---
title: "How To Create an Email Campaign In Smartlead (the new version)"
description: "Learn how you can setup cold email campaigns in Smartlead end to end with the help of this guide."
url: https://helpcenter.smartlead.ai/en/articles/442-how-to-create-an-email-campaign-in-smartlead-the-new-version
collection: "Creating Email Campaigns"
updated: 2026-11-10
language: en
---

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

Learn how you can setup cold email campaigns in Smartlead end to end with the help of this guide.

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 email, call, and 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.  From the left hand navigation, under **Engage**, click on **Campaigns** to open the **Email Campaigns** dashboard.
    

![](https://staticfiles.gleap.io/ghelparticle/1IWS46Fgq6uNg7Z6ZpeRO9WkFzPTL1iIIZdYtvmjbOVGhFTUMKRaeGpzb4TRevpG8BtDHFHB4fi.png)

2.  Click **\+ Create Campaign**.
    

![](https://staticfiles.gleap.io/gattachments/E2uKig2Is4ZcgEkPqwhjX0SFcjIPmoVXP7f2EHBxtjtnKBQkjGEQmV7yMnT4nKBetj1b6vFwVJn.png)

3.  Enter a **Campaign Name**.
    

![](https://staticfiles.gleap.io/gattachments/9W2t0dENgXEVqTx9lrBwPCoeMD6OeJqjZ3Dwfavcity5DeCEe4rCEr6rAJuz4egDmVu55AfcvME.png)

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.

![](https://staticfiles.gleap.io/ghelparticle/6zYBi2xlliYX2PBt5DZWqUPjUTVyQT28Yox3lpEygKuQwE61kpkh6EiUjNyqi9ffH5wenvOjlhG.png)

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

### **Available Lead Sources**

![](https://staticfiles.gleap.io/gattachments/wkCXza9PgyhTHC58hB86BuSWodwZno8URXuE5XtWq880VQC4re5aYCya5CN0X3kr19T1w3NqzdU.png)

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**

![](https://staticfiles.gleap.io/ghelparticle/3tuyWMcIzom133moByrYAQ42ri7RN9zxDCsAvPb2D6ZHsbZeKOvOoOeAznWIoh9xTSEPFUEhKDw.png)

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.
    

#### **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**

![](https://staticfiles.gleap.io/ghelparticle/PXCtjWUyMeqm8tVYOrH9fg3kjyq3EAaAzqwqvLb4lPYeWXyo1LeOkrFdgbUVVRrxC1ymIFl95wg.png)

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**

![](https://staticfiles.gleap.io/gattachments/0Zzg5qiQkV9iW8TSp3yqopEAc4LxVmnYPzXUKkUtYsHEY9LFWP5UM0dBN8J57HBVDIvKhcE1I5z.png)

Go to the **Sequence** tab.

### **Add Your First Step**

1.  Click **\+ Create First Step**.
    

2.  Choose the type of step:
    
    -   **Email**
        
    -   **Manual Task**
        
    -   **Call** (available to SmartDialer users)
        

**Note:** _An Email step sends an automated email to your leads, a Manual Task pauses the sequence for a manual follow-up action, and a Call step routes your lead into a SmartDialer calling queue._

### **Email Step**

![](https://staticfiles.gleap.io/gattachments/SwrCmV78IRZ7KKW4vrkkR2HCLy2tcwvTROjgfyjxc7CGNf77ijPfpk7pKoCRolaUeTuvn9Fj3kH.png)

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**

![](https://staticfiles.gleap.io/gattachments/RcNemQD9noDR4frLIGHWk0qYdvpksUMdDNRYukSRXD25at3HX8dwIqM42FQUZykVEzDsgcskql7.png)

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
    

### **Call Step**

Available to users with **SmartDialer** access. A Call step automatically routes leads from your email sequence into a calling queue once they reach that point in the sequence — no manual handoff needed.

For each call step:

-   **Wait time** – set how many days after the previous step the lead enters the calling queue
    
-   **Calling Script** – optionally attach a script for SDR guidance during the call
    
-   **SDR Assignment** – assign leads round-robin across your team, or assign manually
    

When a lead reaches the call step:

-   If a phone number is available, the lead is added to the SmartDialer queue automatically
    
-   If no number is found, you can choose to **skip the lead**, **hold them in the queue**, or **enrich from SmartProspect**
    

After the call, your SDR logs a **Post-Call Disposition** to decide what happens next:

-   Move to the next sequence step
    
-   Stop the sequence for that lead
    
-   Keep in queue for a follow-up call
    

> **Info:** International calling is supported — users can call leads across multiple countries using their US number. To learn more about SmartDialer, see the SmartDialer help center section.

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**

![](https://staticfiles.gleap.io/gattachments/jV7V0W9ND80oJd1zU6JNM5F2qeW0SRXb0NAkM17Bd9hmMPzWzY1ETJZc7qSdzQTL4dxpeROHP4z.png)

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
    

![](https://staticfiles.gleap.io/gattachments/Sn4p6etZo9LVSWQkwOoIdXZNfzVWBwKIal5KeEG7AoX7uTiizMDTs8bjchloj8ZivgSOLREY8.png)

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**

![](https://staticfiles.gleap.io/gattachments/a1ZIqQzc07MQeoMgJfNVZQbO8CHQtZ5K2nlRT76SYAsV5I9PJoVols1NrkUS2YrVeYCMn0hrz21.png)

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**

![](https://staticfiles.gleap.io/gattachments/rHw5R1D888KSDIz8gC2Q9TD6JCyHTn3asLPPY9IwLRU7vmbgmqEzk4z8I7dlMfGBWs7jryN0aRX.png)

  
  

-   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**

![](https://staticfiles.gleap.io/gattachments/gDFGlUFiPZ5OmZ04XDykNGIlrA32NjvnkNWgRtpNzSR4kXwOflHVx53kvdpmuGqT23f87RGsPkk.png)

  

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**

![](https://staticfiles.gleap.io/gattachments/16ic266xG3BRsucnpt4MYFRwEn7coIDulGXQ8g0AZCVoBkh29Q1NDk0qzb3dV8ZXkV44px9eFv8.png)

  

-   Enable **SmartLead AI** to auto-categorize replies
    
-   Or keep categorization **Manual Only**
    

### **Protection & Limits**

![](https://staticfiles.gleap.io/gattachments/8xHjvFxUuSyBWFmrdBvKVKHyWR36dOPyeSX0cbt0Gng3LYPnWK9T76PQDZO9M58urlmxMgoeokU.png)

  

Enable safeguards to protect sender reputation:

-   High bounce rate auto-protection
    
-   Domain-level rate limiting
    
-   Add unsubscribe message to all emails
    

### **Webhooks**

![](https://staticfiles.gleap.io/gattachments/x6J95Jbf3aLSR8YEYUzFZ6kpJXTkTrys4ORcTmC05PnejZCt50fBBeIG6YoJhCXQxcbK2ECh3p2.png)

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