How to: Create a sequence

What this guide helps you do

This quick-start guide walks you through creating and launching your first Email Sequence in Hunter.

By the end, you will:

Create a sequence
Add recipients
Write your emails
Configure sending settings
Launch with safe defaults

If you need deeper explanations, detailed guides are linked throughout.

Before you start

Make sure you have:

At least one sending account connected and ready - there are two ways to get a sending account set up in Hunter:
1. Connect an existing email account — Connect a Gmail or Outlook account you already have—or use SMTP/IMAP (available on paid plans only) → See Connect your email account to Email Sequences
2. Create managed email accounts — Buy a domain and create sending-ready email accounts directly in Hunter, with SPF, DKIM, and DMARC pre-configured. No external setup required. → See Buy and set up managed email accounts in Sequences

A list of recipients:
- In Leads
- As a CSV/TXT file
- Or for manual entry

If you’re unsure what Sequences are, see: Sequences overview.``

Step-by-step: Create and launch your sequence

Step 1: Create a new sequence

Go to Sequences in your Hunter account
Click + New Sequence

+ New Sequence button in the Sequences section in Hunter

Step 2: Name your sequence

Choose a clear internal name for your new sequence.

Examples:

“SaaS founders – Q1 outreach”
“June 2025 Summer outreach”

A screenshot of a new sequence with an arrow pointing out how to find the menu option to rename your sequence.

Step 3: Add recipients

Choose how you want to add recipients:

From Leads
Upload a CSV/TXT
Add recipients manually

Options for adding recipients to a sequence (Leads, CSV upload, manual entry)

Read more on each option (plus mapping rules and common import issues) here: How to add recipients to an email sequence

Step 4: Write your first email

Add a subject line
Write your email content

You can also:

Use email templates
Use the AI writing assistant
Use the A/B Testing feature
Personalize with attributes
Send yourself a test email
Check the spam score before proceeding

Helpful guides:

Step 5: Add follow-ups

Add 1–2 follow-up emails that will be automatically sent after the delay you set.

Set delays between steps (example):

3 days after step 1
7 days after step 2

Follow-ups are only sent to recipients who:

Haven’t replied
Haven’t bounced
Haven’t unsubscribed
Haven’t been marked as Successful

If you'd like to review writing and formatting best practices, read more here: Cold Email Writing Guide

Step 6: Review settings before sending

Open the Settings tab and review:

Sending window and start date
Sender account
Daily limits
Account rotation (if using multiple accounts)

A screenshot highlighting the "Settings" section of a sequence, where sending settings can be adjusted.

Recommended safe defaults (for first-time senders)

If this is your first sequence or a new sending account:

Setting	Recommendation
Steps	3 total (1 initial + 2 follow-ups)
Delays	3 days, then 7 days
Sending window	Weekdays during business hours
Daily limit	Start low and increase gradually
Personalization	1–2 meaningful attributes

💡 New sending account? Before launching, make sure your account is warmed up. Sending at full volume from a new account is the most common cause of emails landing in spam. Hunter offers two ways to handle this:

Inbox Protection — Automatically builds your sender reputation through real email engagement over 30 days. Recommended for brand new accounts or accounts that have been inactive.
Progressive Sending — Gradually increases your daily sending limit over time. A lighter option if your account already has some sending history and you just want to scale carefully.

Helpful resources: