GetResponse offers more than most email platforms at its price point -- you get email marketing, automation, landing pages, webinar hosting, and even a basic website builder. Setup takes a bit longer than a simpler tool, but you cover a lot of ground. This guide walks you through it.
Total setup time: 1-2 hours. Difficulty: Easy. You do not need any technical background to follow this guide.
GetResponse at a glance
| Detail | Value |
|---|---|
| Starting price | $15.58/mo (Email Marketing, 1,000 contacts) |
| Free plan | Yes |
| Free trial | Free plan up to 500 contacts |
| Setup time | 1-2 hours |
| Difficulty | Easy |
| Best for | SMB and e-commerce businesses wanting automation + landing pages |
How to set up GetResponse in 6 steps
Go to getresponse.com and sign up. The free plan supports up to 500 contacts and includes most core features. Enter your name, email, and business details. GetResponse will walk you through a short setup wizard after your first login.
Go to Profile > Email Addresses & Domains > Add domain. GetResponse provides DKIM records to add as TXT records in your DNS. Log in to your domain registrar and add them. Once propagated, GetResponse will confirm the domain is verified. You can then set it as your default sending domain.
Go to Contacts > Import. Upload your CSV and map the columns to GetResponse fields. You can add contacts to an existing list or create a new one during import. GetResponse will show an import summary after processing -- review it for any errors. Contacts added via import are not automatically sent any emails; you need to trigger campaigns manually or via automation.
Go to Forms and Popups > Create Form. Choose a template and customize it with the form editor. Set which list new subscribers are added to, configure the confirmation email for double opt-in, and then copy the embed code for your site. GetResponse also offers an AI-powered form builder if you want to generate a design quickly.
Go to Marketing Automation > Create Workflow. Choose 'Subscribed to list' as the starting condition. Add a Send Message action, then a Wait step, then another message. GetResponse's automation builder uses a visual flowchart interface with drag-and-drop blocks. You can add conditions, filters, and scoring actions as you build out more complex sequences.
Go to Email Marketing > Create Newsletter. Choose a template or start with the drag-and-drop editor. Customize the content, set your subject line and preview text, select your list, and send a test email. When ready, schedule the send or deliver immediately. GetResponse's reporting dashboard shows opens, clicks, and conversions after delivery.
Tips before you start
- GetResponse's landing page builder is included on all plans -- use it to create dedicated opt-in pages without a separate tool.
- The conversion funnel feature combines landing pages, webinars, and email sequences into a single flow.
- Webinar hosting is included on the Marketing Automation plan and above -- worth exploring if webinars are part of your strategy.
Next steps
Once your account is set up, focus on building your first automation before sending any broadcast campaigns. A working welcome sequence ensures every new subscriber gets a consistent first experience. After that, review your migration guide if you are moving contacts from another platform, and use the recommendations quiz to confirm GetResponse is the right long-term fit.