> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.extole.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# How to Add a Promotion Email or Onsite CTA

> Promote your campaign with promotional emails or a new onsite or in-app call to action via Extole's upgraded Flow Builder.

# Overview

Promotions, including onsite call-to-actions (CTAs) and email campaigns, are essential for a successful referral program. Use this guide to create, customize, and publish onsite CTAs (such as overlays, headers, or tiles) or send a promotional email via Extole’s upgraded Flow Builder.

## Default Promotions

All Extole campaigns come with a set of default CTAs and often include a default promotional email as well.

For example, a standard **referral** campaign comes with the following promotions:

* Global Header
* Global Footer
* Mobile Header
* Mobile Footer
* Mobile Menu
* Overlay — hovers over your site's content, typically fixed in the bottom right corner of the browser window (or across the bottom on mobile).
* Confirmation — appears on your purchase confirmation page after customers complete a transaction.
* Mail After Purchase Email (disabled by default) — automated email sent to customers after they make a purchase, inviting them to participate in your referral program.

The following sections describe how to add additional CTAs and promotional emails to keep your campaign fresh and performant.

## How to Add Promotions

### Step 1: Navigate to the Promotion Viewed Step

1. Go to the Programs Page.

2. Click the Manage icon for your desired campaign, or

3. From the Campaign Editor, select the Flow tab.

4. In the Advocate column, find the Promotion Viewed business event. Here, you will see all onsite and email promotions.

### **Step 2a: Add an Onsite Promotion**

1. Click into the **Promotion Viewed** business event and scroll to the **Onsite Promotions** section.

2. Click **+ New Content**.

3. In the left-hand menu, **select your desired CTA** format (e.g., overlay, header, tile), then **click Add**.

4. Enter a **custom name** for your promotion to help you identify it later.

5. **Customize the copy and style** of your promotion:

6. Directly within **Flow Builder**, or

7. By returning to the **Assets** tab and finding it under the **Advocate** **→** **Marketing** section.

8. **Publish the CTA** to your website:

9. From the main left-hand menu, go to **Tech Center → Tag Generator**.

10. **Generate and copy the tag** for your new CTA.

11. **Add the tag to your website code** where you want the promotion to appear.

**Need help adding CTAs to your site?** See [Marketing Tags for Marketers](/guides/platform-overview/implementing-your-referral-program/creating-ctas/marketing-tags-for-marketers).

### **Step 2b: Add a Promotional Email**

1. Click on **Promotion Viewed** and scroll to the **Email Promotions** section.

2. Click **+ New Email Promotion**.

3. In the left-hand menu, **select an email template and click Add**.

4. Enter a **custom name** for your email promotion.

5. **Customize the copy and style** of your email:

6. Directly in **Flow Builder**, or

7. By returning to the **Assets** tab and finding it under the **Advocate** **→** **Marketing** section.

<Warning>
  **New promotional emails send together until each one has its own trigger.**

  Each promotional email you add under **Email Promotions** starts with the same **Trigger Event Names** value, `promotion_viewed`. Sending any one of them sends all of them. That includes a test, a send to all recipients, and an older promotional email that still has `promotion_viewed`.

  Do not change a reminder email that already has a different **Trigger Event Names** value. It is not part of this send.

  Some campaigns show **Triggered By** on the **Promotion Viewed** business event. Leave it. That setting does not choose which email goes out.
</Warning>

6. Give the email its own trigger before you send it:

7. Open the email you added. Do not open **Promotion Viewed**.

8. On that email, open the settings filter and turn on **Show Expert**. Use the filter on the email. The filter at the top of Flow Builder does not show this field.

9. Change **Trigger Event Names** from `promotion_viewed` to a name only this email uses, such as `spring_sale_promo_triggered`.

10. Repeat for every promotional email that should send on its own. A duplicated email still has `promotion_viewed` until you change it.

11. Publish the campaign, then send a test of the email you want. Only that email should arrive.

12. When ready to send your promotional email:

13. **Follow the instructions in** [Upload and Email an Audience](/guides/audiences-and-segmentation/my-audiences/upload-and-email-an-audience).

<Info>
  **Publishing does not send a promotional email.** Publishing makes the email available in the **Email Audience** list; it goes out only when you send it, with **Send Test Email** or **Send to All Recipients**. Automated emails, such as the Mail After Purchase email listed under Default Promotions above, are the exception: once published and enabled, those send on their own.
</Info>

### Step 3: Publish Your Changes

Publish your campaign changes before you use these CTAs or send the email. [Follow this guide](/guides/programs-and-campaigns/managing-campaigns/making-updates-to-your-campaigns) to publish changes and push campaigns live.

If publishing fails with `controller_state_misconfiguration` after you turn an email on or off, see [Campaign Build Failed When Publishing](/technical/troubleshooting/campaign-build-failed-when-publishing).


## Related topics

- [Add a Promotion (Onsite Call-to-Action or Marketing Email)](/guides/platform-overview/add-a-promotion-onsite-call-to-action-or-marketing-email.md)
- [Understanding the “Direct” Promotion Source](/guides/dashboards-and-reporting/understanding-the-direct-promotion-source.md)
- [How to Create a Promo Link](/guides/platform-overview/implementing-your-referral-program/creating-ctas/how-to-create-a-promo-link.md)
- [Promotions & Marketing](/product/product-overview/content/promotions.md)
- [Understanding How Extole Counts People](/guides/dashboards-and-reporting/configuring-reports/understanding-how-extole-counts-people.md)


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