How to Set Up and Track Drip Email Campaigns in Leadsquared

If you’re looking to nudge leads along without blasting everyone the same old newsletter, drip campaigns are your friend. But setting them up—especially in a tool like Leadsquared—can be confusing if you’re not living in it every day. This guide breaks down exactly how to build, automate, and track drip emails in Leadsquared, minus the fluff. If you’re a marketer, sales ops, or just the “techy one” who drew the short straw, you’re in the right place.

What’s a Drip Email Campaign (and Why Bother)?

Drip campaigns are automated email sequences that go out on a schedule or after certain actions (like someone signing up for a demo). Instead of one big blast, you’re sending the right message at the right time—at least, that’s the goal.

Why use them? Because: - They’re scalable—you set it up once, and it keeps working. - They’re less spammy—timed messages feel less like a megaphone. - You can track exactly what’s working—not just opens, but who clicks, who replies, and who ghosts you.

But here’s the honest bit: Drip campaigns only work if your emails are actually useful. No amount of automation will save a bad sequence.

Step 1: Get Your Basics in Place

Before you even log into Leadsquared, do a quick gut check:

Have your email content ready. Don’t try to write copy in the builder. Map out your sequence in a doc first.
Know your audience. Define who’s getting these emails. “Everyone with an email” is not a real segment.
Clarify your goal. Is it demo bookings? Free trial signups? Don’t send emails just to “stay top of mind.” (Nobody likes that.)

Pro tip: Sketch your sequence on paper or whiteboard first—subject lines, timing, call-to-action. It’ll save you headaches later.

Step 2: Build Your Email Templates in Leadsquared

Now, log in. In Leadsquared, you don’t build drip campaigns from scratch; you assemble them using email templates and automation.

Go to Marketing > Email Campaigns > Manage Templates.
Create a New Template for each email in your drip. Keep it simple:
Use the drag-and-drop editor unless you really love HTML.
Keep images minimal; too many can trigger spam filters.
Personalization (like “Hi {{FirstName}}”) is nice, but don’t force it if your data is messy.
Save and name each template clearly. “Drip 1 - Welcome,” “Drip 2 - Feature Highlight,” etc. Future you will thank you.

What to skip: Don’t over-design your emails. If you wouldn’t read it on mobile, don’t send it.

Step 3: Segment Your Audience

You don’t want to drip on the wrong folks. In Leadsquared, you’ll use “lists” or “smart views” to target leads.

Go to Leads > Manage Lists.
Create a New List based on criteria that matter:
Source (e.g., leads from a webinar)
Stage in your funnel
Activity (clicked a link, filled a form, etc.)
Double-check your criteria. Run a preview. Make sure you’re not accidentally including your boss or old test leads.

Pro tip: If you’re doing this for the first time, keep the list smaller. It’s easier to fix mistakes with 50 leads than 5,000.

Step 4: Set Up the Drip Automation

This is where Leadsquared gets a little more complex. You’ll use their “Automation” builder.

Go to Automation > Create Automation.
Choose a Trigger.
Common triggers: Lead added to a list, lead field updated, form submission.
Pick the one that matches your campaign goal.
Build Your Sequence:
Add an “Email” action. Pick your first template.
Add a “Wait” step (e.g., wait 2 days).
Add the next “Email” action with the next template.
Repeat as needed.
Set Exit Conditions.
Example: If a lead replies, books a demo, or unsubscribes, stop the sequence for them.
You’ll need to use conditional branches for this—don’t skip it, or you’ll annoy people who already converted.
Test the flow. Use test leads. Send yourself the emails, watch the timing, and make sure nothing’s weird.

Stuff to ignore: Don’t get lost in the weeds with every possible trigger or branch. Start simple. You can always add complexity later.

Step 5: Activate and Monitor Your Campaign

Don’t just hit “activate” and walk away. Here’s what to do:

Double-check everything.
Are the right leads in the right list?
Are the emails sending in the right order?
Is the timing what you expect?
Turn on the automation. Now it’s live.
Monitor results daily (for the first week).
Go to Reports > Automation to view stats.
Check for bounces, unsubscribes, and weird spikes.
If you spot a mistake, pause immediately. Don’t hope nobody notices.

Pro tip: Save a copy of your automation flow (screenshot or export). If you need to troubleshoot later, this is a lifesaver.

Step 6: Track What Matters (and Ignore the Rest)

Leadsquared gives you a lot of metrics. Most of them are noise. Here’s what to actually track:

Open Rate: Useful only to spot technical issues (like your emails landing in spam).
Click Rate: This tells you if your content is even remotely interesting.
Reply Rate: If you want conversations, track replies.
Conversions: How many leads actually do the thing you want (book a call, sign up, etc.).

Ignore vanity metrics like “delivered” or “impressions.” Focus on what moves the needle.

How to track conversions: You’ll need to set up goals or use Lead Stages in Leadsquared. It’s not automatic—map your key action to a field or activity so you can report on it.

Troubleshooting Common Pitfalls

Even seasoned marketers trip up here. Some honest heads-ups:

Emails going to spam: Check your sending domain (use a real business domain, not Gmail), and avoid spammy subject lines.
Wrong people getting dripped: Double-check your list logic. If in doubt, exclude internal emails.
Timings feel off: Sometimes automation delays aren’t as “real time” as you hope. Build in buffer time.
Leads stuck in the sequence: Make sure your exit conditions are clear and tested.

If you’re stuck, Leadsquared’s support is responsive—but you’ll get faster answers by keeping your campaign as simple as possible.

Keep It Simple, Iterate Often

Drip campaigns work when you don’t overthink them. Start with a short, clear sequence. Watch how real leads respond. Adjust one thing at a time—maybe a subject line, maybe the timing. Resist the urge to build a 12-step, choose-your-own-adventure funnel on your first try.

You’ll get better results (and fewer headaches) by keeping things simple and improving as you go. Good luck!