How to Set Up Automated Email Campaigns in Gmass Step by Step Guide

If you’re tired of clunky email tools and just want to send smart, automated campaigns right from Gmail, you’re in the right place. This guide is for anyone—marketers, freelancers, founders—who wants to actually get how Gmass works, not just read the same old “it’s easy!” marketing copy.

We’ll walk through exactly how to set up automated email campaigns in Gmass, step by step. No vague promises, no skipped steps. Let’s get your emails out the door (and some real results in).

What You’ll Need Before You Start

Before we jump in, here’s what you need for a smooth setup:

  • A Gmail or Google Workspace account (that’s the only way Gmass works)
  • Gmass installed as a Chrome extension (it doesn’t work on Safari, Firefox, etc.)
  • A clean list of email addresses (CSV or Google Sheet preferred)
  • A clear goal (are you nurturing leads, cold emailing, or something else?)

Pro tip: If your recipient list is messy (lots of duplicates, typos, or old addresses), clean it up first. Gmass is powerful, but even it can’t fix sending to the wrong people.

Step 1: Install Gmass and Connect to Gmail

  1. Go to the Chrome Web Store and search for “Gmass.”
  2. Or just download it directly.
  3. Click “Add to Chrome” and follow the prompts.
  4. Authorize Gmass to connect to your Gmail account.
  5. You’ll see a pop-up asking for permissions. Annoying, but necessary—Gmass needs access to send emails for you.
  6. Open Gmail.
  7. You should see new Gmass buttons next to Compose and in your inbox.

What to ignore: If you see Gmass's “quick start” overlays, you can skip them for now. We’ll walk through the important parts here.

Step 2: Prepare Your Email List

Gmass lets you use a Google Sheet or upload a CSV. For most people, a Google Sheet is easier.

  1. Create a new Google Sheet.
  2. Put all your recipient emails in the first column.
  3. Add other columns for details you want to personalize (name, company, etc.).
  4. Name your columns clearly—no weird symbols.
  5. Example: FirstName, Email, Company
  6. Double-check for errors.
  7. Typos, missing @ signs, or weird formatting will cause headaches later.

Pro tip: Gmass ignores blank rows, but not duplicates. Remove those—nobody likes getting the same email twice.

Step 3: Connect Your List to Gmass

  1. In Gmail, click “Compose.”
  2. Click the little Google Sheets icon next to the To field (it’s the Gmass button).
  3. Choose the Google Sheet you just made.
  4. Gmass will ask which worksheet/tab to use. Pick the right one.
  5. Click “Connect.”

Gmass will pull in your list and show you how many recipients it found. If that number looks off, double-check your Sheet.

What doesn’t work: Don’t try to use Excel files or pasted lists. Gmass only likes Google Sheets or CSVs.

Step 4: Write Your Email (and Personalize It)

Here’s where Gmass shines—you can personalize each message, so it doesn’t look like a mass blast.

  1. Write your subject and message in the Compose window.
  2. Use curly brackets to insert info from your Sheet.
  3. For example:
    • Hi {FirstName},
    • “I saw you work at {Company}...”
  4. Add attachments if needed.
  5. Just use Gmail’s normal attachment tool.

Don’t overdo it: Personalization is great, but don’t try to be too clever. People can spot a robot pretending to be personal from a mile away.

Step 5: Set Up Automation (Scheduling & Follow-Ups)

Here’s where you move beyond a one-off email.

To schedule your campaign:

  1. Click the little arrow next to the red Gmass button (at the bottom of Compose).
  2. Select “Schedule.”
  3. Pick your date and time.
  4. Gmass will send out emails for you at that time.

To set up auto follow-ups:

  1. In the same menu, click “Auto Follow-up.”
  2. Choose your rules:
  3. When to send (e.g., if no reply after X days)
  4. What to send (write your follow-up message)
  5. How many to send (you can do multiple rounds, but don’t spam)
  6. Save your settings.

Honest take: Auto follow-ups work, but be respectful. More than two or three is usually overkill, and it can get you marked as spam.

Step 6: Send a Test Email

Always, always send yourself a test before launching to your whole list.

  1. Click “Send Test” in the Gmass menu.
  2. Check your inbox.
  3. Make sure personalization works (no weird {FirstName} showing up).
  4. Double-check formatting, links, and attachments.

Pro tip: Test with a couple different example rows from your Sheet, especially if there are blank fields. You’d be surprised how often things break with missing info.

Step 7: Launch Your Campaign

Ready? Here’s how to actually send:

  1. Press the big red Gmass button.
  2. This sends to everyone in your connected Sheet (or CSV).

You’ll get a confirmation, and Gmass will queue up your emails. If you scheduled them, they’ll go out at your chosen time.

What to ignore: Don’t bother with “preview” features—your test email already showed you what matters.

Step 8: Track Results

Gmass tracks opens, clicks, replies, bounces, and more. Here’s how to see what happened:

  1. Go to the “GMass Reports” label in your Gmail sidebar.
  2. Open the “Campaign Report” email.
  3. You’ll see stats for opens, clicks, replies, etc.
  4. There’s a link to a more detailed web dashboard if you want.

Be skeptical: Open rates aren’t 100% accurate (privacy features, image blocking, etc.). Use them as a rough guide, not gospel.

Step 9: Fine-Tune and Iterate

Don’t just “set and forget” your campaigns. Here’s what you should actually do:

  • Rewrite subject lines if open rates are bad
  • Tweak your message if replies are low
  • Check for bounces—clean your list if you see a lot
  • Experiment in small batches before blasting thousands

What doesn’t work: Blindly copying “high converting templates” from the internet. They rarely work for your audience.

Things to Watch Out For

A few honest warnings:

  • Gmail sending limits: Gmail accounts can only send so many emails per day (usually 500 for free accounts, 2,000 for Workspace). Gmass can’t hack that limit.
  • Deliverability: If you go too hard, too fast, you’ll hit spam filters. Start small, warm up your account.
  • Legal stuff: If you’re cold emailing, check local laws (CAN-SPAM, GDPR, etc.). Gmass won’t keep you out of legal trouble.

Keep It Simple (and Keep Improving)

Gmass makes it pretty easy to set up automated campaigns—if you skip the fluff and focus on what matters. Start with a clean list, personalize just enough, test everything, and don’t get fancy until you’ve nailed the basics. If something isn’t working, tweak it and try again. That’s how real progress happens.

Now, get those emails out the door—and don’t fall for “growth hacks” that sound too good to be true. Stick with what works, and keep it human.