Categories Email Marketing Integration

How to Get Started with CampaignHQ: Complete Setup Guide (2026)

Getting started with CampaignHQ is simpler than you think. If you just signed up, nice move.

You have got an AWS account, maybe some unused SES credits sitting around, and a growing list of customers who need to hear from you. Now you need a platform that ties it all together without charging you per email or locking you into expensive contracts.

That is exactly what CampaignHQ does. It turns your existing AWS infrastructure into a full-blown marketing engine for email and WhatsApp campaigns, drip automations, chatbots, and analytics.

This guide to getting started with CampaignHQ walks you through everything from creating your account to sending your very first campaign. Whether you are a solo founder getting started with CampaignHQ or part of a growing team, you will be up and running with CampaignHQ by the end of this getting started with CampaignHQ guide. Let’s get into it.

Why Getting Started with CampaignHQ Makes Sense

Before we dive into the setup steps, let’s quickly cover why CampaignHQ is worth your time.

Most marketing platforms charge you for every single email you send. Mailchimp, Brevo, ActiveCampaign… they all add a messaging layer on top and bill you accordingly. If you are already paying for AWS, that means you are paying twice.

Getting started with CampaignHQ means taking a different, smarter approach:

  • Uses your own AWS SES for email sending, so you pay AWS rates ($0.10 per 1,000 emails) instead of inflated per-message pricing
  • Supports WhatsApp campaigns through the WhatsApp Cloud API, all managed from the same dashboard
  • Includes drip automations and user journeys to nurture leads without manual work
  • Keeps your data in your AWS account, which means full privacy and compliance
  • Works with your AWS Activate credits, so startups can run marketing for practically nothing in the early days

Companies like Volopay (a YC company) and e-commerce brands like Riwayat already use CampaignHQ for their marketing. The platform is built for AWS-first teams who want powerful marketing tools without the bloat.

Now, let’s set it up.

Getting Started with CampaignHQ: Step 1: Create Your CampaignHQ Account

Getting started takes about two minutes.

  1. Go to app.campaignhq.co/signup
  2. Enter your name, email address, and create a password
  3. Verify your email through the confirmation link sent to your inbox
  4. Log in to your new CampaignHQ dashboard

Once you are in, you will see the main dashboard with sections for Campaigns, Contacts, Automations, Analytics, and more. Take a moment to look around. The interface is clean and straightforward.

Quick tip: If you are on a team, check which plan fits your needs. The Core plan ($34/month billed annually) supports 1 user and 10,000 contacts. The Growth plan ($104/month) supports 5 users and 50,000 contacts. There is also a Scale plan and custom Enterprise option for larger teams.

Step 2: Connect AWS SES After Getting Started with CampaignHQ

This is the most important step in the entire CampaignHQ setup guide. Connecting AWS SES is what allows you to send emails at AWS pricing instead of paying per-message fees.

If You Already Have AWS SES Set Up

If you already have an active AWS SES account with a verified domain, connecting it to CampaignHQ is simple:

  1. Navigate to Settings in your CampaignHQ dashboard
  2. Find the AWS SES Integration section
  3. Enter your AWS Access Key and Secret Key (we recommend creating a dedicated IAM user for this)
  4. Select your preferred AWS Region
  5. Click Connect

CampaignHQ will verify the connection and pull in your verified identities.

If You Need to Set Up AWS SES from Scratch

No worries. Here is the quick version:

  1. Create an AWS account at portal.aws.amazon.com/billing/signup if you do not have one
  2. Open Amazon SES in the AWS Management Console
  3. Verify your domain:
  • Go to Configuration > Verified identities
  • Click “Create identity” and select “Domain”
  • Add the DNS records (DKIM, SPF) to your domain registrar
  • Wait for verification (usually takes a few minutes to a few hours)
  1. Create SMTP credentials:
  • In SES, go to SMTP Settings
  • Click “Create SMTP Credentials”
  • Download and save the credentials securely (you can only view them once)
  1. Request production access:
  • New SES accounts start in sandbox mode (limited to 200 emails/day)
  • Submit a request to AWS to move out of the sandbox
  • This usually takes 24 to 48 hours

Once your SES account is active and out of sandbox mode, come back to CampaignHQ and connect it using the steps above.

Pro tip: Create a dedicated IAM user with only the permissions CampaignHQ needs (ses:SendRawEmail, ses:SendEmail). This keeps your AWS account secure.

Step 3: Import Your Contacts

With your email infrastructure connected, it is time to bring in your audience.

