Quick Start Guide
Why This Matters
Getting started with a new system can feel overwhelming. This guide gives you a clear path through your first week with AllClients. Follow these steps in order, and you'll have your account set up, your contacts organized, and your first campaigns running before you know it.
You don't have to do everything at once. Take it step by step, and you'll build a solid foundation that sets you up for long-term success.
Your First Week Roadmap
Step 1: Add Your Contacts
Your contacts are the foundation of everything you'll do in AllClients. Start by bringing them into the system.
What to do:
If you have an existing list (from a spreadsheet, another CRM, or email program):
→ Setup: Import Your Contacts
To add people one at a time:
→ How to Add a Contact
Why this matters: You can't send emails, set up automation, or track relationships without contacts in your database. This is your starting point for everything else.
How long it takes: 10-15 minutes
Step 2: Organize Your Database
Before you start communicating, organize your contacts so you can target the right people with the right messages.
What to do:
Learn about tags and how they work:
→ Tags Overview
Create your first tags:
→ How to Create Tags
Understand categories:
→ Categories Overview
Why this matters: Tags and categories let you segment your database for targeted campaigns. Instead of emailing everyone the same message, you can send personalized communications to specific groups (like "Hot Leads," "Past Clients," or "Newsletter Subscribers").
How long it takes: 15-20 minutes
Step 3: Set Up Email (If You'll Use It)
If you'll be sending marketing emails, configure your email sending domain so messages come from your business address and land in inboxes reliably.
What to do:
Set up your domain for sending:
→ Setup: Email Sending Domain
Understand permission requirements:
→ About: Opt-In Email
Learn about deliverability:
→ About: Email Deliverability
Why this matters: Email sent from an authenticated business domain has dramatically better deliverability than email sent from free addresses like Gmail or Yahoo. This setup ensures your messages reach your contacts' inboxes instead of spam folders.
How long it takes: 20-30 minutes
Don't need email? Skip to Step 5 and explore other features like text messaging, calendar scheduling, or automation.
Step 4: Send Your First Email Campaign
Test your setup by creating and sending a campaign to a small group of contacts.
What to do:
Create and send your first campaign:
→ How to Send Your First Email Campaign
Build reusable templates:
→ How to Create an Email Template
Track your results:
→ About: Email Engagement Metrics
Why this matters: Sending a test campaign confirms everything is working correctly and helps you get comfortable with the email tools before launching to your full list.
How long it takes: 20-30 minutes
Step 5: Explore Automation
Now that you have contacts organized and communication tools configured, explore automation to save time on repetitive tasks.
What to do:
Learn what automation can do:
→ Automation & Workflows Overview
Set up a simple workflow:
→ How to Create Your First Automation
Explore automation ideas:
→ Marketing Best Practices: Automation Strategies
Why this matters: Automation handles follow-ups, welcome sequences, and lead nurturing without manual effort. Set it up once, and it runs continuously in the background, so you never miss a follow-up.
How long it takes: 30-45 minutes
Step 6: Build a Landing Page (Optional)
If you want to capture new leads from your website, social media, or advertising, create a landing page with a form.
What to do:
Learn about landing pages:
→ Landing Pages Overview
Create your first page:
→ How to Create a Landing Page
Why this matters: Landing pages automatically add new contacts to your database and can trigger welcome emails or workflows. They turn website visitors into actionable leads without manual data entry.
How long it takes: 20-30 minutes
Step 7: Set Up Text Messaging (Optional)
If you want to communicate via SMS, configure your text messaging phone number.
What to do:
Set up texting:
→ Setup: Text Messaging Phone Number
Send your first text:
→ How to Send a Text Message
Why this matters: Text messaging has higher open rates than email and gives you another channel to reach your contacts for time-sensitive messages and quick updates.
How long it takes: 15-20 minutes
Your First Week Checklist
Use this checklist to track your progress:
- Import or add contacts
- Create tags and categories
- Organize contacts using tags
- Set up email sending domain (if using email)
- Send first test email campaign (if using email)
- Create first automation workflow
- Build a landing page (optional)
- Set up text messaging (optional)
Don't worry if you don't finish everything in week one. The most important steps are adding contacts (Step 1) and organizing your database (Step 2). Everything else can happen at your own pace based on which features your business needs.
What Comes Next
Once you've completed these initial steps, you're ready to explore more advanced features:
Deepen Your Automation — Create multi-step workflows with conditional logic and advanced triggers
Build Your Template Library — Design branded email and SMS templates you can reuse for consistency
Explore Advanced Segmentation — Use custom fields and advanced filters to target contacts with precision
Set Up Integrations — Connect AllClients with other tools you use like Zapier, calendars, or accounting software
Track Your Results — Use reports to measure campaign performance, engagement trends, and ROI
Questions and Answers
Q: Do I have to complete all these steps in order?
A: Steps 1-2 (adding and organizing contacts) should come first because they're the foundation. After that, you can choose which features to set up based on what your business needs. If you don't plan to use email, skip Steps 3-4 and move to automation or other features.
Q: What if I get stuck on a step?
A: Click the help icon (?) at the bottom right of any page to access articles, videos, and live support. Our team is here to help you through any step, no matter how small the question.
Q: How long does the entire setup take?
A: Plan on 2-4 hours total, spread over your first week. You don't have to do everything in one sitting. Most people complete Steps 1-4 in their first few days, then explore additional features over the following weeks.
Q: Can I skip email setup if I only want to use the CRM features?
A: Absolutely. If you're only using AllClients to manage contacts, track tasks, stay organized, and schedule appointments, you can skip all email-related steps entirely.
Q: What if I don't have contacts to import yet?
A: Start by adding a few contacts manually to get familiar with the system. You can always import larger lists later as you build your database.
Q: Should I test on a small group before emailing my entire list?
A: Yes! Always send test campaigns to a small segment first. This lets you verify everything looks correct, links work, and content displays properly before reaching your full audience.
Q: Can I come back to this guide later?
A: Yes. This guide is always available in the Getting Started section. Bookmark it or return anytime you need to reference the setup steps or check your progress.
Q: What if my business needs are different from this roadmap?
A: This guide covers the most common setup path, but every business is unique. Contact support, and we can help you create a customized setup plan that fits your specific workflow and goals.
Q: Do I need technical skills to complete these steps?
A: No. Each step includes links to detailed guides with screenshots and videos. If you can use email and browse websites, you can complete this setup. And support is always available if you need help.
Pro Tips
✅ Set aside focused time for each step rather than rushing through everything at once. Quality setup now saves time later.
✅ Start with a small group when testing features like email campaigns or automation. Send to 10-20 contacts first, then scale up.
✅ Watch the tutorial videos embedded in articles — seeing features in action makes them much easier to understand than reading alone.
✅ Ask questions early if something doesn't make sense. Our support team can save you time and prevent frustration.
✅ Don't aim for perfection on your first try. You can always refine templates, workflows, and settings as you learn what works best for your business.
Guide Type: Getting Started
Estimated Time: 2-4 hours (spread over your first week)
Next Guides: Setup: Import Your Contacts, Tags Overview, How to Send Your First Email Campaign