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

# Rule Chains: Build Multi-Step Automation Strategies

> Use tags to chain automation rules into multi-step sequences — so each rule picks up where the previous one left off. Includes three complete chain examples.

export const ArcadeVideoButton = ({id, title = "Watch interactive demo", label = "Watch Video"}) => {
  const [open, setOpen] = useState(false);
  return <div style={{
    display: 'inline-block'
  }}>
      <button type="button" onClick={() => setOpen(true)} style={{
    display: 'inline-flex',
    alignItems: 'center',
    gap: '8px',
    backgroundColor: '#3e47ec',
    color: '#ffffff',
    border: 'none',
    padding: '10px 18px',
    borderRadius: '8px',
    fontSize: '15px',
    fontWeight: '600',
    cursor: 'pointer'
  }}>
        <svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="16" height="16" viewBox="0 0 24 24" fill="white">
          <polygon points="5,3 19,12 5,21" />
        </svg>
        {label}
      </button>

      {open && <div onClick={() => setOpen(false)} style={{
    position: 'fixed',
    top: 0,
    left: 0,
    width: '100%',
    height: '100%',
    backgroundColor: 'rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.85)',
    zIndex: 9999999,
    display: 'flex',
    alignItems: 'center',
    justifyContent: 'center'
  }}>
          <div onClick={e => e.stopPropagation()} style={{
    width: '90%',
    maxWidth: '1100px',
    aspectRatio: '16 / 9',
    borderRadius: '12px',
    overflow: 'hidden',
    position: 'relative'
  }}>
            <iframe src={`https://demo.arcade.software/${id}?embed&embed_mobile=tab&embed_desktop=inline&show_copy_link=true`} title={title} frameBorder="0" loading="lazy" allowFullScreen allow="clipboard-write" style={{
    width: '100%',
    height: '100%',
    border: 'none',
    colorScheme: 'light'
  }} />
          </div>

          <button type="button" onClick={() => setOpen(false)} style={{
    position: 'fixed',
    top: '20px',
    right: '24px',
    background: 'rgba(255,255,255,0.15)',
    border: 'none',
    color: '#ffffff',
    fontSize: '24px',
    lineHeight: 1,
    width: '40px',
    height: '40px',
    borderRadius: '50%',
    cursor: 'pointer',
    display: 'flex',
    alignItems: 'center',
    justifyContent: 'center'
  }}>
            ✕
          </button>
        </div>}
    </div>;
};

export const ArcadePopoutModal = ({id, title = "Interactive demo"}) => {
  const [isPopout, setIsPopout] = useState(false);
  const iframeRef = useRef(null);
  useEffect(() => {
    function onArcadeIframeMessage(e) {
      if (e.origin !== 'https://demo.arcade.software' || !e.isTrusted) return;
      if (!iframeRef.current || !iframeRef.current.contentWindow) return;
      if (e.data.event === 'arcade-init') {
        iframeRef.current.contentWindow.postMessage({
          event: 'register-popout-handler'
        }, '*');
      }
      if (e.data.event === 'arcade-popout-open') {
        setIsPopout(true);
      }
      if (e.data.event === 'arcade-popout-close') {
        setIsPopout(false);
      }
    }
    window.addEventListener('message', onArcadeIframeMessage);
    return () => window.removeEventListener('message', onArcadeIframeMessage);
  }, []);
  return <div style={{
    position: 'relative',
    paddingBottom: 'calc(54.4737% + 41px)',
    height: 0,
    width: '100%'
  }}>
      <iframe ref={iframeRef} src={`https://demo.arcade.software/${id}?embed&embed_mobile=tab&embed_desktop=modal&show_copy_link=true`} title={title} frameBorder="0" loading="lazy" allowFullScreen allow="clipboard-write" style={{
    position: isPopout ? 'fixed' : 'absolute',
    top: 0,
    left: 0,
    width: '100%',
    height: '100%',
    zIndex: isPopout ? 9999999 : 'auto',
    colorScheme: 'light'
  }} />
    </div>;
};

Automation rules are powerful on their own, but individually they only react to a single moment in time. **Rule chains** let you build sequences of rules that execute in a deliberate order — each rule picking up exactly where the previous one left off. The mechanism that makes this possible is **tags**: structured labels you attach to campaigns, ad sets, ads, or sites that carry history forward from one rule to the next.

***

## How rule chains work

Every rule in TheOptimizer can be configured to **add** or **remove** tags from the items it acts on. Those tags then become available as conditions in other rules, so you can create logic like: "Only run this rule on campaigns that have already been processed by that other rule."

This creates a pipeline: Rule A fires and tags the item, and Rule B is waiting for exactly that tag before it acts.

**Example**: Rule checks for tags using the "Tags" condition.

<Frame>
  <img src="https://mintcdn.com/theoptimizer/d8i_PgwXHcJW-VUm/images/rules-tag-conditions.png?fit=max&auto=format&n=d8i_PgwXHcJW-VUm&q=85&s=282b441e0741effc05efb632eb30e1cf" alt="Rules Tag Conditions" width="1265" height="301" data-path="images/rules-tag-conditions.png" />
</Frame>

**Example**: Rule Adds and/or Removes Tags once it finishes the execution. It prepares the campaign, ad set or ad for the next stage.

