> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://docs.cymbal.co/help/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://docs.cymbal.co/help/setting-up-cymbal/first-week-onboarding-checklist.md).

# Cymbal Setup Checklist

A first-week checklist to connect your ticketer, finish DNS and messaging setup, and send your first campaign.

Use this checklist to go from a new Cymbal organization to a first successful email or text. Most organizations finish these steps in their first week.

Manager also has an **onboarding wizard** with four parts: **Tell us about your business** (your organization, brand and email style, and ticketing integrations), **Email marketing setup**, **Text message marketing setup**, and **Meta Ads setup**. Email, Texts, and Ads each save their own progress, so you can pause one and finish another without losing your place. The onboarding screen marks each part **COMPLETE** or **IN PROGRESS**, and **Continue** takes you to the first unfinished part, right where you left off. Treat this page as the practical order of operations; the wizard walks you through much of the same work.

## 1. Connect a ticketing provider

{% stepper %}
{% step %}
Go to [Settings → Integrations](https://manager.cymbal.co/settings/integrations).
{% endstep %}

{% step %}
Connect your ticketer (OAuth or credentials, depending on provider).
{% endstep %}

{% step %}
Wait for **events** and **orders** to sync to **Home**.
{% endstep %}
{% endstepper %}

Guides: [Connect a Ticketing Provider](https://docs.cymbal.co/help/setting-up-cymbal/connect-a-ticketing-provider) · [How are events synced with my ticketer?](https://docs.cymbal.co/help/events/how-are-events-synced-with-my-ticketer)

## 2. Domain & email setup

{% stepper %}
{% step %}
Start Email setup. If the [Emails](https://manager.cymbal.co/email) tab is empty, select **Get setup**, or pick up the **Email** part of the onboarding wizard.
{% endstep %}

{% step %}
When asked **Do you have an existing email address for marketing?**:

* **Yes**: add your custom email address, then add the DNS records it needs.
* **No**: select **Contact support** and our team will help you get an email address for marketing. You can keep going with the rest of setup in the meantime.
  {% endstep %}

{% step %}
Open [Settings → Domain](https://manager.cymbal.co/settings/domain) to check your email sender DNS, and add an optional custom page domain or link shortener.
{% endstep %}

{% step %}
Start warmup on your custom email address if you will send volume.
{% endstep %}
{% endstepper %}

Guides: [Adding DNS Records](https://docs.cymbal.co/help/setting-up-cymbal/domain-setup-dns/adding-dns-records) · [Setting Up a Custom Email Address](https://docs.cymbal.co/help/setting-up-cymbal/email-setup/setting-up-a-custom-email-address) · [Custom Email Warmup](https://docs.cymbal.co/help/setting-up-cymbal/email-setup/custom-email-warmup)

## 3. SMS setup (if you text fans)

{% stepper %}
{% step %}
Start Texts setup. If the [Texts](https://manager.cymbal.co/text) tab is empty, select **Get setup**, or pick up the **Texts** part of the onboarding wizard.
{% endstep %}

{% step %}
Choose your marketing phone number: register a new number, or port an existing US number you already use. See [Phone Number Registration](https://docs.cymbal.co/help/setting-up-cymbal/sms-setup/phone-number-registration).
{% endstep %}

{% step %}
Connect a custom domain and add the DNS records for your text subscription form. A custom domain is required to meet the TCPA requirement, and you can't continue until every record is live. See [SMS Setup](https://docs.cymbal.co/help/setting-up-cymbal/sms-setup).
{% endstep %}

{% step %}
After your number is live, confirm **Inbox** appears in the sidebar.
{% endstep %}

{% step %}
Optionally set up [Welcome SMS](https://docs.cymbal.co/help/text/sms-best-practices/welcome-sms) and [Reply Forwarding](https://docs.cymbal.co/help/text/text-settings/reply-forwarding) under **Settings → Text**.
{% endstep %}
{% endstepper %}

## 4. Team, timezone, and billing

{% stepper %}
{% step %}
Invite teammates under **Settings → Organization**. See [Owner vs Limited roles](https://docs.cymbal.co/help/account-settings/owner-vs-limited-roles) to choose the right role.
{% endstep %}

{% step %}
Set your timezone. See [Adjusting Timezone and Time Format](https://docs.cymbal.co/help/account-settings/adjusting-timezone-and-time-format).
{% endstep %}

{% step %}
Confirm billing/subscription is active under **Settings → Billing** (Owners).
{% endstep %}
{% endstepper %}

## 5. Ads

{% hint style="info" %}
**Plan:** Launching Meta ads from Cymbal requires the **Premium** plan. See [Starter & Premium pricing](https://docs.cymbal.co/help/pricing/starter-and-premium-pricing).
{% endhint %}

{% stepper %}
{% step %}
Follow [Ads Setup](https://docs.cymbal.co/help/setting-up-cymbal/ads-setup), or pick up the **Ads** part of the onboarding wizard.
{% endstep %}

{% step %}
Connect Meta. See [Connecting Meta Ads](https://docs.cymbal.co/help/setting-up-cymbal/ads-setup/connecting-meta-ads).
{% endstep %}
{% endstepper %}

## 6. Send your first campaign

**Success looks like:** events on Home, contacts growing from purchases (or uploads), and a successful **test** email or SMS.

| Channel     | Start here                                                                                                                                                                             |
| ----------- | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| Email       | [Email](https://manager.cymbal.co/email) → create campaign → test → schedule/send                                                                                                      |
| SMS         | [Texts](https://manager.cymbal.co/text) → create text → include sender ID + STOP language → test → send. See [SMS best practices](https://docs.cymbal.co/help/text/sms-best-practices) |
| Page / form | [Pages & Forms](https://manager.cymbal.co/pages) → create → publish. Remember Starter's **4 live pages** cap                                                                           |

{% hint style="info" %}
**Starter caps to know early:** 30K subscribers; **4** enabled automations; **4** published pages; no HTML email import; no Cymbal Ads launch. Details: [Starter & Premium pricing](https://docs.cymbal.co/help/pricing/starter-and-premium-pricing).
{% endhint %}

## Related

* [SMS Setup](https://docs.cymbal.co/help/setting-up-cymbal/sms-setup)
* [Phone Number Registration](https://docs.cymbal.co/help/setting-up-cymbal/sms-setup/phone-number-registration)
* [Owner vs Limited roles](https://docs.cymbal.co/help/account-settings/owner-vs-limited-roles)
* [Support](https://docs.cymbal.co/help/support)
* [Why Cymbal](https://docs.cymbal.co/help/why-cymbal)