> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://www.carstoragesoftware.com/docs/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.
# Add campaign message, audience, and publish
> Finish an email, text, or push campaign after you create it—write the message, choose who receives it, schedule send time, and publish safely.
## What you will accomplish
Use this guide after you have already created a campaign record from [Create a campaign](/docs/marketing-events/create-a-campaign).
When you finish, your campaign will have:
* A clear message customers will see (subject line, email body, text, or push text)
* The right audience selected so the message goes to the intended customers
* A send date and time your team agrees on
* A published or scheduled status your team can track on the calendar
**Why this step matters**
Creating the campaign record is only the first step. Customers do not receive anything until the message, audience, and publish steps are complete and correct.
## When to use this guide
* You already created a campaign and landed on its detail page.
* You need to write or edit the customer-facing message before anyone receives it.
* You need to choose which customers receive the campaign.
* You are ready to schedule a send time or publish the campaign.
## Before you start
* You already clicked **Create Campaign** and landed on the campaign detail page.
* You know what you want to say and who should receive the message.
* If you plan to send texts, confirm text messaging is ready in [Settings > Communications](https://www.carstoragesoftware.com/dashboard/settings/communications).
* Ask a teammate to review the message before you publish if your facility requires a second set of eyes.
* For email, add your logo and a facility photo in [Marketing Assets](https://www.carstoragesoftware.com/dashboard/marketing/assets) first so the email can use **your** pictures. See [Organize your marketing photos and files](/docs/marketing-events/organize-your-marketing-assets).
## Open your campaign setup wizard
After you create a campaign, Car Storage Software opens a **setup wizard** that walks you through four steps in order:
1. **Design** — write what customers will see
2. **Audience** — choose who receives the message
3. **Schedule** — pick the send date and time
4. **Review** — confirm everything, then start the campaign
Open [Marketing & Events](https://www.carstoragesoftware.com/dashboard/marketing) from the left sidebar.
In **Upcoming schedule**, click your campaign row (for example **June Open House Invitation**). You can also click its day on the calendar.
**Expected result:** The setup wizard opens. You see step pills across the top—**Design**, **Audience**, **Schedule**, and **Review**—and the page title matches the step you are on (for example **Design** with the note "Write the email people will get.").
Click **Exit** in the top-left corner to return to the calendar without losing your draft. Open the campaign again from **Upcoming schedule** to continue where you left off.
**Why this matters:** Customers still do not receive anything until you finish all four steps and click **Start campaign** on the Review step.
*The setup wizard starts on **Design**. Step pills across the top show your progress. A green checkmark appears on steps you already finished.*
## Step 1: Design — write the customer-facing message
The first wizard step shows a preview of what customers will receive. The channel label matches what you picked: **Email**, **SMS**, **Push**, or **Social**.
On the **Design** step, read the preview area in the middle of the page.
* **Email:** you see the subject line and body preview with **Desktop** and **Mobile** tabs.
* **SMS or push:** you see the short text (and title for push) exactly as it will appear on a phone.
If the preview says **No content yet**, you still need to write the message.
Click the large button at the bottom—for example **Design Email**.
**Expected result:** A full editor opens where you write the subject and body (email), the text (SMS), or the title and message (push).
Fill in the fields your team needs:
* **Email:** add a **Subject** and the body text (or designed email content). Use the **Desktop** and **Mobile** preview tabs to see how the message looks on different screens.
* **SMS:** add the short text customers will receive on their phone. Keep it under about 160 characters when you can so it stays in one text bubble.
* **Push:** add the notification title and message shown in your facility's mobile app. Customers must have the app installed and notifications turned on.
Use plain language. Tell customers what is happening, why it matters, and what to do next.
For email, the designer looks at [Marketing Assets](https://www.carstoragesoftware.com/dashboard/marketing/assets) **before** stock photos. Put your logo there and add a short **Description for AI** (for example “Primary facility logo”) so the email looks like your facility.
**Example (email subject):** "You're invited: Summer Cars & Coffee"
**Example (SMS):** "Mega Speed Storage: Join us Saturday for Cars & Coffee. RSVP here: \[link]"
Save your work in the editor and return to the campaign setup wizard.
**Expected result:** The **Design** step preview shows your subject and message. The **Design** step pill gets a green checkmark when content is ready.
After the preview looks correct, click **Continue** at the bottom of the page (or click the **Audience** step pill when it becomes clickable).
**Expected result:** The wizard moves to **Audience**.
*The **Design Email** button opens the editor where you write the subject and body customers actually receive.*
**Write for customers, not for your team**
The internal campaign **Name** is for your staff. The subject line and message body are what customers see. Keep customer-facing text friendly, specific, and easy to understand.
### Let AI design the email
The email editor has an **Ask AI** box at the bottom of the canvas. Describe the email you want in plain words, and the AI builds a complete, on-brand design you can then edit like any other email.
