How To Create an Email Campaign In Smartlead (the new version)

We’ve redesigned the campaign creation experience in Smartlead so you can set up your cold email campaigns faster, with a cleaner flow - while keeping the core functionality exactly the same.

With the new UI, you can still:

• add leads from multiple sources,

• build multi-step sequences (including manual tasks),

• configure deliverability and sending safeguards,

• and control your campaign schedule with precision.

This guide walks you through the updated campaign creation flow, step by step, so you can create and launch a cold email campaign confidently in the new interface.

Step 1: Create a New Campaign

1. Go to Email Campaigns from the left navigation.

2. Click + Create Campaign.

3. Enter a Campaign Name.

4. Click Continue.

Your campaign is created in Draft mode and opens in the campaign configuration view. You can also skip naming the campaign at this step, and do it after you set up the campaign.

Step 2: Add Leads to Your Campaign

Navigate to the Leads tab.

Click + Add Leads to choose how you want to add leads.

Available Lead Sources

You can add leads using any of the following methods:

• Upload CSV File
  Upload a CSV containing your lead data. You can download a sample template if needed.

• Import from a CRM
  Import leads directly from a connected CRM.

• Import from Saved Lists
  Add leads from previously saved Smartlead lists.

• Add from SmartProspect
  Find, verify, and add new prospects using Smartlead’s built-in lead generation tool.

Configure Upload Settings

After you select how you want to add leads, you’ll be asked to configure how those leads should be processed before they’re added to your campaign. These settings help you avoid duplicates, reduce bounces, and stay compliant.

General Preferences

• Global Block List
  Excludes leads that exist in your global block list. Use this to ensure blocked or suppressed contacts are never added to campaigns.

• Unsubscribe List
  Prevents leads who have previously unsubscribed from being added again, helping you stay compliant and respectful of opt-outs.

• Community Bounce List
  Automatically removes emails that are known to bounce based on Smartlead’s community bounce data. This is recommended to protect deliverability.

• Existing Campaign Leads
  Controls whether leads already present in this campaign should be skipped or re-added during import.

Data Quality

• DNC Emails
  Excludes emails marked as “Do Not Contact” to ensure compliance with outreach policies.

• My Bounced Leads
  Filters out leads that have bounced in your previous campaigns, reducing the risk of repeat bounces.

• Verify Emails
  Verifies email addresses during import to improve list quality and reduce bounce rates.

CRM Sync (if applicable)

• Create Leads in HubSpot
  If HubSpot is connected, enabling this option will create or update leads in HubSpot when they are added to the campaign.

Map Your Fields

Smartlead automatically maps CSV columns to Smartlead fields using smart matching.

1. Review all mapped fields (Name, Email, Company, Website, LinkedIn, Location, etc.).

2. Adjust mappings if required.

3. Optionally assign a Client ID. (if applicable)

4. Click Import Leads.

Once imported, your leads appear in the Leads tab.

Step 3: Create Your Email Sequence

Go to the Sequence tab.

Add Your First Step

1. Click + Create First Step.

2. Choose the type of step:

   • Email

   • Manual Task

Note: An Email step sends an automated email to your leads, while a Manual Task pauses the sequence and creates a task for manual follow-up before the campaign continues.

Email Step

For each email step:

• Enter a Subject Line

• Write your Email Body

• Use variables for personalization

• Use AI tools or AI Spintax if required

• Preview the email before saving

You can:

• Add multiple email steps

• Insert wait times between steps

• Add A/B variants for subject lines or message copies

Note: The email editor also includes the following tools:

• Write with AI – generate email copy in the editor using a prompt, then review and edit it before saving.

• AI Spintax – define multiple wording variations within one email that are automatically rotated during sending.

• Email Templates – insert pre-saved email content into a step and customize it for the campaign.

Manual Task Step

Manual tasks pause the sequence and create an action item for manual follow-up.

For each manual task:

• Add a Task Title

• Add a Task Description

• The sequence resumes only after the task is marked complete

Manual tasks are useful for:

• Personalized follow-ups

• Call reminders

• LinkedIn outreach

• Reviewing replies before continuing automation

Once you have saved the sequence steps, click on “Next: Email Accounts”. This section lets you assign email accounts to your campaign.

Step 4: Assign Email Accounts

Go to the Email Accounts tab. 

Here you can:

• Select warmed and active sending accounts and add to campaigns

• View daily sending limits

• Check warm-up status

• See which campaigns an account is already assigned to

You can also:

• Filter accounts by status (Pre-warmed, Disconnected, Nearing limit, etc.)

• Add new sending accounts if required

Only eligible and active accounts will be used for sending.

Step 5: Configure Campaign Settings

Go to the Settings tab to fine-tune campaign behavior.

Schedule Configuration

Define when your campaign should send emails:

• Timezone

• Campaign Start Date

• Active Days

• Sending Window

• Send Interval

• New Leads per Day

Smartlead automatically adds small timing variations to maintain natural sending patterns.

Campaign Behavior

• Update the Campaign Name

• Choose when to stop the campaign for a lead:

  • Replies (recommended)

  • Clicks

  • Opens

• Select Email Variant Distribution:

  • Pattern-based (recommended)

  • Randomized
    (Distribution mode cannot be changed once the campaign is live.)

Delivery Optimization

In this section, you control how your emails are sent and what engagement data is tracked.

• Enable Plain Text Mode
  Sends emails without HTML formatting so they appear as simple, text-only messages.

• Enable Enhanced Email Sending & Delivery
  Applies Smartlead’s delivery optimizations to improve inbox placement and sending stability.

• Disable Open Tracking
  Turn off open tracking pixels for this campaign.

• Disable Click Tracking
  Turns off link click tracking for this campaign.

• Email Provider Distribution
  Control how emails are distributed across different email providers, such as Gmail, Outlook, and Others, to maintain a balanced sending pattern.

AI & Automation

• Enable SmartLead AI to auto-categorize replies

• Or keep categorization Manual Only

Protection & Limits

Enable safeguards to protect sender reputation:

• High bounce rate auto-protection

• Domain-level rate limiting

• Add unsubscribe message to all emails

Webhooks

Set up webhooks to receive real-time campaign events and activity updates in external systems.

Step 6: Launch Your Campaign

Once all required sections are configured:

1. Review your setup.

2. Ensure:

   • Leads are added

   • At least one sequence step exists

   • Email accounts are assigned

3. Click Launch Campaign.

Your campaign will begin sending based on the defined schedule.

Campaign Statuses

• Draft – Not live yet

• Active – Sending emails

• Paused – Temporarily stopped

Stopped – Permanently stopped