Upload a CSV File

The fastest way to import contacts:

  1. Go to Contacts in the left sidebar
  2. Click Import Contacts
  3. Upload a CSV file with columns for email, name, and any custom attributes you want to track
  4. Map the CSV columns to CampaignHQ fields
  5. Click Import

CampaignHQ will process the file and show you a summary of how many contacts were added, updated, or skipped (duplicates or invalid emails).

Use Segments and Attributes

Once your contacts are in, organize them for better targeting:

  • Attributes: Add custom fields like “plan type,” “signup date,” “city,” or anything relevant to your business
  • Segments: Create dynamic groups based on attributes or behavior. For example, “Signed up in the last 30 days” or “Has not opened an email in 60 days”
  • Tags: Use tags for manual grouping, like “VIP customers” or “Webinar attendees”

Good segmentation is the difference between emails people read and emails people ignore. Spend a few minutes setting this up properly. Future you will be grateful.

Other Ways to Add Contacts

  • API integration: Use the CampaignHQ API to sync contacts from your app or CRM automatically
  • Shopify integration: If you run an e-commerce store on Shopify, CampaignHQ has a direct integration that syncs your customer data
  • Manual entry: Add individual contacts one at a time from the Contacts page

Step 4: Create Your First email template builders

Now the fun part. Let’s build an email.

  1. Go to Templates or Campaigns in your dashboard
  2. Click Create New Template
  3. Choose your starting point:
  • Drag-and-drop editor for visual email building (no code needed)
  • HTML editor if you prefer writing code
  • Pre-built templates to start with a professional design and customize from there
  1. Add your content: headlines, body text, images, buttons, and links
  2. Personalize with merge tags like `{{first_name}}` to address each recipient by name
  3. Preview your email on desktop and mobile views
  4. Save the template

Email Design Tips

  • Keep your subject line under 50 characters for best open rates
  • Use a single clear call-to-action per email
  • Make sure your email looks good on mobile (over 60% of emails are opened on phones)
  • Include an unsubscribe link (CampaignHQ adds this automatically)
  • Test with a real email to yourself before sending to your full list

Step 5: Set Up Your First Automation (Drip Flow)

Automations are where CampaignHQ really shines. Instead of sending one-off campaigns, you can create sequences that trigger based on user behavior.

Here is how to set up a simple welcome series:

  1. Go to Automations or User Journeys in the sidebar
  2. Click Create New Automation
  3. Choose a trigger: “Contact added to list” or “Tag added”
  4. Build your sequence:
  • Email 1 (immediately): Welcome email with a quick intro to your product
  • Wait 2 days
  • Email 2: Share your most popular resource or feature walkthrough
  • Wait 3 days
  • Email 3: Customer story or social proof
  • Wait 2 days
  • Email 4: Soft CTA to upgrade, book a demo, or take the next step
  1. Set conditions and branches if needed (for example, skip email 3 if the contact already clicked a link in email 2)
  2. Activate the automation

Once active, every new contact who matches the trigger will automatically receive this sequence. You set it up once and it runs forever.

Popular Automations to Consider

  • Welcome series for new signups
  • Onboarding sequence for new customers
  • Re-engagement flow for inactive contacts
  • Abandoned cart emails (great for e-commerce with Shopify integration)
  • Post-purchase follow-up to gather reviews or upsell

Step 6: Send Your First Campaign

Time to hit send on your first real campaign.

  1. Go to Campaigns in the sidebar
  2. Click Create Campaign
  3. Choose Email Campaign
  4. Select your recipients (a segment, a tag, or your full contact list)
  5. Pick a template or create a new email
  6. Write your subject line and preview text
  7. Choose your sender name and email address (must be a verified identity in SES)
  8. Preview and test: Send a test email to yourself or your team
  9. Schedule or send immediately:
  • Use the Campaign Scheduler to pick the best time
  • Or click Send Now to fire it off right away
  1. Review the summary and confirm

After sending, head to Analytics to watch your results in real time. You will see open rates, click rates, bounces, and unsubscribes. CampaignHQ also includes domain warmup tools to help you build sender reputation gradually if you are sending from a new domain.

Step 7: Set Up WhatsApp Campaigns

One of CampaignHQ’s standout features is WhatsApp marketing built right into the same platform. If your audience is active on WhatsApp (especially common in markets like India, Brazil, and Southeast Asia), this is a powerful channel.

Connect WhatsApp Cloud API

  1. You will need a WhatsApp Business Account (WABA) connected through Meta’s Cloud API
  2. In CampaignHQ, go to Settings > WhatsApp Integration
  3. Follow the guided setup to connect your WABA
  4. Verify your business phone number

CampaignHQ supports Multi-WABA, so you can manage multiple WhatsApp business numbers from one dashboard if needed.

