The status of messages in an automated flow
When working on a new message, the magnews editor immediately saves it as a draft. Draft messages are incomplete or simply waiting for the work group's review or approval.
Once validated and completed in every detail, you can make the messages “active”.
Active messages are those actually used by the flow for automatic sending to contacts. When you decide it's time to update designs or content, you can create a new version. Contacts will continue to receive the active version, and you can freely modify the new draft that Magnews has saved for you.
From new message to draft, to active
How a message evolves in an automated flow is quite simple.
New message
When you enter a send message action, you’ll find the panel as in «new message». You can:
- create a “new message” (1), and select which channel to use (email / SMS)
- or, make a copy of an already existing message.
When you create a new message and start editing it, magnews immediately saves it as a «draft message».
In draft
“Draft” messages are in an editing status.
You can continue to edit the draft through «design», discard it if you're not satisfied, or make it active when it's just the way you wanted. Use the Preview function for testing: see how the message will appear on desktop and mobile screens, and send a test directly to your mailbox.
With a click on «activate message» (2), the draft version becomes active.
Active message
This is generally the situation when an automated flow is in production.
It is not an immutable status. Magnews always allows changes to email or SMS messages, even in an active automated flow. For example, to update designs, content, or links in CTAs.
When an automated flow is running, magnews does not directly update the message sent to contacts but creates a new draft version (3). This allows you to freely edit the message, as contacts passing through the send node will continue to receive the last active version.
The message editing panel
Click on the “Send message” node to open the editing panel on the right. View the preview, enter design or setup to modify the message settings.
- Design : Edit the content of the communication, text, images, and CTAs.
- Setup: Set the subject, preview text, sender name, and email (usually retrieved from the journey).
- Preview: View how the message will appear on desktop and mobile screens, and send a test directly to your mailbox.
- ••• menu: Located at the top right of the card, it allows email verification and setting modifications (e.g., changing the message name).
- Discard draft: Delete the draft version; only the active version will remain - if present.
- Activate message: Activate the draft version to make the latest undeployed changes available to your audience.
When editing, the preview refers to the draft version.
To view the active message, return to the automated flow home, select the Messages tab, and click Preview from the ... menu to the right of the message.
Key takeaway
- Every new message starts as a draft
- Activate the draft to make it effective
- Create a new version to update the message, and activate it when everything is okay