New to Constant Contact? Our free Getting Started webinar walks you through everything you need to launch your first email campaign — live, with a real demo from an expert who has been with Constant Contact for over 12 years.
Sessions run Monday–Friday, multiple times daily from 4:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Eastern Time.
Can't make a live session? Register anyway — we'll send you a recording to watch at your convenience.
What You'll Learn
This 30-minute live demo covers everything a new Constant Contact user needs to send their first email:
How to upload your contact list — from a CSV or spreadsheet, by pasting names and emails, or one contact at a time
How to create custom contact fields — capture unique data like birthdays, favorite products, or any field specific to your business
How to set up your Brand Kit — save your logo, colors, and images so every email is auto-branded from the start
How to build and save a master email template — create a reusable starting point so future emails take minutes, not hours
How to use Write with AI — generate email copy from a short prompt, then edit to match your voice
How to send a Canva design through Constant Contact — without exporting or switching screens
How to attach a PDF or document to an email — using Constant Contact's document link feature
How to schedule and send your first email campaign — including subject line, preheader, list selection, and test sending
How to navigate your Constant Contact account — dashboard, channels, reporting, and support resources
3 Ways to Add Contacts
1. Upload from a file (CSV or spreadsheet) Best for large lists from a CRM, point-of-sale system, or database. Export your contacts as a CSV, make sure each piece of information is in a separate column with a label, and upload directly into the account. Email address is the only required field — additional fields like first name, last name, birthday, and custom fields are optional but recommended for personalization and segmentation.
2. Add multiple contacts manually Best for small lists of up to 5 contacts. Either type in contact details field by field, or paste a list of names and email addresses directly. If it's going to take a long time to type, use a spreadsheet instead — it's easy to accidentally lose manually entered data if you refresh the page.
3. Add a single contact Best for one person — someone who handed you a business card or gave you their information in conversation. Enter their email address, name, and any other details, confirm permission, and save. You can also use "Save and Add Another" to quickly add a few more.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is this webinar free? Yes, completely free for all Constant Contact users and anyone getting started with email marketing.
How long is the webinar? Approximately 30 minutes, including a live Q&A window where you can get questions answered in real time.
What times are sessions available? Sessions run Monday–Friday at 4:00 a.m., 7:00 a.m., 10:00 a.m., 1:00 p.m., and 4:00 p.m. Eastern Time. Register at the link above to pick the time that works best for you.
Will I get a recording if I can't attend live? Yes — register for any session and we'll send you the recording automatically, whether you attend live or not.
Do I need to follow along in my account during the webinar? No. You're welcome to log in and follow along (two screens helps), but you can also just watch and apply it in your own account afterward using the recording.
Can I upload contacts from my phone? Yes. Constant Contact has a free mobile app available on Google Play and the Apple App Store. You can upload contacts directly from your phone.
What's the minimum information needed to upload a contact? Email address is the only required field. Everything else — first name, last name, phone number, birthday, custom fields — is optional but useful for personalization later.
Can I create custom contact fields? Yes. If you collect information specific to your business that isn't a standard field (like a customer's favorite product, membership tier, or pet's name), you can create a custom field during the contact upload process or in your account settings. Custom fields can also be used on signup forms.
Does Constant Contact integrate with other platforms for importing contacts? Yes. Constant Contact offers integrations with many CRMs, point-of-sale systems, and other tools. Check the Integrations section in your account to see if your platform is supported. If not, you can always export a CSV from your system and upload it manually.
Can I use a purchased email list? No. Constant Contact requires that you have permission to email your contacts — meaning they've given you their email address for communication purposes through a business interaction, signup form, business card, or similar. Purchased lists violate this policy and can harm your sender reputation. If you have questions about what counts as permission, the knowledge base article is linked directly in the contact upload screen.
What if I don't have any contacts yet? That's okay. Add anyone you have to get started, then use Constant Contact's built-in tools to grow your list organically — including signup forms for your website, landing pages, social media signup links, and a text-to-join option. There's a dedicated Grow Your List webinar that covers these tools in detail.
