How to Use Brevo: A Step-by-Step Tutorial for Beginners (2026)
Key takeaways
- Sign-up is free and needs no card.
- Set up your domain (DKIM and DMARC) before you send.
- Only import people who agreed to get your emails.
- Send a test to yourself before every campaign.
Setting up Brevo the right way at the start saves you trouble later, because good habits like domain setup and clean contact lists help your emails reach the inbox. The steps below follow the order most beginners find easiest.
Step 1: How do you create a Brevo account?
Go to brevo.com and sign up with your email and company name, and you start on the Free plan. Brevo checks new accounts before you can send.
Step 2: How do you set up your domain?
Open the senders and domains area, and add your domain. Brevo shows you a few DNS records, such as DKIM and DMARC. Copy them into your domain’s DNS settings, and this helps your emails land in the inbox.
Step 3: How do you add contacts?
Open Contacts and click Import. Upload a CSV file or paste your list. Match each column, like first name, to a Brevo field, and only add people who said yes to your emails.
Step 4: What are lists and segments?
A list is a fixed group, and a segment updates by itself based on rules. Read our segments guide.
Step 5: How do you add a sign-up form?
Go to Contacts, then Forms. Build a form and turn on double opt-in, and then put it on your website. See more ways to grow your list.
Step 6: How do you send your first campaign?
- Open Campaigns and create an email campaign.
- Pick a list or segment.
- Write a clear subject line.
- Build the email with the drag-and-drop editor.
- Send a test to yourself and check it on your phone.
- Send it now or schedule it.
Step 7: What should you do next?
Check opens and clicks in your report, and then set up a welcome email with our automation guide.
What is one more helpful tip?
As you get comfortable, try to send on a regular schedule, such as every second Tuesday, so your readers learn when to expect you. Consistency builds trust, and it also gives you cleaner data when you compare one campaign’s results with the next.
What does this look like in practice?
For example, a small bookstore could create its account in the morning, add its domain records over lunch, import 600 customers who signed up in the store, and send a short new-arrivals email by the end of the day.
Questions people ask
Is Brevo easy to use?
Yes. It has a drag-and-drop editor, templates and simple setup steps.
How long does Brevo approval take?
It varies. A full profile and a set-up domain can help.
Brevo facts checked on brevo.com. We are independent and not linked to Brevo.
