# How to test your Facebook lead alerts in Slack

> Send a test lead with Meta's Lead Ads Testing Tool, check the Slack message lands in the right channel, and fix the usual reasons it does not arrive.
- **Author**: Marxx
- **Published**: 2026-11-08
- **Category**: Slack
- **URL**: https://marxx.ai/library-guides/how-to-test-lead-alerts-in-slack

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To test a Facebook lead alert in Slack, create a test lead on your form with Meta's Lead Ads Testing Tool, then check that a message lands in the right client's channel with the right form name. If nothing arrives, check whether the lead reached your lead tool first, then check the Slack side.

## Before you test

- **Your lead tool is connected to the Page and ad account.** For Marxx, that means the client's Meta ad account is connected.
- **Slack is set up for the client.** In Marxx: **Settings -> Integrations -> Slack -> Manage**, a **Default channel** picked, and **New leads** switched on under **What goes to Slack**.
- **@Marxx is in the channel.** Invite it to the channel that receives leads.
- **The form has no old test lead.** Meta allows one test lead per form at a time.

## Step by step

1. Open Meta's [Lead Ads Testing Tool](/guides/how-to-use-the-facebook-lead-ads-testing-tool) while signed in to Facebook.
2. Pick the client's Page and the form you want to test.
3. Click **Preview Form** and enter details you recognise, such as "Test Priya" and your own email. Or click **Create Lead** for dummy data.
4. Click **Track Status** until it says success or failed.
5. Open the client's leads channel in Slack and look for the message.
6. Check the message: right channel, right client, right form name. Contact details should be hidden unless you switched on **Include name and contact details**.
7. Press **Add note** and add "test lead" so nobody calls it. The first button you press asks you to link your Slack account, once.
8. Back in the Testing Tool, click **Delete Lead** when you are done.

Meta says test leads are not tied to any ad, so do not judge the ad and campaign lines on the message by a test lead. A real lead from a small live ad is the final check.

## If the message does not arrive

| What you see | Likely cause | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| Track Status says failed | Meta did not deliver the lead | Fix the Meta side first. See the Testing Tool guide's error list |
| Lead is in Marxx, no Slack message | Slack settings for this client | Check **New leads** is on and which channel it uses |
| Slack settings name a channel | @Marxx is not in it | Invite @Marxx to that channel |
| Message lands in the wrong channel | The client's default channel or the leads channel is wrong | Fix the channel next to **New leads** |
| Message lands under the wrong client | You set up the wrong client in Marxx | Switch client, fix both clients' settings |
| Nothing at all for an older client | **New leads** stays off for clients that existed before the update | Switch it on |

Each client's Slack settings are separate, so test every client, not just the first one. We make Marxx, and the [Marxx in Slack page](/features/slack) lists each setting.

## Test the buttons too

A message that arrives but cannot be acted on is half a test.

1. **Link your account.** Press any button and complete **Link your Slack account**.
2. **Mark contacted.** On a real lead, check the button appears. It shows only when the ad account has a Contacted stage, and works while the lead is New.
3. **Shared channels.** If the channel is shared with a client through Slack Connect, their people cannot use Marxx buttons. Check your own team can.

For the full setup, see [Facebook lead notifications in Slack](/guides/how-to-get-facebook-lead-notifications-in-slack). For where every lead lives, see the [Leads feature](/features/leads).

## FAQ

### Can I test a lead alert without spending on ads?

Yes. Meta's Lead Ads Testing Tool creates a test lead on your form without running an ad. A real lead from a live ad is still the final check.

### Why can't I create a second test lead?

Each form holds one test lead at a time. Delete the old one in the Testing Tool, then create a new one.

### How often should I test?

After every setup change, when you add a new client or form, and after you reconnect an ad account.

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