What is a Brand Kit and why should I set it up first? The Brand Kit (found under Assets) lets you save your logo, brand colors, and images to your account. Once saved, Constant Contact applies your branding automatically to templates — so every email you create starts already looking like your business. You can scan your website to pull in your logo and colors automatically, or upload them manually.
Can I use Canva designs in Constant Contact? Yes. Constant Contact has a native app inside Canva. Design your email in Canva, then click Share → See All → Constant Contact, select Email as the format, and it publishes directly to your Constant Contact account — no exporting, no switching screens. From there, add your subject line, choose your list, and send. You only need to log in and connect the accounts once.
Can Constant Contact write my email copy for me? Yes. Every text block in the email editor has a "Write with AI" button. Enter a short description of what you want to say, choose a tone (enthusiastic, professional, casual, etc.), and it generates a draft you can edit. The email editor also suggests subject lines and preheaders based on your email content.
What is an email preheader? The preheader is the short line of preview text that appears after the subject line in most email inboxes. It acts as a second subject line and has a significant impact on open rates. Always fill it in before sending — it's easy to overlook but worth the extra 30 seconds.
How do I authenticate my email address for sending? If you're sending from a custom domain email (e.g., [email protected]), you'll need to authenticate it in your account settings. This tells receiving email programs like Gmail and Yahoo that you're a legitimate sender. If you're using a free email address (Gmail, Yahoo, etc.), Constant Contact automatically updates the from address to an authenticated domain on your behalf. Ask in the live Q&A if you need step-by-step instructions.
How do I attach a PDF or document to an email? Use the link tool on any button or text element, select Document, and upload your file. Constant Contact stores it in your media library and generates a link. Recipients click the button to view or download the document. You can attach PDFs, Word documents, and other file types this way.
How do I save an email as a reusable template? After creating an email, click the three dots next to the draft in your emails list and select "Save as Template." It will appear under My Saved Templates every time you create a new email — so you can start from your own branded layout instead of rebuilding from scratch each time. You can save multiple templates (one for promotions, one for newsletters, etc.).
How do I preview my email on mobile before sending? In the email editor, go to Preview and Test. You can toggle between desktop and mobile views, and send a test email to your own inbox. An optional Inbox Preview add-on ($10/month) shows how your email renders across Gmail, Yahoo, Apple Mail, and other clients on both desktop and mobile.
What's the best length for the main text in an email? Aim for around 20 lines of text per text block. Shorter is generally better — people don't read long emails. If they need more information, give them a call-to-action button to read more on your website or landing page. Every email should have one clear goal and one clear call to action.
Who hosts the webinar? The Constant Contact Webinar Team.
Next Steps After the Webinar
Here's exactly where to start once you've watched the session:
Set up your Brand Kit — go to Assets → Brand Kit, scan your website or upload your logo and colors manually
Upload your contact list — use whichever method fits your situation (CSV upload, manual entry, or single contact)
Build your master email template — create a reusable layout with your logo, a placeholder image, headline, text block, call-to-action button, and contact info at the bottom
Save it as a template — so every future email starts from your branded layout
Create your first campaign — fill in your content, add your subject line and preheader, send a test to yourself, then schedule or send
Other Free Webinars from Constant Contact
Constant Contact offers a full library of free webinars for every stage of your email marketing journey. Register for any session — or watch the recording if you can't attend live.
View all upcoming webinars and register →
Additional Resources
Knowledge Base — written how-to articles, short tutorial videos, and QuickStart guides. Available 24/7. Also accessible via the ? icon in your Constant Contact account.
Ask a Trainer — free drop-in virtual sessions with a Constant Contact expert, Monday–Friday 10:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m. ET. No registration required.
Contact Support — chat with a live agent Monday–Friday 3:00 a.m.–8:00 p.m. ET, or call 866-289-2101 (Monday–Friday 8:00 a.m.–8:00 p.m. ET).
Help Center — full library of documentation, FAQs, webinars, and learning resources in one place.
Constant Contact Community — ask questions, share tips, and connect with other Constant Contact users and experts.
