Systems and methods for real-time control of Internet messaging campaigns. Processing commences upon retrieving a computer-readable schematic capture or other computer representation of an Internet messaging campaign or marketing campaign flow. During execution of the campaign flow, decision points in the form of program stage gates as given in the schematic are reached, and corresponding program stage gate expressions are evaluated based on then-current real-time conditions or values. When the program stage gate expression evaluates to one of a set of alternative values (e.g., “take forward path” or “take alternative path1” or “take alternative path2”), then the program execution will initiate a set of execution actions given in the marketing campaign schematic. In cases when then-current real-time conditions or values evaluate to an alternate value or in cases when the real-time conditions or values are not available or cannot be evaluated within a timeout period, then remedial action is initiated.