TL;DR:
Set up lemlist in three steps: connect your email provider (Gmail, Outlook, or custom SMTP), create an email signature with the #{{signature}} variable, and configure DNS records (SPF, DKIM, custom tracking domain) to maximize deliverability. Your login email and sending email can be different. Takes 15-30 minutes depending on DNS propagation.
Who Should Use This
New lemlist users setting up their account for the first time
Anyone connecting a new email address for sending campaigns
Teams preparing for their first cold email outreach
Users experiencing deliverability issues who need to verify their technical setup
Why This Matters
Proper technical setup determines whether your emails reach inboxes or land in spam. Without correct DNS configuration, even perfectly written emails won't get delivered.
The three steps in this guide build the foundation for successful cold outreach. Connecting your email provider lets you send campaigns. Adding a signature makes emails look professional. Configuring DNS records proves to email providers that you're a legitimate sender, dramatically improving deliverability rates.
Step 1: Connect Your Email Provider
Your email provider is the account you'll use to send campaigns. This can be Gmail, Outlook, or any custom SMTP provider.
Important: Your login email (the one you use to access lemlist) does not have to match your sending email. You can log in with one address and send campaigns from a completely different address.
Click your profile picture in the bottom left corner.
Select Settings.
In the Account settings window, click Sending settings in the left sidebar, and then expand the email section.
In the Email section, click Connect email address.
Choose your provider (Gmail, Outlook, or custom SMTP).
Follow the authentication prompts to grant lemlist access.
Once connected, lemlist can send emails on your behalf through that account. For detailed provider-specific instructions, see the Connect my email provider article.
Step 2: Set Up Your Email Signature
An email signature adds professionalism to every campaign and increases engagement. Use the #{{signature}} variable to automatically insert it into your emails.
Go to Settings → Sending settings → Email.
Scroll down to the Email signature section.
Choose one of two options:
Import signature: Pulls your existing signature from your connected email account.
Create new: Build a custom signature from scratch.
Click Save.
When writing campaigns, add #{{signature}} where you want your signature to appear. lemlist replaces this variable with your saved signature automatically. For more details, see Set up your signature.
Step 3: Configure DNS Records
DNS configuration proves to email providers that you're a legitimate sender. This step dramatically improves deliverability and prevents your emails from landing in spam.
You need to configure three DNS records:
SPF Record
SPF (Sender Policy Framework) authorizes lemlist to send emails on behalf of your domain. Add lemlist's SPF record to your domain's DNS settings.
DKIM Record
DKIM (DomainKeys Identified Mail) adds a digital signature to your emails, proving they haven't been tampered with. This builds trust with email providers.
Custom Tracking Domain
A custom tracking domain replaces lemlist's default tracking links with your own domain. This improves deliverability and makes links look professional.
How You'll Know It Worked
✓ Your email provider shows as connected in Account Settings
✓ Your signature appears in the Signature section and can be inserted with #{{signature}}
✓ DNS records show as verified in your lemlist settings (may take up to 48 hours for propagation)
✓ You can create and launch campaigns from the Campaigns page
Next Steps
After completing the technical setup, you're ready to create your first campaign.
See Getting Started Pt. 2: Launch Your First Campaign for a step-by-step guide to building and sending your first email sequence.
Before launching campaigns, consider warming up your email to build a sender reputation. Learn more about email warming with lemwarm.