# Build a campaign

Create a campaign in Victoria AI from start to activation, in the app or with the AI Sales Copilot.

A campaign is a sequence of steps, a list of leads, and the sender accounts that send for it. You can build one by hand in **Campaigns**, or ask the AI Sales Copilot to build it with you. Either way the campaign starts as a draft and sends nothing until you activate it.

## Build a campaign by hand: the steps in order

1. **Create it.** Go to **Campaigns → New Campaign**. Enter a **Campaign name**, an optional **Description**, and pick a **Template**: **Email + LinkedIn**, **LinkedIn Only**, **Email Only** or **Start from Scratch**. Select **Create Campaign**. The campaign opens on its **Sequence** tab, paused.
2. **Write the sequence.** Open **Campaigns → your campaign → Sequence**. Click each step to open its editor and write the message. Email steps need a subject and a body. See [Sequence steps and branches](https://docs.versionseven.ai/help/sequence-steps-and-branches).
3. **Add personalization (optional).** In any message, use **Insert Variable** to add lead fields such as `{first_name}`, or add an AI Personalization field. See [Personalization fields](https://docs.versionseven.ai/help/personalization-fields).
4. **Add leads.** Open **Leads** and choose **Find Leads**, **Add Lead** or **Upload CSV**. See [Find leads in the Lead database](https://docs.versionseven.ai/help/find-leads-in-the-lead-database) and [Import a CSV](https://docs.versionseven.ai/help/import-a-csv).
5. **Assign senders.** Open **Settings → Connected Accounts** and select each account that should send. Connect accounts first on **Sender Accounts** if none are listed. See [Connect LinkedIn](https://docs.versionseven.ai/help/connect-linkedin) and [Connect Gmail or Outlook](https://docs.versionseven.ai/help/connect-gmail-or-outlook).
6. **Check work hours and daily limits.** Still on **Settings**, review **Work Hours** and **Daily Limits**. See [Work hours and daily limits](https://docs.versionseven.ai/help/work-hours-and-daily-limits).
7. **Set up replies (optional).** Open **Appointment Setter** to let the AI agent answer replies. See [Appointment Setter](https://docs.versionseven.ai/help/appointment-setter).
8. **Activate.** Turn on the switch next to **Paused** at the top of the campaign. The readiness check runs; when every check passes, select **Activate Campaign**. See [Preflight checks](https://docs.versionseven.ai/help/preflight-checks).

## Build a campaign with the AI Sales Copilot

Select **AI Sales Copilot** in the sidebar and describe who you sell to and what you offer. The Copilot can create the campaign, write every step of the sequence, create AI Personalization fields, find leads in the Lead database, assign senders and run the readiness check. Every change it proposes appears on an approval card first, and nothing happens until you approve it. Actions that spend credits, like finding leads, show the cost on the card.

The Copilot always creates campaigns as drafts. It activates one only when you approve the activation card, and it uses the same readiness check as the app.

If you connect Claude or ChatGPT to your workspace, that assistant can do the same work from outside the app. See [Connect your AI assistant](https://docs.versionseven.ai/help/connect-your-ai-assistant).

## Pick a campaign template

The template only decides the starting steps; you can change everything afterwards.

- **Email + LinkedIn**: views the profile, sends a connection request, then branches. People who accept get LinkedIn messages and emails; people who don't get emails.
- **LinkedIn Only**: the same start, then LinkedIn messages for people who accept and nothing for people who don't.
- **Email Only**: three emails.
- **Start from Scratch**: an empty sequence.

Choose a template that matches the data your leads have. Leads without an email address can't receive email steps, and leads without a LinkedIn URL can't receive LinkedIn steps. The [starter sequences](https://docs.versionseven.ai/playbook/sequences/multichannel-b2b-default) in the Playbook show each shape with full example copy.

## What happens after you activate a campaign

Victoria assigns each lead to one of the campaign's senders and starts the sequence. Steps go out only inside the campaign's work hours and within its daily limits and each sender's own limits, so the first sends can take a while to appear. When a lead replies, the sequence stops for that lead and the reply shows in the **Inbox**.

If nothing seems to happen, see [Leads aren't moving](https://docs.versionseven.ai/help/troubleshooting-leads-not-moving).