Create WhatsApp Templates

WhatsApp requires pre-approved message templates for outbound campaigns:

  1. Go to WhatsApp Templates in CampaignHQ
  2. Create a new template with your message, variables, and optional media (images, documents, videos)
  3. Submit for approval through Meta
  4. Once approved, use the template in your campaigns

Send a WhatsApp Campaign

  1. Go to Campaigns > Create Campaign > WhatsApp
  2. Select your audience segment
  3. Choose an approved template
  4. Personalize variables
  5. Schedule or send

Build a WhatsApp Chatbot

CampaignHQ includes a Chatflow Builder that lets you create automated WhatsApp chatbots:

  • Set up auto-replies for common questions
  • Create multi-step conversation flows
  • Route complex queries to your team’s WhatsApp Inbox

The WhatsApp Inbox feature lets your team handle live conversations collaboratively, so no customer message falls through the cracks.

Tips After Getting Started with CampaignHQ

Now that you are set up, here are some tips to help you get the best results:

  • Warm up your domain gradually. If you are sending from a new domain, do not blast 50,000 emails on day one. Use CampaignHQ’s domain warmup tools to build your sender reputation over a few weeks.
  • Clean your contact list regularly. Use the built-in email verification credits to remove invalid addresses. This protects your sender reputation and keeps bounce rates low.
  • A/B test your subject lines. Even small changes can dramatically affect open rates. Test two versions and let the data decide.
  • Combine email and WhatsApp. Use email for detailed content and WhatsApp for time-sensitive updates or quick engagement. The two channels complement each other beautifully.
  • Check your analytics weekly. Look at open rates, click rates, and unsubscribe trends. If numbers drop, adjust your content or sending frequency.
  • Use segments, not blasts. Sending relevant content to targeted segments always outperforms sending the same message to everyone.
  • Take advantage of AWS credits. If you are an early-stage startup with AWS Activate credits, your email sending costs are essentially covered. Do not let those credits expire.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need an AWS account to use CampaignHQ?

Yes. CampaignHQ is built to work with your AWS infrastructure, specifically Amazon SES for email. You will need an active AWS account with SES set up. The good news is that AWS SES is incredibly affordable at $0.10 per 1,000 emails, and if you have AWS Activate credits, you may not pay anything at all for email sending.

How much does CampaignHQ cost?

CampaignHQ offers four plans. The Core plan starts at $34/month (billed annually) and includes 1 user, 10,000 contacts, and 20,000 email credits. The Growth plan is $104/month for 5 users and 50,000 contacts. The Scale plan is $209/month for 10 users and 100,000 contacts. There is also a custom Enterprise plan for larger teams. All plans include email and WhatsApp campaign features, automation, and analytics.

Can I use CampaignHQ for WhatsApp marketing without email?

CampaignHQ supports both email and WhatsApp, and you can absolutely focus on WhatsApp if that is your primary channel. You will need to connect your WhatsApp Business Account through Meta’s Cloud API. The platform includes WhatsApp template management, campaign sending, chatbot building, and a team inbox for live conversations.

How long does it take to set up CampaignHQ?

If you already have an AWS SES account with a verified domain, you can be fully set up and ready to send in under 30 minutes. If you need to create an AWS account and set up SES from scratch, plan for a day or two, mostly because AWS needs to review your request to move out of SES sandbox mode.

Does CampaignHQ integrate with Shopify?

Yes. CampaignHQ has a direct Shopify integration that syncs your customer data, purchase history, and other attributes. This makes it easy to send targeted campaigns like abandoned cart emails, post-purchase follow-ups, and product recommendations.

Is my data secure with CampaignHQ?

Your data stays within your AWS account, which means you have full control over privacy and compliance. CampaignHQ does not store your email content or customer data on third-party servers. This makes it a strong choice for teams with strict data residency or compliance requirements.

Getting Started with CampaignHQ: What Comes Next

You have made it through the complete CampaignHQ setup guide. By now, you should have your account created, AWS SES connected, contacts imported, and a clear picture of how to run email and WhatsApp campaigns.

The beauty of CampaignHQ is that it grows with you. Start with a simple welcome email. Then add automations. Then layer in WhatsApp. Before you know it, you have a full multi-channel marketing engine running on infrastructure you already own.

If you have not signed up yet, create your free account here and follow this guide step by step. And if you hit any snags along the way, the CampaignHQ support team is available through email and chat to help you out.

Your AWS account is ready. Your customers are waiting. Let’s go build something great.

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