<Frame>
  <img src="https://mintcdn.com/theoptimizer/d8i_PgwXHcJW-VUm/images/rules-tags.png?fit=max&auto=format&n=d8i_PgwXHcJW-VUm&q=85&s=89d839f176eac48e1ee884adc71a6cda" alt="Rules Tags" width="1240" height="371" data-path="images/rules-tags.png" />
</Frame>

**The key principle:** a tag is a signal that something has already happened. It carries history forward.

***

## Setting up tags on a rule

When editing any rule, navigate to the **Auto Tags** section.

* **Tags to Add** — one or more tags applied to every item the rule acts on when it fires.
* **Tags to Remove** — tags stripped from items when the rule fires (useful for clearing a stage so an item can move to the next one).

<Frame>
  <img src="https://mintcdn.com/theoptimizer/d8i_PgwXHcJW-VUm/images/rules-tags.png?fit=max&auto=format&n=d8i_PgwXHcJW-VUm&q=85&s=89d839f176eac48e1ee884adc71a6cda" alt="Rules Tags" width="1240" height="371" data-path="images/rules-tags.png" />
</Frame>

Tags are applied immediately after the rule's main action executes. If a rule pauses a campaign, the tags are added or removed from that campaign at the same time.

To use a tag as a **condition** in another rule, add a condition in Step 2 (Conditions) using the **Tags** field:

| Field | Condition | Value           |
| ----- | --------- | --------------- |
| Tags  | Contains  | `your-tag-name` |

This ensures the downstream rule only applies to items that carry that tag.

<Tip>
  Use descriptive, stage-based tag names rather than rule-based ones. `passed-learning` or `budget-scaled-once` are far more readable at a glance than `rule3-fired`. Name the stage, not the rule.
</Tip>

***

## Example chains

### 1. The Probation Chain — pause, wait, re-test

**Goal:** Pause campaigns that lose money, hold them for a cooling-off period, then automatically reactivate them for a second chance before deciding whether to kill them permanently.

**Why chain this?** A direct pause-and-forget rule loses campaigns that may have had a bad day. This chain distinguishes between temporary underperformers and genuine losers.

<Steps>
  <Step title="Rule 1 — Stop-loss with tagging">
    Fires when a campaign has spent enough to judge performance and is not profitable.

    | Metric | Condition    | Value |
    | ------ | ------------ | ----- |
    | Spend  | Greater than | \$50  |
    | CPA    | Greater than | \$40  |

    **Action:** Pause Campaign

    **Tags to Add:** `on-probation`

    **Schedule:** Every 4 hours
  </Step>

  <Step title="Rule 2 — Reactivate after cooling-off">
    Fires on campaigns tagged `on-probation` that have been paused for at least 3 days.

    | Metric                 | Condition    | Value          |
    | ---------------------- | ------------ | -------------- |
    | Tags                   | Contains     | `on-probation` |
    | Days Since Last Action | Greater than | 3              |

    **Action:** Enable Campaign

    **Tags to Add:** `retest-round-2` | **Tags to Remove:** `on-probation`

    **Schedule:** Once daily
  </Step>

  <Step title="Rule 3 — Final verdict">
    Fires on campaigns tagged `retest-round-2` that are still unprofitable after their second chance.

    | Metric | Condition    | Value            |
    | ------ | ------------ | ---------------- |
    | Tags   | Contains     | `retest-round-2` |
    | Spend  | Greater than | \$30             |
    | CPA    | Greater than | \$40             |

    **Action:** Pause Campaign

    **Tags to Add:** `permanent-pause` | **Tags to Remove:** `retest-round-2`

    **Schedule:** Every 4 hours

    <Warning>
      Items tagged `permanent-pause` are excluded from all other rules — preventing them from being re-enabled by broader reactivation rules. Add a condition `Tags does not contain permanent-pause` to any reactivation rule you run.
    </Warning>
  </Step>
</Steps>

***

### 2. The Winner Escalation Chain — validate, scale, clone

**Goal:** Automatically move profitable campaigns through a structured scaling process — only unlocking larger budget increases and cloning after sustained performance, not just one good day.

**Why chain this?** Scaling too fast on early signals wastes budget on campaigns that regress. This chain requires proof at each stage before moving to the next.

