Your first campaign

This walkthrough takes you from an empty workspace to a launched campaign and your first replies. Allow about an hour, plus whatever time your DNS provider needs to publish new records. The example uses a made-up business, Sample company, sending from alex@example.com.

flowchart TB A[1. Connect the mailbox] --> B[2. Verify domain<br/>and authentication] B --> C[3. Import leads<br/>into a list] C --> D[4. Sender & Identity] D --> E[5. Audience] E --> F[6. Objective] F --> G[7. Email &<br/>Personalization] G --> H[8. Schedule] H --> I[9. Review & Launch] I --> J[10. Watch results<br/>and answer replies]

1. Connect the mailbox

1. Go to Mailboxes → Connect mailbox.
2. Server: enter your email host's SMTP host, port 465, SMTP username (alex@example.com) and SMTP password. Keep Track replies and bounces on.
3. Sender: Mailbox name Alex — sales, Sender name Alex from Sample company, From email alex@example.com.
4. Verify: Test SMTP connection, set a Daily sending limit you're comfortable with (start low, for example 50), switch on Use as the default mailbox, then Save mailbox.

More: Mailboxes.

2. Verify the domain and authentication

1. Open the mailbox and find Sending readiness.
2. Select View DNS record and add the TXT record (host _cadensiq-verification.example.com, value cadensiq-verification=…) at your DNS provider.
3. Select Check DNS. Fix anything shown for MX, SPF, DMARC or DKIM DNS.
4. Select Verify email authentication and wait for Passed.
5. The mailbox now shows Ready to send.

More: Sending domains.

3. Import your leads

1. Prepare a CSV with at least an email column; first name, company and city help personalization. Select Download template for an example.
2. Leads Sheet → Import CSV. Upload, map the columns, fix any rows that need attention.
3. Select Commit & save, choose New list and name it Sample company — pilot, then Save N leads.
4. Wait for the list to show Ready on Lead Lists.

More: Imports.

4. Sender & Identity

1. Campaigns → New Campaign.
2. Campaign Name: Pilot — spring outreach. Sender Mailbox: Alex — sales.
3. Sending approach: Personalized sequence.
4. Next: Audience.

5. Audience

1. Choose lead lists, tick Sample company — pilot, Done.
2. Check the summary, for example 120 selected · 117 eligible to contact.
3. Continue to Objective.

More: Audience.

6. Objective

1. Choose Describe your objective → Add objective.

2. Write a brief in plain English, for example:

   We help small logistics companies cut late deliveries with a simple route-planning service. We want a 15-minute call with operations managers. Mention that setup takes one afternoon.

3. Add a Target Audience and one or two Portfolio / Case Study Links if you have them.

4. Continue to email.

More: Writing with AI.

7. Email & Personalization

1. Select Draft with AI (uses one credit) and, when ready, Review sequence drafts.
2. Pick the option you like, edit it, and Apply all sequences.
3. Read every step. Make the first line specific; insert {{firstName}} and {{company}} with Insert variable. Add your own sign-off with Shift+Enter between lines.
4. If Review personalization appears, add fallbacks (for example there for a missing first name).
5. Choose Send format: Plain text reads like a personal note; Rich email adds your branding.
6. Check the Live preview on desktop and mobile, then select Schedule.

More: Email and personalization.

8. Schedule

1. Start as soon as possible.
2. Sending days Mon–Fri, window 09:00–16:00 in your timezone.
3. Leave pacing at the defaults for a first campaign.
4. Continue to Review & Launch.

9. Review & Launch

1. Wait for Ready for review.
2. Use the Recipient personalization inspector to check five or six recipients, including someone with missing details.
3. Send a test to yourself with Send test and read it in your inbox, on your phone too.
4. Select Launch campaign.

More: Review and launch.

10. Watch results and answer replies

• Open the campaign's details page. Recipients shows each message; Replies shows responses and their outcomes.
• Answer replies from the Inbox. Mark interested leads Interested in the Leads Sheet.
• Follow-ups stop automatically for anyone who replies, bounces or unsubscribes.

Tip

For your first few campaigns, keep volumes small and watch the bounce rate on the mailbox's health card. See the Deliverability checklist.

Related pages

• Campaigns
• Campaign monitoring
• SDR daily routine