***

title: Creating Campaigns
description: >-
Learn how to create and configure outbound campaigns to reach your contacts
automatically.
--------------

# Creating Campaigns

This guide walks you through creating an outbound campaign from start to finish.

## Starting a New Campaign

1. Navigate to **Campaigns** in the dashboard
2. Click **New Campaign**
3. Enter the basic information:
   * **Name** - A descriptive name for internal use
   * **Description** - Optional notes about the campaign's purpose

## Campaign Configuration

### Basic Settings

| Setting           | Description                            |
| ----------------- | -------------------------------------- |
| **Campaign Name** | Internal identifier for the campaign   |
| **Description**   | Notes about purpose and goals          |
| **Agent**         | The AI agent that will make calls      |
| **Contact List**  | The list of contacts to call           |
| **Caller ID**     | The phone number displayed to contacts |

### Selecting an Agent

Choose the agent that will handle campaign calls:

1. Click **Select Agent**
2. Choose from your existing agents or create a new one
3. Review the agent's configuration for outbound suitability

<Callout type="info">
  Outbound agents should have scripts tailored for proactive outreach rather than inbound support. Consider the conversation flow when the contact answers.
</Callout>

### Linking Contact Lists

Connect one or more contact lists to your campaign:

1. Click **Add Contact List**
2. Select from your existing lists
3. Configure sync settings

New contacts added to linked lists will automatically be queued for the campaign.

## Campaign Scripts

Define what your agent says during campaign calls.

### Opening Script

The opening is crucial for outbound calls. It should:

* Identify who is calling
* State the purpose clearly
* Engage the contact quickly

**Example Opening:**

> "Hi, this is Gail calling from Acme Insurance regarding your policy renewal. Do you have a moment to discuss your options?"

### Handling Responses

Configure how your agent responds to common scenarios:

| Scenario           | Suggested Handling             |
| ------------------ | ------------------------------ |
| **Interested**     | Continue with main script      |
| **Not interested** | Acknowledge and offer callback |
| **Wrong number**   | Apologize and update contact   |
| **Busy**           | Offer to call back later       |
| **Voicemail**      | Leave a message or retry       |

### Voicemail Script

When calls go to voicemail:

1. Enable **Leave Voicemail** in campaign settings
2. Write a concise voicemail script (under 30 seconds)
3. Include a callback number or next steps

**Example Voicemail:**

> "Hi, this is a message from Acme Insurance about your upcoming policy renewal. Please call us back at 555-123-4567 or visit acmeinsurance.com to review your options. Thank you!"

## Scheduling

Control when your campaign runs.

### Campaign Schedule

Set the hours when calls can be made:

| Setting          | Description                  |
| ---------------- | ---------------------------- |
| **Start Time**   | Earliest time to begin calls |
| **End Time**     | Latest time to make calls    |
| **Days of Week** | Which days the campaign runs |
| **Time Zone**    | Time zone for scheduling     |

<Callout type="warning">
  Always respect appropriate calling hours. Most regulations prohibit calls before 8 AM or after 9 PM in the contact's local time zone.
</Callout>

### Contact Time Zones

Gail automatically adjusts calling times based on contact time zones:

* Phone number area codes are used to determine location
* Calls are only placed during permitted hours
* Contacts in restricted hours are queued for later

### Pacing

Control the rate of outbound calls:

| Setting              | Description                                 |
| -------------------- | ------------------------------------------- |
| **Calls per hour**   | Maximum calls to initiate per hour          |
| **Concurrent calls** | Maximum simultaneous active calls           |
| **Throttling**       | Automatic slowdown if connection rates drop |

## Campaign Outcomes

Define the possible results of campaign calls.

### Standard Outcomes

| Outcome                | Description                               |
| ---------------------- | ----------------------------------------- |
| **Completed**          | Call achieved its purpose                 |
| **Callback Requested** | Contact asked to be called later          |
| **Not Interested**     | Contact declined the offer                |
| **Wrong Number**       | Number doesn't belong to intended contact |
| **No Answer**          | Call was not answered                     |
| **Voicemail**          | Reached voicemail                         |

### Custom Outcomes

Create outcomes specific to your campaign:

1. Go to **Campaign Settings** → **Outcomes**
2. Click **Add Outcome**
3. Define:
   * **Name** - Outcome identifier
   * **Description** - When this outcome applies
   * **Action** - What happens next (complete, retry, escalate)

**Example Custom Outcomes:**

* "Payment Confirmed" - Contact made a payment
* "Appointment Scheduled" - Successfully booked an appointment
* "Transferred to Agent" - Escalated to human agent

## Launching the Campaign

Before launching:

1. **Review settings** - Double-check all configuration
2. **Test calls** - Make test calls to verify the experience
3. **Check contact list** - Ensure contacts are properly loaded
4. **Verify schedule** - Confirm calling hours are appropriate

To launch:

1. Click **Review & Launch**
2. Confirm the campaign details
3. Click **Start Campaign**

## Monitoring Active Campaigns

Once running, monitor your campaign from the dashboard:

* **Real-time stats** - Calls made, connected, completed
* **Queue status** - Contacts waiting to be called
* **Error alerts** - Issues requiring attention
* **Live calls** - Currently active conversations

### Pausing and Resuming

You can pause a campaign at any time:

1. Open the campaign
2. Click **Pause Campaign**
3. Calls in progress will complete, but no new calls start

To resume, click **Resume Campaign**.

## Next Steps

* [SMS & Text Messaging](/platform/sms/sms-text-messaging) - Set up and manage text messages for text-based campaigns
* [Sequences](/platform/communications/outbound/sequences) - Create multi-step outreach flows
* [Redialing Rules](/platform/communications/outbound/redialing-rules) - Configure retry behavior