***

title: Choose Your Path
description: >-
Select what you want to accomplish first and we'll guide you through the
setup.
------

Now that you understand what Gail can do, let's get started. Choose one of these paths based on your immediate goal:

***

## 💬 Path 1: Build Your Gail (Custom AI Agent)

**Create a custom AI agent that can handle chat, SMS, and more.** Build a Gail tailored to your specific business needs with its own personality, knowledge base, and capabilities.

<CardGroup cols={2}>
  <Card title="Best For" icon="check-circle">
    * SMS and chat conversations
    * Custom AI assistants
    * Multi-channel communication
    * Business-specific workflows
  </Card>

  <Card title="What You'll Need" icon="clock">
    **Time:** 15-20 minutes

    **Requirements:** Business info, documents for knowledge base
  </Card>
</CardGroup>

<Steps>
  <Step title="Navigate to Gails">
    In your portal, go to the "General" dropdown on the left-hand menu and click on the "Gails" tab.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Select 'Create a Gail'">
    On the Gails page, click "Create a Gail" to start building your custom AI agent.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Choose Your Mode">
    **Basic Mode:** Quick setup—just provide the Gail's name, specialty, and a one-sentence description.

    **Advanced Mode:** Full control—define name, persona/tone, GPT model preference, and custom abilities.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Enable Communication Channels">
    Select which channels your Gail should use: SMS, Chat widget, or within the Gail portal itself.

    **If enabling SMS:** Choose your SMS sender name/short code and indicate if MMS/incoming media should be allowed.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Build the Knowledge Base">
    Attach documents to teach your Gail about your company. Add document types and tags for grouping and organization.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Set Rules and Instructions">
    Provide specific rules, compliance constraints, or mandatory instructions your Gail must always follow.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Add Custom Tools/Integrations">
    If your Gail needs to use specific tools, name them and briefly describe their function.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Define Business Hours">
    Set your desired business hours and the correct timezone for automated responses.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Enable File Uploads (Optional)">
    For chat channels, enable file uploads and set any size/type restrictions if needed.
  </Step>
</Steps>

**[Create your first Gail →](/platform/gails/create-your-first-gail)**

***

## 📞 Path 2: Set Up Inbound Calls

**Configure your Gail to answer incoming calls 24/7.** Handle customer inquiries, route calls, and provide support automatically—perfect for teams that need always-on customer service.

<CardGroup cols={2}>
  <Card title="Best For" icon="check-circle">
    * Customer support teams
    * After-hours coverage
    * High call volume businesses
    * Appointment scheduling
  </Card>

  <Card title="What You'll Need" icon="clock">
    **Time:** 20-30 minutes

    **Requirements:** Phone number, business info
  </Card>
</CardGroup>

<Steps>
  <Step title="Navigate to Inbound">
    Go to the left-hand menu in your portal and click on "Inbound" → "Receptionist" page. You'll find Handbook, Directory, and Knowledge tabs here.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Create Your Inbound Scripts">
    Navigate to the "Handbook" tab within Receptionist. Create the scripts Gail will use to answer calls, greet callers, and manage different scenarios (business hours vs. after hours).
  </Step>

  <Step title="Build Your Directory">
    Head to the "Directory" tab in the Receptionist section. Add all your internal contacts with their phone numbers so Gail knows exactly who to transfer calls to.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Set Your Business Hours">
    Go to the "Knowledge" tab in the Receptionist section. Define your agency's operating hours. Gail uses this to decide which script to run.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Configure Call Forwarding Logic">
    On the Receptionist page, configure the transfer logic. This tells Gail how to handle calls based on your business hours, ensuring calls go to the right place every time.
  </Step>
</Steps>

**[Begin inbound setup →](/platform/inbound/overview)**

***

## 📤 Path 3: Create Outbound Campaign

**Launch a campaign to proactively reach out to customers.** Perfect for follow-ups, reminders, lead qualification, and staying connected with your customer base.

<CardGroup cols={2}>
  <Card title="Best For" icon="check-circle">
    * Sales and retention teams
    * Lead follow-up
    * Appointment reminders
    * Policy renewal outreach
  </Card>

  <Card title="What You'll Need" icon="clock">
    **Time:** 30-40 minutes

    **Requirements:** Contact list, campaign goal
  </Card>
</CardGroup>

<Steps>
  <Step title="Create a New Campaign">
    On the Campaigns page, click the "New Campaign" button to start setting up your campaign.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Fill in Campaign Details">
    Give your campaign a clear name and description. Toggle "Advanced Campaign" if you need features like multiple scripts or specific redialing rules.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Select Your Script">
    From the "Script" dropdown menu, choose the specific script you want Gail to use for this campaign. This is the message or conversation flow Gail will follow when making calls.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Choose Your Contact List">
    Click the "Choose Contact List" button and select the list of contacts you want this campaign to reach out to.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Save and Launch">
    Click the orange "Save" button to save your campaign as a draft. From the "Edit Campaign" page, you can either click "Edit" to make more changes or hit "Start" to launch immediately!
  </Step>
</Steps>

**[Create your first campaign →](/platform/communications/outbound/creating-campaigns)**

***

## Make Your Gail More Effective

Once you've chosen your path and completed basic setup, enhance your Gail with these optional features:

<CardGroup cols={2}>
  <Card title="📚 Add Knowledge" icon="book" href="/platform/knowledge/overview">
    Upload documents, FAQs, and company information so your Gail gives accurate, contextual answers.
  </Card>

  <Card title="🔌 Connect Integrations" icon="plug" href="/platform/integrations/overview">
    Link your calendar, CRM, and other tools for automated scheduling and data sync.
  </Card>

  <Card title="🎙️ Set Up Your Gail" icon="robot" href="/platform/gails/create-your-first-gail">
    Configure your Gail agent with the right voice and conversation style.
  </Card>

  <Card title="📊 Track Performance" icon="chart-line" href="/platform/data-analytics/overview">
    Monitor call metrics, review transcripts, and measure ROI.
  </Card>

  <Card title="🔀 Set Up Workflows" icon="diagram-project" href="/platform/inbound/use-cases">
    Design conversation flows for complex scenarios and call routing.
  </Card>

  <Card title="👥 Invite Your Team" icon="users" href="/platform/settings/team">
    Add team members and configure roles and permissions.
  </Card>
</CardGroup>

***

## Need Help Getting Started?

<Card title="Book a Demo" icon="calendar">
  Schedule a personalized walkthrough with our team. We'll help you choose the right path and get set up faster.

  [Schedule a call →](https://www.meetgail.com/contact-sales)
</Card>

<Callout type="info">
  **Not sure which path to choose?** Most teams start with GailGPT to test the platform, then move to inbound calls for customer support. Outbound campaigns are typically added once you're comfortable with the basics.
</Callout>