First send checklist

Walk through this list before your first newsletter goes out. It covers everything from account setup to content review.

Account & organization

• ☐ Profile — name, email verified, password set
• ☐ Company information — name, address (required for compliance), timezone (in Settings → Name & Company)
• ☐ Team — invited everyone who needs access, with the right roles and newsletter access (Settings → Team & Permissions)
• ☐ Domain authentication — set up for your sending domain (Settings → Domain Authentication). This significantly improves deliverability and replaces "via sendgrid.net" with your own domain in inboxes.

Identity & branding (Newsletter → Identity tab)

• ☐ Newsletter name and description set
• ☐ Company info inheriting from settings (or overridden if needed)

Email setup (Newsletter → Email tab)

• ☐ Subject line strategy chosen (Selected Article / Featured Article / Custom)
• ☐ Section for Subject set if using Selected
• ☐ Date format chosen
• ☐ Preview text written
• ☐ Template / Layout selected and looks right
• ☐ From Name and From Email correct (using your authenticated domain)

Audience (Newsletter → Audience tab)

• ☐ Include Lists chosen
• ☐ Exclude Lists chosen (if applicable — e.g., suppressing internal staff)
• ☐ Subscription Type set with correct behavior (opt-in vs opt-out)
• ☐ Audience Summary shows the expected number of recipients

Content (Newsletter → Content tab)

• ☐ Filters set (whitelist and blacklist as needed)
• ☐ Article Counts configured:
• ☐ Min count is achievable based on your Content Pool
• ☐ Max count is reasonable
• ☐ Max per source prevents one publisher from dominating
• ☐ Sections configured (if using sectioned layout)

⚠️ If you don't have enough articles to meet the Min count, the newsletter won't send. Confirm by visiting Content → Content Pool.

Schedule (Newsletter → Schedule tab)

• ☐ Frequency correct
• ☐ Days and Delivery Time match your intended schedule
• ☐ Timezone is correct
• ☐ Cutoff Offset is reasonable (default ~4 hours)
• ☐ Automation is ON

Forms (Newsletter → Forms tab)

• ☐ Sign-up form design customized (logo, headline, CTA, privacy text)
• ☐ Unsubscribe page reviewed

Sources (Content → Sources)

• ☐ All sources Active
• ☐ No broken or failing sources
• ☐ Featured sources set if you have any

Content Pool review (Content → Content Pool)

• ☐ Articles look right (titles, images, descriptions)
• ☐ No off-topic or inappropriate content
• ☐ You've featured anything you want to promote
• ☐ At least Min count articles are Active
• ☐ Custom Tags added where useful

Test send

• ☐ Sent a test email to yourself
• ☐ Reviewed on desktop
• ☐ Reviewed on mobile
• ☐ Checked in dark mode if possible
• ☐ Tested links
• ☐ Confirmed subject and preview text display correctly
• ☐ Confirmed unsubscribe link works

Notifications (Newsletter → Notifications tab)

• ☐ Content Ready for Review notification enabled (so you're alerted before each cutoff)
• ☐ Weekly Report enabled if you want a summary
• ☐ Schedule Pause Notification enabled

Just before send

• ☐ No major issues open with your team
• ☐ You're available if something needs adjusting last-minute
• ☐ You know how to skip or customize a send if needed (see Schedule, skips, and pauses)

After your first send

• ☐ Check Analytics → Newsletters for delivery and engagement stats
• ☐ Note anything you'd improve next time
• ☐ Update your Content Pool with new sources or filters based on what you learned

If something goes wrong

• For technical issues: support@rasa.io
• For strategy questions: support@rasa.io
• For specific subscriber issues: check the contact in Contacts → All Contacts

Good luck with your first send!