---
title: Create and edit campaigns
slug: campaign/docs/create-and-edit-campaigns
createdAt: 2026-07-20T15:45:44.999Z
---

This topic describes how to [create](docId:0GRaZ3k66x4tN5GFbFVW6) and [edit](docId:0GRaZ3k66x4tN5GFbFVW6) a Marketing Automation campaign. Also learn how to [start and pause a campaign](docId:0GRaZ3k66x4tN5GFbFVW6), [delete campaign drafts](docId:0GRaZ3k66x4tN5GFbFVW6) and [delete a campaign permanently](docId:0GRaZ3k66x4tN5GFbFVW6).

## [create-and-edit-campaigns.mdx](docId:0GRaZ3k66x4tN5GFbFVW6)Creating a campaign

1. In the menu bar, select **Campaigns** > **Marketing Automation**.
2. Click **Create**.

   - To create a new campaign, click **New…**.
   - To use an existing campaign as a template, click **Copy…** in the drop-down list, choose your client and campaign, and click **Apply**.

   ![Image: Creating a campaign](https://api.archbee.com/api/optimize/BrbvVORKJ5iIeSMZye5kI/83L3dQUEJruadwdQV7d0Z-20260720-145309.png "Image: Creating a campaign")
3. Drag the nodes from the left action area to the working area on the right.
4. Connect the nodes and enter the desired settings. See [Editing nodes](docId\:Cs9h76oKiBCgyL3ITuBP5) and [Marketing Automation nodes](docId\:X3ucB0-71DLXK11dD1dXB).
5. Click **Save Draft**.
6. In the dialog box, enter a name for the campaign and click **Save**.

:::hint{type="info"}
**Tip**

If you already saved a draft of a campaign and want to display the running or paused version of it, open the campaign report. See [Marketing Automation campaign report](docId\:WrPc_vTDN4yBPQjIbP7Dp).
:::

:::hint{type="danger"}
**Warning**

Marketing Automation does not guarantee that mailings are sent in real time. Note the following hints on sending Marketing Automation messages.

- Use the [HTTP API](docId\:tqGozvKYgWqDaxRmf7azk) for time-sensitive mailings (for example, order confirmations or password reminders), because Marketing Automation mailings cannot always be processed in real time.
- Target groups within the same campaign that check on the dispatch of the message in a node may give false results because the mailing may not be sent. If you use such target groups behind the **Send message** node, there may be undesirable effects, as the target groups may not work. To avoid this, place a **Wait** node, which delays the execution of the action, in front of such nodes.
- If you place a **Send message** node behind a **Move recipient** node, you also should place a **Wait** node in front of the **Move recipient** node. Otherwise, the recipient may be removed from the recipient list before the message is sent.
:::

## [create-and-edit-campaigns.mdx](docId:0GRaZ3k66x4tN5GFbFVW6)Editing a campaign

To edit an existing campaign, select the required campaign from the list in the **Marketing Automation** window and click **Edit**. Proceed as described from step 3 in the [Creating a campaign](docId:0GRaZ3k66x4tN5GFbFVW6) section.

## [create-and-edit-campaigns.mdx](docId:0GRaZ3k66x4tN5GFbFVW6)Starting or pausing a campaign

To start a Marketing Automation campaign in the **Marketing Automation** window, select the campaign and click **Start**. Next, Optimizely Campaign validates the campaign's content. If errors are found, correct them by editing the campaign.

To pause a campaign, in the **Marketing Automation** window, select the campaign and click **Pause**. To resume the campaign, click **Start**.

:::hint{type="info"}
**Note**

If your Marketing Automation campaign contains a **Wait** node and you pause the campaign, the time specified in the node is not paused. That is, if the waiting time of the node elapses during pausing, the next action is executed as soon as the campaign is restarted.
:::

## [create-and-edit-campaigns.mdx](docId:0GRaZ3k66x4tN5GFbFVW6)Deleting a draft

To delete a version of a running or paused Marketing Automation campaign, in the **Edit Campaign** window, click **Delete Draft**.

:::hint{type="danger"}
**Warning**

Deleting a draft reverts the current changes and all changes made since the start of the campaign. To revert the current changes, close the **Edit Campaign** window.
:::

## [create-and-edit-campaigns.mdx](docId:0GRaZ3k66x4tN5GFbFVW6)Deleting a campaign

To delete a Marketing Automation campaign in the **Marketing Automation** window, select the campaign and click **Delete**.