You need: an OpenAI or Anthropic API key, a subdomain you can add DNS records to (or someone who can), and a list of prospects (a CSV is fine). The setup checklist on the Dashboard tracks the same steps.
1. Add your AI key
Settings, AI keys: choose OpenAI or Anthropic, paste the key, click Add key. Echo checks it with the provider and stores it encrypted. All AI in Echo runs on this key. See AI keys.
2. Add your brand
Settings, Workspace: set the Default sender name, Booking link, optional Intro video link, your logos and Brand colour. Designs use them as {{sender}}, {{booking_url}}, {{video_url}}, {{logo}} and {{brand_color}}. See Workspace and brand.
3. Connect your domain (required)
Settings, Domain: enter a subdomain such as go.yourcompany.com and click Connect domain. Add the three DNS records Echo shows (one CNAME, two TXT), then wait for Live. Usually minutes. You cannot publish until the domain is live. See Your domain.
4. Import your leads
Leads, tab Groups, Import leads: name the group, choose CSV file and drop your file (first row = column names). Or pick a connected tool. Each import becomes a group. See Importing leads and groups.
5. Pick or build a design
Designs: six starter designs are ready to use. Open one in the Builder and ask the assistant for changes, for example "Lead with their company name, then a short idea for their outbound, then proof and pricing." Ask it to "mark each part of the page as a tracked section", then click Publish design. See The builder.
6. Create the campaign
Campaigns, New campaign, four steps:
- Setup: campaign name and design.
- Prospects: Choose a lead group (or Import leads right there).
- Fields: check each page field reads from the right column; adjust the AI instruction if you like. The cost estimate is shown here.
- Review: check the first three pages, then click Publish N spaces.
Echo writes the personal parts on your key in the background; you can close the tab. See Creating a campaign.
7. Put the link in your sequence
On the campaign page, Send links writes each lead's link into Lemlist, Instantly, Smartlead, Sendkit or Attio as {{echo_link}} (Pro and Scale). Or Download CSV and use the space_url column. Add the variable to your email template. See Send links and Using the link in your sequence.
8. Watch the signals
Reading appears on the Leads page and each lead page. Connect Slack for the moments that matter, and set a budget alert for AI spend.