> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://docs.crowdwork.com/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://docs.crowdwork.com/for-theatres/email-marketing/building-a-campaign.md).

# Building a Campaign

This guide walks through building and sending a **marketing campaign** — a newsletter, promotion, or show or class announcement. You'll find email tools in the **Emails** section of your Dashboard sidebar.

{% hint style="info" %}
**Sending a service message instead?** Operational notices like roster changes or venue updates use the Transactional type, which reaches every targeted patron and is composed in a simple rich-text editor. See [Email Marketing](https://docs.crowdwork.com/for-theatres/email-marketing) for the difference between the two lanes.
{% endhint %}

***

## Step 1: Start a new campaign

In the **Emails** section, go to **Campaigns** and choose **New Campaign**. You'll pick one of three starting points:

* **Marketing** — newsletters, promotions, and announcements (this guide)
* **Transactional** — operational service messages
* **Use Template** — begin from one of your saved templates or a starter layout, then customize it — see [Templates & the Asset Library](https://docs.crowdwork.com/for-theatres/email-marketing/templates-and-asset-library)

Choose **Marketing** to open the block builder.

{% hint style="info" %}
**The type is set once per campaign.** You can't switch a draft between Marketing and Transactional later — to swap, just create a new draft.
{% endhint %}

***

## Step 2: Set the basics

Every campaign needs a few details before it can go out:

* **Subject line** — what patrons see in their inbox
* **From name** — the sender name your campaign appears to come from
* **Reply-to** — the address that receives replies

***

## Step 3: Build with blocks

Marketing campaigns are built from stackable **blocks**. To add one, click a **+** insertion point between blocks (or at the top or bottom of the email) and pick from the **Add a block** menu. To rearrange, drag a block by its handle — dragging reorders what's already there.

| Block           | What it does                                                                                                                             |
| --------------- | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| **Heading**     | A title or section header                                                                                                                |
| **Text**        | A paragraph of rich text                                                                                                                 |
| **Image**       | A picture from your [Asset Library](https://docs.crowdwork.com/for-theatres/email-marketing/templates-and-asset-library) or a new upload |
| **Button**      | A tappable call-to-action linking anywhere you choose                                                                                    |
| **Divider**     | A horizontal line to separate sections                                                                                                   |
| **Spacer**      | Adjustable vertical spacing                                                                                                              |
| **Event**       | A live card for a single show or class                                                                                                   |
| **Event Group** | Live cards for a set of upcoming shows or classes                                                                                        |

Your work saves automatically as you build — watch for the **Saved** indicator in the builder.

<div data-full-width="false"><figure><img src="/files/26lRXKnIEOK78TTNfhCD" alt="The Add a block picker open at an insertion point in the builder" width="310"><figcaption><p>Adding a block from an insertion point in the builder</p></figcaption></figure></div>

***

## The Event and Event Group blocks

The **Event** and **Event Group** blocks are the heart of a marketing campaign — they pull **live details straight from your shows and classes**, so you don't have to copy and paste anything by hand. Each card can show the event poster, its next upcoming date, the venue, a "starting from" price, and the event's public description, with a **tracked call-to-action button** that links patrons straight to tickets or registration.

Use the **Include** toggles to control what each card shows:

* **Poster**, **Date**, **Venue**, and **Price** — on by default
* **Description** — off by default; turn it on when the extra context earns its space

An **Event** block features one show or class you pick. An **Event Group** block builds its list dynamically: choose a tag, a window of upcoming days, and a maximum number of events, and the block fills itself with matching cards. A new Event Group starts at events in the **next 30 days**, showing **up to 5** — raise the limit if you want more (it can show up to 100). Handy for a "what's on this month" roundup that assembles itself.

Because the details are pulled live, the cards re-render when the campaign actually sends — a draft sent later ships the latest pricing and dates.

<div data-full-width="false"><figure><img src="/files/JU576ViMzeCuG7DMbrl2" alt="A configured Event block with its Include toggles and tracked call-to-action" width="310"><figcaption><p>A configured Event block with Include toggles and a call-to-action</p></figcaption></figure></div>

***

## Step 4: Choose your audience

When your content is ready, choose who receives the campaign. You can pick a **Saved Segment** or build a **Custom Filter** on the spot; a **live recipient count** updates as you refine it, and **Preview Recipients** shows the actual list.

{% hint style="info" %}
**Your count is often smaller than your full patron list.** Marketing campaigns only reach patrons who opted in to your newsletter, minus anyone on your suppression list, with duplicates removed. See [Choosing Your Audience](https://docs.crowdwork.com/for-theatres/email-marketing/choosing-your-audience) for the full breakdown.
{% endhint %}

***

## Step 5: Send a test

Before sending for real, proof the layout, links, and event cards in a real inbox. Open **Send Test Email**, enter one or more addresses (comma-separated), tick the Acceptable Use Policy confirmation, and send.

Test sends have sensible limits: up to **5 addresses per test**, **12 test emails per draft**, and **50 test emails per theatre per day**.

<div data-full-width="false"><figure><img src="/files/MMSCj67EDC334S3My6mZ" alt="The Send Test Email dialog with the address field and policy confirmation" width="310"><figcaption><p>Sending a test copy before the real send</p></figcaption></figure></div>

***

## Step 6: Send now

When you're happy with the test, choose **Send Now**, confirm the checkbox — *"I confirm this email complies with and I agree to CrowdWork's Acceptable Use Policy"* — and send. CrowdWork resolves your final recipient list at this moment and the campaign goes out.

{% hint style="warning" %}
**Don't see the option to send?** Sending becomes available once your theatre has an established sales history, which protects deliverability for everyone on CrowdWork. You can keep building and saving in the meantime. If your theatre has been selling and sending still isn't enabled, [contact support](https://docs.crowdwork.com/contacting-support).
{% endhint %}

***

## Previewing your campaign

The built-in preview shows your campaign at desktop and mobile widths, including the footer at the bottom of the email. Marketing campaigns end with a note that the patron subscribed to updates from your theatre, your theatre's **mailing address**, an **Unsubscribe** link, and a **"Sent via CrowdWork"** line.

{% hint style="info" %}
**Your mailing address has to be complete.** Anti-spam law requires a physical postal address in every marketing email, so a marketing campaign can't send until your theatre's street address, city, state, and ZIP are filled in under your theatre settings. Transactional campaigns aren't affected.
{% endhint %}

<div data-full-width="false"><figure><img src="/files/5NypHuU15Pq4LYv0rE7l" alt="The mobile preview, including the unsubscribe footer on a marketing campaign" width="310"><figcaption><p>The mobile preview, including the unsubscribe footer</p></figcaption></figure></div>

***

## After you send

Once a campaign is sent, its delivery stats, opens, clicks, and attributed revenue appear in its report — open the campaign from the **Campaigns** list. See [Campaign Reports & Revenue](https://docs.crowdwork.com/for-theatres/email-marketing/campaign-reports-and-revenue) for a tour of everything in it.

Two more tools on the Campaigns list worth knowing:

* **Duplicate** — copies any campaign into a fresh draft, perfect for a recurring newsletter
* **Delete** — removes a draft you no longer need (sent campaigns can't be deleted, so your reporting history stays intact)

***

## Related Tasks

| Task                                     | Guide                                                                                                                |
| ---------------------------------------- | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| **Understand the two campaign types**    | [Email Marketing](https://docs.crowdwork.com/for-theatres/email-marketing)                                           |
| **Target the right patrons**             | [Choosing Your Audience](https://docs.crowdwork.com/for-theatres/email-marketing/choosing-your-audience)             |
| **Read a campaign's report and revenue** | [Campaign Reports & Revenue](https://docs.crowdwork.com/for-theatres/email-marketing/campaign-reports-and-revenue)   |
| **Reuse layouts and images**             | [Templates & the Asset Library](https://docs.crowdwork.com/for-theatres/email-marketing/templates-and-asset-library) |
| **Manage unsubscribes and bounces**      | [Suppressions & Unsubscribes](https://docs.crowdwork.com/for-theatres/email-marketing/suppressions-and-unsubscribes) |

***

## Need Help?

If you run into a situation this guide doesn't cover, [contact our support team](https://docs.crowdwork.com/contacting-support) from your Dashboard. We're here to help!