Work through this list in order. Skipping a step is what usually blocks the first send.

Account

1. Confirm your login email (8-digit code).
2. Add your business name and mailing address under workspace / account settings. Campaigns will not send without a complete address. See Workspace details.
3. Open Settings → Request Approval and submit account approval. Wait until status is approved before a live campaign or transactional API send.
4. Subscribe to a plan if you are sending campaigns (an active subscription is required).

Domains (do this before lists)

Mailivate uses two sending paths. Details: Sending domains overview.

5. Campaigns / automations — Settings → Marketing domains — add a subdomain (news.acme.com or mail.acme.com). Publish ownership + SPF, Check DNS, then publish DKIM when it appears, then Check DNS again. Guide: Marketing domains.
6. App / API email — Settings → Transactional domains — add your root domain (acme.com). Publish DNS, Check DNS. Guide: Transactional domains.

Do not use the same hostname for both. After verification, From addresses must match that host exactly (hello@news.acme.com, not hello@acme.com, if marketing is news.acme.com).

List and first campaign

7. Lists → Create list. Default From and reply-to must be on the verified marketing domain. Guide: Creating a list.
8. Add yourself as a subscriber (or import a small permission-based CSV). Guide: Importing subscribers.
9. Optional: create a signup form under Forms and embed it or share the hosted link. Guide: Signup forms.
10. Campaigns → Create campaign — pick the list, write content, set From on the marketing domain, send a test, then send or schedule. Guide: Send your first email.

Transactional API (optional, parallel)

11. Account → API Tokens — create a token and store it on your server.
12. Confirm account approval is approved.
13. Send POST /api/email with From on the transactional domain. Examples: Send transactional email (API).

Confirm it worked

• Campaign: open the campaign Summary for delivery, opens, and clicks.
• Transactional: Transactional → Log.

If send is blocked, use the troubleshooting table in Send your first email.