Why is My Redeem Link Showing "Blocked" or "Paused"?
If you're seeing a "Blocked" or "Paused" message when you click on a Coupon Carrier Redeem Link, it means the link isn't currently working. There are a few common reasons for this:
1. Configuration is Paused
The most common reason is that the Redeem Link configuration in your Coupon Carrier account is paused. Redeem Links are managed within configurations.
- Solution:
- Log in to your Coupon Carrier account.
- Go to the "Configurations" tab.
- Find the configuration that generates the Redeem Link you're using.
Make sure the toggle switch is set to "ON" (active). If it's "OFF", the link won't work.
2. Link Validation is Enabled (and the Link is Invalid)
Coupon Carrier's Redeem Link feature has an optional security setting called "Link Validation." This is highly recommended when using Redeem Links with integrated email service providers like Mailchimp, ActiveCampaign, Klaviyo, etc.
- How Link Validation Works: When enabled, Coupon Carrier checks that the link was clicked by a legitimate subscriber in your email list. It does this by verifying information (like email address and subscriber ID) passed through the link's URL. If the information is missing, incorrect, or doesn't match a subscriber in your list, the link is blocked.
Why This Happens During Testing: Link Validation will block links in test emails sent from your email marketing platform's editor. This is because test emails don't contain real subscriber data.
Solution (Testing):
Mailchimp: Use the "Enable live merge tag info" option in Mailchimp's preview mode. This will populate the link with your subscriber data, allowing the link to work. Note: This will assign a code to your test subscriber.
- Other Email Platforms: Most ESPs have a similar "live preview" or "send test to subscriber" feature. Use that, not the generic "Send Test Email" option.
- Live Campaign: The best test is to send a real email to a small segment of your list (e.g., just yourself).
- Subscriber Exists: Make sure the person clicking the link is actually a subscriber in the email list that Coupon Carrier is connected to.
- Link Tampering: If someone has manually modified the link URL, it will be blocked.
3. Account is Paused or Trial Expired
If your entire Coupon Carrier account is paused (either manually or because your trial period has ended), all configurations and Redeem Links will be disabled.
- Solution:
- Paused Account: Log in to your Coupon Carrier account and check your billing status. If your account is paused, you'll need to subscribe to a paid plan to reactivate it.
- Expired Trial: If your trial has ended, you'll need to subscribe to a paid plan.
4. "Temporarily Blocked" Message
You might see a message saying the link is "temporarily blocked." This is a security measure to prevent rapid, repeated requests from the same IP address (which could indicate abuse).
- Solution: Wait a few minutes and try the link again. This block is usually short-lived.
5. "Link is Inactive" message.
Ensure that you have saved your configuration and that it has been activated before.
Still Having Trouble?
If none of the above solutions work, please contact Coupon Carrier support and provide:
- The exact Redeem Link URL that's not working (copy and paste it from the email).
- The name of the Coupon Carrier configuration associated with the link.
- The email address of the person who clicked the link.
- Your email service provider (Mailchimp, ActiveCampaign, etc.).
This information will help us quickly diagnose the issue.