
Step 5: LinkedIn Message (3-day delay)
Step 6: Email (2-day delay)
Step 7: Manual Task
If Step 1 fails:
First email Bounced
Steps 2 and 3 (Email) Skipped
Lead moved to Unsubscribe section
Step 4 (LinkedIn Visit) sent immediately
Campaign continues with LinkedIn and manual task
⚠️ Note: Lead cannot receive future emails (unsubscribed), but LinkedIn steps still execute
✅ Result: Campaign continues with non-email channels
Scenario 3: Email-Only Campaign Fails
Sequence:
Step 1: Email (2-day delay)
Step 2: Email (1-day delay)
Step 3: Email
If Step 1 fails:
First email Bounced
Lead moved to Unsubscribe
Steps 2 and 3 Skipped
Campaign stops (no alternative channels)
✅ Result: Campaign ends for this lead
Track Failed and Skipped Steps
View in Activity report:
Go to Campaign → Lead list
Click on lead name
Check Activity section for:
Failed status (step attempted but failed)
Skipped status (step bypassed due to earlier failure)
View in Stats report:
Go to Campaign → Overview
Check metrics:
Failed steps count
Skipped steps count
Channel-specific failure rates
✅ Verify: Can identify which steps failed and why the campaign flow changed
Key Rules
Skipped steps - When lemlist skips a failed step, the next available step is sent without delay
Campaign stops - If no other channels after the failed step, the campaign ends for that lead
Email bounces - Lead automatically unsubscribed, cannot be contacted again unless manually updated
Channel isolation - Failure in one channel only affects steps from that channel, not others
Confirm It's Working
✓ Failed step marked as Failed in Activity
✓ Remaining steps from same channel marked as Skipped
✓ Next step from different channel sent immediately
✓ Bounced email leads moved to Unsubscribe section
✓ Campaign continues with available channels or stops if none
✓ Activity and Stats reports show accurate failure/skip counts
Why It Happens
Steps fail due to: invalid LinkedIn profiles (deactivated, wrong URL), email bounces (invalid address, full inbox, blocked), connection issues (API errors, rate limits), or authentication problems (expired tokens). Other causes include disconnected inboxes, pending LinkedIn invitations, and risky or undeliverable leads flagged during data enrichment.
lemlist skips same-channel steps to avoid repeated failures and moves to working channels immediately to maintain campaign momentum.
Best Practices
Use multichannel sequences - Provides fallback when one channel fails, keeps campaign running
Verify data before import - Check email addresses and LinkedIn URLs valid before launching
Monitor Activity reports - Identify patterns in failed steps to improve data quality
Handle bounced leads - Review Unsubscribe section, remove hard bounces, retry soft bounces if appropriate
Monitor inbox connectivity: Regularly check team members' inbox connections to avoid unforeseen campaign pauses and reassign leads promptly where necessary.
Don't rely on a single channel - Email-only campaigns stop completely on the first failure