Type what you need, including anything specific: the occasion, the date, the photo you want, and the button. Long requests are fine—the box grows as you type. Press **Enter** to send (**Shift+Enter** adds a new line).
**Example:** "Generate me an email for a Cars and Coffee car meetup for this Saturday, and find a cool image of a Ferrari F40 to use as our hero image. I also want an 'RSVP Now' button that will link out to an event."
While the AI works (usually 30–60 seconds), a list above the box shows each step: understanding your request, finding and checking photos, looking up your upcoming events, composing the email, and reviewing it. A reviewer checks the design against your request and sends it back for another pass if something is missing.
**Expected result:** The new email appears between your branded header and footer, and the **Subject** and **Preview text** are filled in.
Click any block to edit it, or ask for changes in the same box—for example, "Make the closing section shorter" or "Add a quote from a member." Use the **history** button next to the box to go back to an earlier version.
* **Photos** come from license-cleared public photo libraries and are checked to make sure they show what you asked for. A small photo credit line is added at the bottom of the email, as the photo licenses require.
* **Event links:** if the email is about one of your [social events](/docs/marketing-events/create-a-social-event), the AI links buttons to that event's page and uses its real date, time, and location. Create the event first for the best result.
* If the AI does not know where a button should go, it shows a warning and leaves the link for you to add. Click the button in the canvas and fill in **Link URL** before you send.
### SMS and push campaigns
If you created an **SMS** or **Push** campaign instead of email, click **Design SMS** or **Design Push** on the **Design** step. There is no subject line—only the short text (and title for push) that customers see on their phone.
* **SMS:** Keep it under about 160 characters when possible. Include the key detail (date, time, link) near the start.
* **Push:** Add a clear title and one sentence. Customers must have your facility app installed and notifications turned on.
* **Both:** The **Audience**, **Schedule**, and **Review** steps work the same as for email.
## Step 2: Audience — choose who receives the campaign
On the **Audience** step, you pick exactly which customers should receive this message.
Click **Continue** from **Design**, or click the **Audience** step pill at the top when it is available.
**Expected result:** You see a searchable customer list with checkboxes. Near the top, a counter shows how many people are selected—for example **2 selected of 6**.
Use the search box to find a customer by name, email, or phone number.
Check the box next to each customer who should receive this campaign. Uncheck anyone who should not receive it.
**Why this matters:** Starting the campaign without the right audience can send a storage reminder to event-only guests, or miss the people you meant to reach.
Read the **selected of** counter before you continue. If it shows **0 selected**, customers will not receive the message.
**Expected result:** The number matches the group you intend to reach (for example storage customers only).
Click **Continue** at the bottom when the audience looks correct.
**Expected result:** The wizard moves to **Schedule**.
*On **Audience**, check each customer who should receive the message. Read the **selected of** counter before you click **Continue**.*
**Start with a smaller test group**
If you are unsure, select a small group first (for example, staff test accounts or one customer tag). You can duplicate the campaign later for a wider send after the wording is approved.
## Step 3: Schedule — set when the message goes out
Click **Continue** from **Audience**, or click the **Schedule** step pill.
**Expected result:** You see **Send date** and **Send time** fields with a short note such as "Will send Tuesday, Sep 15, 2026 at 9:00 AM."
Click the **Send date** field and choose the day customers should receive the message.
Set the hour, minute, and **AM** or **PM**. Double-check morning vs. evening—this is a common mistake.
**Why this matters:** Scheduling lets you write reminders during the day but send them the morning of your event.
Confirm the line below the fields shows the date and time you expect in your facility's time zone ([Settings > General](https://www.carstoragesoftware.com/dashboard/settings/general)).
**Expected result:** The preview matches what you intend—for example **Will send Tuesday, Sep 15, 2026 at 9:00 AM**.
Click **Continue** at the bottom when the schedule looks correct.
**Expected result:** The wizard moves to **Review**.
*On **Schedule**, pick the send date and time carefully. Morning vs. evening makes a big difference for open rates.*
## Step 4: Review — start the campaign
The **Review** step shows a summary before anything goes out to customers.
Before you click **Start campaign**, walk through this safety checklist with a teammate when the message goes to more than a handful of customers.
* The **Subject** and body have no placeholder text (for example "TBD" or "INSERT DATE").
* The **Recipients** count matches the group you intend—storage customers only, event invitees only, and so on.
* Links in the message open correctly when you click them from the preview.
* The **send date and time** are in the future and match your facility time zone in [Settings > General](https://www.carstoragesoftware.com/dashboard/settings/general).
* For texts, the message is short enough to read on a phone screen without scrolling.
**Why a second pair of eyes helps**
One wrong audience or a broken link can frustrate hundreds of customers at once. A quick review from a manager or front-desk lead prevents embarrassing sends.
On **Review**, confirm:
* **Recipients** shows the right number (not zero)
* **Channel** matches what you picked (Email, SMS, Push, or Social)
* **Send time** shows the date and time you chose on the Schedule step
Scroll to the **Preview** section and read the message as a customer would see it.
