Create an Email Campaign: Setup Guide for SendWhale

Start a campaign from scratch, generate a draft with Swell AI, pick a starter template, or import a design — then configure your send settings.

Every campaign in SendWhale begins with a creation step where you choose how to build your email and configure the core send settings. You can start from scratch, let Swell generate a first draft, pick a pre-built starter template, or bring in an existing design. After creating the campaign, it opens directly in the editor so you can refine the content before sending.

Choose a starting point

Blank canvas

Start with an empty email and build your layout from scratch using the drag-and-drop editor.

Swell AI draft

Describe your campaign goal and let Swell generate an initial draft — subject line, layout, and copy — that you can refine in the editor.

Starter template

Choose from a set of editable starter templates. Each template is a fully editable starting point — not a locked design.

Import design

Import an existing email as HTML, a screenshot, or a Figma design. See Import Design for details.

Campaign setup fields

After choosing a starting point, fill in your campaign’s core settings:

Campaign name · string · required

An internal label for this campaign. Recipients never see this name — use it to identify the campaign in your dashboard and reports.

Subject line · string · required

The subject line recipients see in their inbox. Keep it clear and accurate — avoid misleading or clickbait phrasing.

Preheader text · string

The preview text shown beneath the subject line in most email clients. Use it to complement the subject line with additional context.

Sender name · string · required

The display name recipients see as the “From” name — for example, your brand name or team name.

Sender email · string · required

The email address the campaign is sent from. Must be a verified sender domain or email address. Set up and verify senders in Settings → Senders.

Reply-to address · string

The address replies are directed to. Defaults to the sender email if left blank.

After creating the campaign

Once you confirm the setup, your campaign opens in the editor. From there you can build out the email content, preview it on desktop and mobile, and run a test send before scheduling or delivering to your audience.

Choose a descriptive internal campaign name — one that will still make sense months from now when you are reviewing reports. Including the date, topic, and audience in the name (for example, “June 2025 — Summer Sale — VIP List”) makes filtering and comparison much easier.