Quick Start Guide

Welcome to Broadcast! You’re minutes away from sending your first email campaign. This guide walks you through everything from signing up to hitting “Send” on your first broadcast. No servers to configure, no infrastructure to manage – just sign up and start reaching your audience.

1. Create Your Account

Head over to sendbroadcast.com/signup and create your free account. You’ll need to provide:

  • Your email address – this becomes your login and is separate from your sending address
  • A password – choose something strong; you’ll use this to access your dashboard
  • Your name (optional) – helps personalize your experience

After submitting the form, you’ll land on your dashboard where an onboarding checklist guides you through the remaining setup steps.

2. Get Oriented: Your Dashboard

The dashboard is your home base. When you first log in, you’ll see:

  • Onboarding checklist – a step-by-step guide to get everything configured
  • Quick stats – subscriber count, recent broadcast performance, and delivery metrics
  • Navigation sidebar – access to Broadcasts, Subscribers, Sequences, Segments, Opt-in Forms, and Settings

The onboarding checklist tracks your progress automatically. As you complete each step below, it updates in real time so you always know what’s left.

3. Configure Your Profile and Sender Details

Before sending any emails, set up how you appear to recipients.

Your Profile

Go to Settings > Profile and fill in your name. This is used across the platform and can appear in your email signatures.

Sender Details

Navigate to your broadcast channel settings to configure:

  • From Name – the name recipients see in their inbox (e.g., “Sarah from Acme Co”)
  • From Email – the email address your broadcasts come from (e.g., “[email protected]”)
  • Reply-To Address – where replies go if different from the From address

Getting these right from the start builds trust with your subscribers and improves deliverability.

4. Connect an Email Server

Broadcast needs an email server to deliver your messages. You can connect any of these supported providers:

  • Amazon SES – ideal for high-volume senders who want the lowest per-email cost
  • SendGrid – straightforward setup with solid analytics and reliable delivery
  • Mailgun – developer-friendly with powerful APIs and detailed logs
  • Postmark – excellent delivery speed, especially strong for transactional emails
  • Resend – modern, developer-focused provider with a clean API
  • Custom SMTP – connect any SMTP-compatible server you already use

To connect a provider, go to Email Servers > New Email Server, select your provider, and enter your credentials. Each provider has specific setup instructions displayed inline.

Not ready to connect a provider yet?

No problem. Broadcast includes a built-in test email server that lets you send emails to yourself during setup. It’s perfect for previewing your first broadcast and testing your workflow before connecting a production provider. You can find it pre-configured in your Email Servers list.

5. Add Your First Subscribers

An email campaign needs an audience. Broadcast gives you four ways to build your subscriber list:

Manual Entry

Go to Subscribers and click Add Subscriber. Enter an email address, an optional first name, last name, and any custom data fields. This is great for adding individual contacts quickly.

CSV Import

Have an existing list? Go to Subscribers > Import and upload a CSV or TSV file. Broadcast walks you through mapping columns, handling duplicates, and applying tags. Large files process in the background so you can keep working. See our Importing Subscribers guide for full details.

Opt-in Forms

Create embeddable signup forms at Opt-in Forms > New Form. Customize the fields, design, and confirmation settings, then drop the form on your website. New signups flow directly into your subscriber list and can be auto-enrolled in sequences.

API

Use the Broadcast REST API to add subscribers programmatically from your application, landing pages, or any integration you build. A single POST request is all it takes.

6. Send Your First Broadcast

This is the exciting part. Here’s how to create and send your first email:

  1. Navigate to Broadcasts and click New Broadcast
  2. Choose your content format – pick from Rich Text (visual editor with formatting tools), HTML (write or paste custom code), or Template (start from a saved design)
  3. Write your content – add a compelling subject line, optional preview text, and compose your email body. Use Liquid variables like {{ subscriber.first_name | default: "there" }} to personalize your message
  4. Select your audience – send to all subscribers or choose a specific segment for targeted delivery
  5. Preview your email – click Preview to see exactly what subscribers will receive. Check formatting, links, and personalization
  6. Send a test – send a test email to your own address first. Always do this before sending to your full list
  7. Hit Send – choose Send Now for immediate delivery, or Schedule to pick a future date and time with timezone support

After sending, Broadcast tracks opens, clicks, deliveries, bounces, and unsubscribes in real time on the broadcast detail page.

7. Set Up Automation with Sequences

Once you’ve sent your first broadcast, consider setting up automated email sequences:

  1. Go to Sequences and click New Sequence
  2. Give it a name like “Welcome Series” or “Onboarding”
  3. Add steps – each step is an email with a configurable delay (e.g., send Step 2 three days after Step 1)
  4. Write your emails – compose each step’s content just like a broadcast
  5. Enable the sequence – flip it on and subscribers begin receiving emails automatically

Subscribers can be enrolled in sequences automatically through opt-in forms or manually from the subscriber detail page. Sequences are perfect for welcome series, onboarding flows, educational courses, and nurture campaigns.

What’s Next?

You’ve got the foundation in place. Here are some recommended next steps to get even more from Broadcast:

  • Segments – create dynamic groups based on tags, activity, or custom data to send targeted campaigns
  • API Reference – integrate Broadcast with your application for programmatic subscriber management and sending
  • Email Servers – dive deeper into provider configuration, webhook setup, and deliverability optimization
  • Templates – build reusable email designs to keep your campaigns consistent and save time

Have questions as you get started? Reach out to our support team – we’re here to help you succeed with every campaign you send.