<Steps>
  <Step title="Rule 1 — Flag potential winners">
    Fires when a campaign shows early profitability signals.

    | Metric | Condition    | Value |
    | ------ | ------------ | ----- |
    | ROAS   | Greater than | 200%  |
    | Spend  | Greater than | \$100 |

    **Action:** No action (or Send Notification)

    **Tags to Add:** `potential-winner`

    **Schedule:** Every 6 hours
  </Step>

  <Step title="Rule 2 — Confirm and scale budget (Stage 1)">
    Fires on campaigns tagged `potential-winner` that maintain profitability over 3 days.

    | Metric              | Condition    | Value              |
    | ------------------- | ------------ | ------------------ |
    | Tags                | Contains     | `potential-winner` |
    | ROAS (last 3 days)  | Greater than | 200%               |
    | Spend (last 3 days) | Greater than | \$200              |

    **Action:** Increase Budget by 30%

    **Tags to Add:** `scale-stage-1` | **Tags to Remove:** `potential-winner`

    **Schedule:** Once daily
  </Step>

  <Step title="Rule 3 — Scale to full speed (Stage 2)">
    Fires on campaigns tagged `scale-stage-1` that are still performing after further spend.

    | Metric              | Condition    | Value           |
    | ------------------- | ------------ | --------------- |
    | Tags                | Contains     | `scale-stage-1` |
    | ROAS (last 7 days)  | Greater than | 180%            |
    | Spend (last 7 days) | Greater than | \$500           |

    **Action:** Increase Budget by 50%

    **Tags to Add:** `scale-stage-2` | **Tags to Remove:** `scale-stage-1`

    **Schedule:** Once daily
  </Step>

  <Step title="Rule 4 — Clone the winner">
    Fires on campaigns tagged `scale-stage-2` with sustained, strong ROAS — duplicating the campaign to expand reach.

    | Metric              | Condition    | Value           |
    | ------------------- | ------------ | --------------- |
    | Tags                | Contains     | `scale-stage-2` |
    | ROAS (last 14 days) | Greater than | 180%            |

    **Action:** Clone Campaign

    **Tags to Add:** `cloned` | **Tags to Remove:** `scale-stage-2`

    **Schedule:** Once daily
  </Step>
</Steps>

***

### 3. The Creative Fatigue Chain — detect, rotate, retire

**Goal:** Automatically detect when an ad's performance is fading, pause it for a rest period, then reactivate it. If performance doesn't recover, retire it permanently.

**Why chain this?** Creative fatigue is gradual. A single threshold rule either acts too early or too late. This chain catches the decline in stages.

<Steps>
  <Step title="Rule 1 — Flag fading creatives">
    Fires on ads that have been running long enough to have a performance baseline but are showing CTR decline.

    | Metric      | Condition    | Value  |
    | ----------- | ------------ | ------ |
    | Impressions | Greater than | 50,000 |
    | CTR         | Less than    | 0.10%  |
    | Conversions | Less than    | 3      |

    **Action:** No action (or Send Notification)

    **Tags to Add:** `creative-fatigue`

    **Schedule:** Every 6 hours
  </Step>

  <Step title="Rule 2 — Pause fatigued creatives">
    Fires on ads tagged `creative-fatigue` if CTR has not recovered after 48 hours.

    | Metric            | Condition | Value              |
    | ----------------- | --------- | ------------------ |
    | Tags              | Contains  | `creative-fatigue` |
    | CTR (last 2 days) | Less than | 0.10%              |

    **Action:** Pause Ad

    **Tags to Add:** `creative-resting` | **Tags to Remove:** `creative-fatigue`

    **Schedule:** Every 6 hours
  </Step>

  <Step title="Rule 3 — Reactivate for re-test">
    Fires on paused ads tagged `creative-resting` after 7 days, giving them a fresh start.

    | Metric                 | Condition    | Value              |
    | ---------------------- | ------------ | ------------------ |
    | Tags                   | Contains     | `creative-resting` |
    | Days Since Last Action | Greater than | 7                  |

    **Action:** Enable Ad

    **Tags to Add:** `creative-retest` | **Tags to Remove:** `creative-resting`

    **Schedule:** Once daily
  </Step>

  <Step title="Rule 4 — Retire if still underperforming">
    Fires on ads tagged `creative-retest` that still aren't converting after their second chance.

    | Metric                    | Condition    | Value             |
    | ------------------------- | ------------ | ----------------- |
    | Tags                      | Contains     | `creative-retest` |
    | Impressions (last 3 days) | Greater than | 10,000            |
    | CTR (last 3 days)         | Less than    | 0.10%             |

    **Action:** Pause Ad

    **Tags to Add:** `creative-retired` | **Tags to Remove:** `creative-retest`

    **Schedule:** Every 6 hours
  </Step>
</Steps>

***

## Tips for building reliable chains

**Keep each rule's job narrow.** A rule in a chain should do one thing — flag, scale, pause, or reactivate. Rules that try to handle multiple stages get hard to debug and maintain.

**Use Tags to Remove to prevent re-entry.** If Rule 2 fires on a tag left in place, it may fire again on the same item on the next run. Always remove the inbound tag once the rule has acted.

**Add a notification at key transitions.** For high-stakes stages — especially scaling or cloning — enable notifications alongside the tag action so you stay informed while the chain runs autonomously.

**Test with small scope first.** Before applying a chain globally, add it to a small group of campaigns using the standard (non-global) rule type. Review the tag history on those campaigns after the first few runs to confirm the flow is working as intended.

<Tip>
  Use `permanent-pause` or `retired` tags as circuit breakers. Add a condition `Tags does not contain permanent-pause` to any reactivation rule to ensure items that have been deliberately stopped never get re-enabled by a separate rule.
</Tip>