Test a Sequence Before Activation

When to use this

Use this article when you need to test a Sequence Before Activation in Topo. The main staff surface is sequence detail. It is written for Managers, Marketing.

What this covers

• Dry run behavior

• Test recipients

• Enrollment and step logs

• Activation blockers

• Safe edits to active sequences

Before you start

• Use a staff role with permission to manage marketing sends or sequences.

• Verify sender-domain setup before sending to real recipients.

• Create subscribers, lists, segments, and email categories before choosing an audience.

• Respect unsubscribe status and category preferences.

• Use dry runs, previews, or test sends before activating an automation or broadcast.

Steps

1. Open the sequence detail.

2. Choose a subscribed test recipient or use the current staff email if it has a subscriber record.

3. Start a dry run.

4. Review dry-run events, compressed wait steps, and email output.

5. Fix missing entry steps, bad conditions, or copy issues.

6. Activate only after a dry run follows the expected path.

What happens after saving or completing this

• Topo updates the related audience, message, form, referral, promotion, or conversation record.

• Email sends and automations respect subscription status, category preferences, and sender readiness.

• Review recipient, submission, or conversation history after the workflow completes.

Common issues and fixes

• Bulk send is disabled: verify sender-domain setup and confirm the environment allows real marketing sends.

• Recipients are skipped: check subscription status, category preferences, selected lists, selected segments, and whether the audience has subscribed recipients.

• AI or automation content looks wrong: update the source Help Docs, templates, or sequence steps, then review the draft before sending.

• If testing cannot start, pick a subscribed test recipient and add at least one workflow step.

• Activation may require typing the confirmation text and having activation permission.

Related articles

• Marketing Contacts Overview

• Build a Segment

• Configure Email Delivery