Click **Start campaign** at the bottom. The button may show the recipient count—for example **Start campaign (2)**.
**Expected result:** The campaign is queued to send at the scheduled time. It appears on the [Marketing & Events calendar](https://www.carstoragesoftware.com/dashboard/marketing) on that day with a status such as **scheduled** or **active** (wording may vary by channel).
*On **Review**, read the summary and preview, then click **Start campaign**. The number in parentheses matches how many customers will receive the message.*
**15-minute cancel window**
After starting, the only option is **cancel**—and only until **15 minutes before** the scheduled send time. Plan your review accordingly.
## After you start the campaign
* The campaign appears on the [Marketing & Events](https://www.carstoragesoftware.com/dashboard/marketing) calendar on the scheduled date.
* The status badge at the top changes from **draft** to **active** (or **scheduled**, depending on timing).
* Email and SMS campaigns show delivery and engagement stats on the campaign page after messages go out.
## Pause, duplicate, or fix a published campaign
Sometimes you need to stop a send, copy a campaign for next month, or fix a typo after publishing.
Go to [Marketing & Events](https://www.carstoragesoftware.com/dashboard/marketing) and click the campaign in **Upcoming schedule** or on its calendar day.
**Expected result:** You see the campaign detail page with its current status (**active**, **paused**, or similar).
If the campaign is **active** and you need to change the message, click **Pause Campaign** at the top first.
**Why this matters:** Active campaigns cannot be edited until they are paused. Pausing prevents customers from receiving a message while you fix it.
**Expected result:** The status badge changes from **active** to **paused**, and **Edit Email** (or **Edit SMS**) becomes available again.
Near the top-right of the campaign page, click the **More** button (three dots).
**Expected result:** A small menu opens with actions such as **Duplicate Campaign** and **Archive Campaign**.
Choose **Duplicate Campaign** from the menu.
**Expected result:** A new **draft** copy opens with the same message and audience. Change the name, schedule, and wording before you publish the duplicate.
**Why this matters:** Duplicating is safer than retyping a long email when you run the same open house invite every quarter.
Open the **More** menu (three dots) and choose **Delete Campaign**. Type **DELETE** when the app asks you to confirm.
**Why this matters:** Deleting removes clutter from the calendar. Only delete **draft** campaigns you are sure nobody needs—or campaigns that were created by mistake.
**Expected result:** The campaign disappears from [Marketing & Events](https://www.carstoragesoftware.com/dashboard/marketing).
*Open the **More** menu (three dots) near the top-right to duplicate a campaign or access other actions.*
**Minor typo after customers already received the message?**
Send a short follow-up campaign with the correction, or call affected customers if the mistake is important (wrong date, wrong price). Duplicating and republishing the same campaign does not unsend the first version.
## Common mistakes to avoid
* Do not publish before a teammate reviews the audience and message.
* Do not schedule AM when you meant PM—or the day before the event.
* Do not select every customer when only one tag should receive the message.
* Do not edit an **active** campaign without pausing it first.
## Troubleshooting
**Start campaign is grayed out or shows zero recipients**
Go back to the **Audience** step and select at least one customer. You cannot start an email or text campaign with nobody selected.
**Continue is grayed out on Audience or Schedule**
On **Audience**, select at least one customer. On **Schedule**, pick both a send date and time. The **Continue** button stays disabled until required fields are filled in.
**An error appears on Review**
Read the red message on the **Review** step. Common causes: missing email content, missing subject line, or communication settings not finished. Return to **Design** or **Audience** and fix the item mentioned.
**I need to change the message after publishing**
Pause the campaign first if it is still **active**. For major wording changes, duplicate the campaign, edit the copy, and publish the duplicate so you do not confuse customers who already received the first version.
**This is a social media post campaign**
Social campaigns follow a different path. You connect social accounts, write the post, and publish to social channels. Audience selection works differently than email. If you picked **Social Media Post** by mistake, create a new campaign with the correct type.
## What to do next
* If the campaign promotes an in-person gathering, continue with [Create a social event](/docs/marketing-events/create-a-social-event) and [Review social event RSVPs and attendees](/docs/marketing-events/review-social-event-rsvps-and-attendees).
* On event day, use [Check in social event attendees](/docs/marketing-events/check-in-social-event-attendees).
* To ask happy customers for a Google review afterward, use [Request and manage reviews](/docs/marketing-events/request-and-manage-reviews).
## Related topics
- [Create a campaign](/docs/marketing-events/create-a-campaign.md)
- [Create a text, push, or social campaign](/docs/marketing-events/create-a-text-push-or-social-campaign.md)
- [Marketing & Events overview](/docs/marketing-events/overview.md)
- [Review social event RSVPs and attendees](/docs/marketing-events/review-social-event-rsvps-and-attendees.md)
- [Organize your marketing photos and files](/docs/marketing-events/organize-your-marketing-assets.md)
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