Brevo packs a lot into one dashboard: email campaigns, automations, contacts, forms, SMS, chat and a CRM. That is great once you know your way around, but the first visit can feel overwhelming. This guide shows you exactly what to do in your first hour, in the right order, so your emails reach the inbox from the very first send.
In this article
Before you start
- A domain-based email address, for example news@yourbrand.com. Avoid sending from gmail.com or yahoo.com addresses.
- Access to your domain’s DNS settings (at your registrar or hosting company) to add authentication records.
- Your contact list as a CSV file, containing only people who agreed to receive your emails, ideally with a column showing where and when they subscribed.
- Your logo and brand colours for templates.
- Your physical or business address, because marketing emails must include one in many countries.
If you do not have an account yet, create a free Brevo account. Everything below works on the free plan.
Account setup
- Sign up and verify your email address.
- Complete your profile: company name, website and address. These details appear in your email footers.
- Add your sender: under Senders, add the name and address subscribers will see in their inbox. Use a real person’s name plus the brand (“Priya from GreenLeaf”) for a friendlier feel.
- Authenticate your domain: go to the domains section, add your domain and copy the records Brevo shows you. Add them in your DNS settings exactly as shown. Brevo checks them and marks the domain as authenticated, usually within minutes to a few hours.
| Record | What it does | Where it comes from |
|---|---|---|
| Brevo verification code | Proves you own the domain | Brevo domain settings |
| DKIM | Signs your emails so they cannot be forged | Brevo domain settings |
| SPF (if requested) | Lists Brevo as allowed to send for you | Brevo domain settings |
| DMARC | Tells inboxes what to do if checks fail | You can start with a monitoring policy (p=none) |
Do not skip this step. Authentication has a bigger effect on inbox placement than anything you write.
Core setup steps
Step 1: Import your contacts
Go to Contacts, choose Import, and upload your CSV. Map each column (email, first name and so on) to a Brevo attribute. Create a list, for example “Newsletter”, and add everyone to it. Confirm that they gave you permission. Do not import bought or scraped lists: they damage your sender reputation and break Brevo’s rules.
Step 2: Create a sign-up form
Under Forms, create a subscription form for your newsletter list. Ask for an email address and, if you will use it, a first name. Choose whether to use double opt-in (a confirmation email before someone is added). Double opt-in reduces fake and mistyped addresses. Then embed the form on your website using the code or the WordPress plugin, and test it on your phone.
Step 3: Build a welcome automation
Under Automations, choose a welcome message template:
- Trigger: contact added to the Newsletter list.
- Email 1 (immediately): a warm welcome, your free gift if you offer one, what to expect and how often.
- Wait 2-3 days.
- Email 2: your most helpful article or resource, with a question inviting a reply.
Activate the automation and subscribe yourself to test it.
Step 4: Design a reusable template
Create a simple template with your logo, brand colours, a clear font size (at least 16px for body text), and a footer with your address and the unsubscribe link Brevo adds automatically. Save it so every newsletter looks consistent.
Your first win: send your first newsletter
- Go to Campaigns and create an email campaign.
- Choose your sender, the Newsletter list and your saved template.
- Write a clear subject line (under about 50 characters) and a preview text that adds information.
- Keep the content focused: one main message, one main link or button.
- Send a test to yourself on phone and desktop. Check links, images and spelling.
- Send now, or schedule it for a time your audience is likely to read.
After 48 hours, check the report: opens, clicks, unsubscribes and bounces. The links people clicked tell you what to write about next.
Reading your first report
Brevo’s campaign report shows several numbers. Here is what they mean for a new list:
| Metric | What it tells you | What to do if it looks bad |
|---|---|---|
| Delivered | Emails accepted by mailbox providers | Below about 98%: check for invalid addresses |
| Opens | Rough interest in your subject line | Treat as approximate: privacy features inflate or hide opens |
| Clicks | Real interest in your content | Make one clear call to action per email |
| Unsubscribes | People who no longer want your emails | A spike means content or frequency changed too much |
| Hard bounces | Addresses that do not exist | Brevo removes them; clean the source of the list |
| Spam complaints | People who marked you as spam | Remind subscribers why they signed up; check consent |
Clicks and replies are the most reliable signs that your newsletter is useful.
Tips and mistakes
- Warm up a new domain. If your list is large and the domain is new to sending, start with your most engaged subscribers and increase volume over a few sends.
- Watch the free plan’s daily limit. Large lists may need to be sent over several days or on a paid plan.
- Segment from the start. Tag subscribers by interest or sign-up source so you can send more relevant emails later.
- Do not send everything to everyone. Promotions to people who never buy increase unsubscribes.
- Keep the CRM and SMS for later. Master email first.
- Clean your list quarterly. Remove contacts who have not opened in many months after a re-engagement attempt.
What to set up in week two
Once your first newsletter is out, spend another hour on three improvements:
- A preference option. Let subscribers choose topics or a lower frequency instead of unsubscribing completely.
- A second sign-up source. Add a form to a popular blog post or create a landing page for your social profiles.
- A re-engagement automation. After 90 days without opens or clicks, send a friendly “do you still want these emails?” message and remove people who do not respond. This keeps your list healthy and your costs down.
Frequently asked questions
Why is my domain not authenticating?
DNS changes can take a few hours to update. Check that you copied each record exactly, without extra spaces, and that you added it to the correct domain.
Can I use Brevo with WordPress?
Yes. Brevo offers a WordPress plugin and embeddable forms, and it can send your website’s transactional emails too.
Should I use double opt-in?
It is recommended if you see fake sign-ups or care strongly about list quality. It slightly reduces the number of confirmed subscribers but improves engagement.
How do I avoid the spam folder?
Authenticate your domain, send only to people who subscribed, keep a steady schedule and remove inactive contacts.
How long until my first campaign can be sent?
Usually the same day. New accounts may need a quick review before large sends, so complete your profile and start with a smaller segment.
What if my test email lands in spam?
Check that domain authentication shows as verified, send from your own domain, and avoid an email that is a single large image. Then test again.
Can I send WhatsApp or SMS messages too?
Yes, with separate credits and setup. In India, SMS requires DLT registration and approved templates.