---
title: "Add wait/delay steps between emails | FirstSales"
description: "Insert a Wait/Delay node to space out follow-ups by a set number of days."
canonical: "https://firstsales.io/tutorial/wait-delay-steps/"
---

[Home](/)/[Tutorials](/tutorial/)/Add wait/delay steps between emails

Campaigns

# Add wait/delay steps between emails

Insert a Wait/Delay node to space out follow-ups by a set number of days.

4 min read·Beginner·6 steps

1. 1  
## Understand what a Wait/Delay node does  
A **Wait/Delay** node pauses your sequence for a set number of days before the next step runs. It's the only control that spaces out follow-ups - without one, back-to-back email steps would send at once.
2. 2  
## Open the campaign builder  
Go to **Campaigns**, open your campaign, and find the sequence on the canvas. Each email step and delay appears as its own node in the flow.
3. 3  
## Add or select a Wait/Delay node  
Insert a **Wait/Delay** node between two email steps, or click an existing one. Its config panel opens on the right with a single field.
4. 4  
## Set Delay (days)  
Enter a whole number in **Delay (days)**, from **1 to 365**. It's a required field with the hint _"Number of days to wait before the next step runs."_ A value under 1, or leaving it blank, snaps to the minimum of **1**.  
![Set Delay (days)](/tutorials/waitdelay-01-delay-field.webp)
5. 5  
## Watch the node rename itself  
The node's label updates to match your value - entering `3` renames it to **"3d Delay"** right on the canvas, so you can scan your cadence at a glance without opening each node.
6. 6  
## Save, test, and launch  
Save the workflow, then run **Test Workflow** and **Launch** as usual. The delay you set now governs the gap before the following step fires.

## Pro tips

Hard-won shortcuts that keep warm-up on track.

1

### Space early follow-ups closer together

Try 2-4 days between the first couple of touches, then stretch later delays so you don't crowd a prospect's inbox.

2

### Scan the canvas for Nd Delay chips

The auto-renamed node label doubles as a cadence check - you can confirm your spacing without opening every node.

3

### Days only, no finer granularity

There's no hours or minutes option, so plan your cadence in whole-day increments from the start.

4

### Use a long delay for quarterly re-touches

Max is 365 days - a single long Wait/Delay node can cover a quarterly nudge instead of building a separate campaign.

## Frequently asked questions

What does the Wait/Delay node do?

It pauses the sequence for a set number of days before the next step runs - the control you use to space out follow-up emails.

What's the minimum and maximum delay?

**1 day** minimum, **365 days** maximum.

Can I set hours or minutes instead of days?

No - the only unit is whole **days**.

Why did my node rename itself to “3d Delay”?

The node's label auto-syncs to the delay value you enter, so it always reflects the current wait time on the canvas.

What happens if I leave it blank or type 0?

It clamps to the minimum, **1 day**.

Where does the delay apply - the whole campaign or one step?

It applies to the gap before the next step immediately after the Wait/Delay node - not the whole campaign.

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