So you’ve got leads to reach out to and you don’t want to spend your mornings copying and pasting emails. Fair enough. If you’re using Amplemarket, you can automate most of the grunt work and keep things organized, but only if you set it up right. This guide walks through setting up an automated outbound email sequence in Amplemarket, with zero fluff and a focus on what actually matters. If you’re a founder, SDR, or anyone hustling for replies—not just activity—this is for you.
Step 1: Get Your Foundations Right (Don’t Skip This)
Before you even log in to Amplemarket, cover your basics. Automation only works if your inputs don’t suck.
- Clean your lead list. Make sure emails aren’t obviously fake or out of date. Even the best automation can’t fix bad data.
- Have a clear goal. Are you booking meetings? Gathering feedback? Don’t just “touch base.” Know what you want.
- Prep your sending domain. If you’re using a fresh domain, warm it up first. Cold domains = spam folder.
Pro tip: If you’re new to sending bulk emails, start slow. Sudden volume spikes are the fastest way to get flagged as spam.
Step 2: Import Your Leads into Amplemarket
Now, let’s get your leads into Amplemarket.
- Navigate to the Leads tab. Click “Import Leads.”
- Choose your source. You can upload a CSV, use a Google Sheet, or connect to your CRM.
- Map your fields. Amplemarket will ask you to match your CSV columns to its system. Don’t just guess—name, company, and email are must-haves. Add LinkedIn, industry, or other custom fields if you want to personalize later.
- De-duplicate. If you upload the same lead twice, Amplemarket usually catches it, but double-check. Nothing burns trust like sending two copies of the same cold email.
What to ignore: Don’t obsess over every possible data point. The basics matter most. You can always refine later.
Step 3: Set Up Your Email Account
Amplemarket needs to send emails from your address—don’t skip this.
- Go to Settings > Email Accounts.
- Connect your email. OAuth is fastest for Gmail and Outlook. If you’re using something else, you’ll need SMTP details.
- Set your sending limits. Start low (20-40/day) if you’ve never sent cold emails before. Ramp up once you’re sure everything’s working.
- Test. Send yourself a test email. If it lands in spam, fix it before moving on.
Honest take: If you have deliverability issues now, automation won’t fix them. Get your SPF, DKIM, and DMARC records set up before you go wild.
Step 4: Create Your Email Sequence
This is where folks overthink things. Keep it simple, at least to start.
1. Go to the Campaigns section and click “New Campaign.”
- Give your campaign a name you’ll recognize later (“Q2 SaaS Founders Outreach” beats “Campaign 1”).
2. Set up your sequence steps.
- Step 1: Write your first email. Personalize the intro line if possible (use {{First Name}}, {{Company}}, etc.).
- Step 2: Set a delay (2-4 days is typical), then write your follow-up. Keep it short.
- Step 3: Add a third step if you must, but don’t go crazy. Three to four emails is plenty.
3. Use variables sparingly.
Personalization can help, but only if your data is good. Don’t add {{Pain Point}} unless you’re sure your list has that info for every contact.
4. Review your sequence.
Amplemarket’s preview tool is decent. Always spot-check a few samples—awkward mail merges are more common than you’d think.
What works: Short, direct emails that get to the point. What doesn’t: Long intros, generic “just following up” lines, or cringe personalization.
Step 5: Set Up Sending Schedules and Rules
You don’t want your emails landing at 2 a.m. or all at once.
- Choose your sending window. Stick to business hours in your lead’s time zone. Amplemarket lets you set this—use it.
- Pace your sends. Spread emails out to look natural. Randomize a bit if you can.
- Add rules. Pause sending if someone replies, or if you get a bounce. (You don’t want to keep hammering a dead inbox.)
Pro tip: Staggering sends over several days keeps your domain reputation healthy. Consistency beats volume.
Step 6: Add a Safety Net (Opt-Outs and Unsubscribes)
You legally need to let people opt out. More importantly, burning bridges helps no one.
- Amplemarket automatically adds unsubscribe links by default, but check your sequence just in case.
- If someone replies with “Not interested,” mark them as “Do Not Contact” to avoid future emails.
Honest take: Nothing tanks your reputation like ignoring opt-out requests—even if it’s “just one more follow-up.”
Step 7: Launch (But Don’t Walk Away)
You’re ready to go live. Schedule your campaign and hit send—but don’t set it and forget it.
- Monitor your inbox. Early replies are gold. Respond quickly.
- Check deliverability. Are your emails getting opened? If not, you might have a technical issue or a bad list.
- Track bounces and spam complaints. High numbers mean you need to pause and fix something.
What to ignore: Vanity metrics. Opens and clicks are nice, but meetings booked (or whatever your goal is) matter most.
Step 8: Refine and Iterate
No one nails their sequence on the first try. The real work comes after launch.
- A/B test subject lines and email copy. Amplemarket lets you do this—use it, but don’t go overboard. Test one thing at a time.
- Prune your list. Remove leads that never open or bounce.
- Tweak your timing. If replies spike on certain days, adjust your schedule.
- Review replies. Are people confused or annoyed? Rewrite your copy.
Pro tip: If you’re not getting the results you want, 90% of the time it’s your list or your message—not the tool.
Common Mistakes (and How to Dodge Them)
- Over-complicating sequences. More steps isn’t always better. Simple works.
- Ignoring deliverability. If you skip the technical setup, none of this matters.
- Forgetting to personalize. If every email looks the same, expect to be ignored.
- Sending too many emails at once. Ramp up slowly—think marathon, not sprint.
- Not following up. One email isn’t enough. Most replies come after the second or third touch.
Wrapping Up: Keep It Simple, Iterate Often
The best automated email sequences aren’t the flashiest—they’re the ones you actually send, monitor, and improve. Start with a clean list, a clear message, and a basic sequence. Don’t stress about fancy features until you’ve got the basics working. Pay attention to what gets real replies, and keep tweaking. Most importantly, don’t let automation turn you into a robot. The best results come when you sound like a person, not a sequence.
Now go get those replies. And remember: less is more.