Creating Campaigns

Creating Campaigns

Last Updated: January 26, 2026

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Overview

Campaigns are the core of ThriveSend B2B2G. This guide covers creating and managing marketing campaigns for both business and government clients, including sector-specific workflows and approval processes.

Campaigns management page showing active campaigns and create button

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Understanding Campaigns

What is a Campaign?

A campaign is a coordinated marketing effort designed to achieve specific business or government objectives through multi-channel communication.

Campaign Components:

• 📋 Campaign details (name, objectives, timeline)
• 🎯 Target audience definition
• 📝 Content and creative assets
• 📅 Schedule and distribution plan
• 📊 Success metrics and KPIs
• ✅ Approval workflow (government campaigns)

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Campaign Types by Sector

Campaign Type	Sector	Typical Goals	Approval Workflow
Business Campaign	BUSINESS	Lead generation, Brand awareness, Product launch	Simple (1-2 approvers)
Government Campaign	GOVERNMENT	Public awareness, Policy communication, Civic engagement	Enhanced (multi-level approval)

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Before You Start

Prerequisites

Before creating a campaign, ensure you have:

• ✅ At least one client created (Business or Government)
• ✅ Campaign objectives defined
• ✅ Content assets prepared (or plan to create them)
• ✅ Budget allocated (if applicable)
• ✅ For government campaigns: Security clearance verified

Required Information

For All Campaigns:

• Campaign name
• Client selection
• Campaign type (Email, Social Media, Multi-channel, etc.)
• Start and end dates
• Campaign objectives

Additional for Government Campaigns:

• Government approval level required
• Data classification
• Compliance checklist
• Security clearance confirmation

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Accessing Campaign Management

Navigate to Campaigns Section

1. Log into ThriveSend dashboard
2. Click Campaigns in the left sidebar
3. You’ll see the campaigns management page

Campaigns section in sidebar navigation

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Creating a Business Campaign

Step 1: Start Campaign Creation

Click the + Create Campaign button (top right)

Create campaign button location

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Step 2: Select Client

Choose the business client for this campaign:

Client selection dropdown showing business clients

Client Information Displayed:

• Client name
• Sector icon (🏢 for business)
• Industry
• Active campaigns count

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Step 3: Campaign Basic Details

Fill in the campaign information:

Field	Description	Example	Required
Campaign Name	Descriptive campaign title	Q1 2026 Product Launch	Yes
Campaign Type	Channel/format	Email, Social Media, Multi-channel	Yes
Start Date	Campaign launch date	2026-02-01	Yes
End Date	Campaign completion date	2026-03-31	Yes
Budget	Allocated budget (optional)	R 50,000	No

Campaign basic information form for business campaign

Campaign Type Options:

• 📧 Email Marketing: Email-based campaigns
• 📱 Social Media: Social media campaigns
• 🌐 Web: Website campaigns
• 📞 Multi-channel: Combined channels
• 📰 Content Marketing: Content-focused campaigns

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Step 4: Campaign Objectives

Define what you want to achieve:

Campaign objectives and KPI definition

Objective Types:

Objective	Description	Success Metric
Lead Generation	Capture new leads	Number of leads
Brand Awareness	Increase brand visibility	Impressions, Reach
Product Launch	Introduce new product	Conversion rate
Customer Engagement	Engage existing customers	Engagement rate
Event Promotion	Promote event	Registrations
Custom	Define your own	Custom KPIs

KPI Fields:

• Primary KPI (e.g., “500 qualified leads”)
• Target conversion rate (e.g., “5%”)
• Expected ROI (e.g., “300%“)

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Step 5: Target Audience

Define your target audience:

Audience targeting criteria and segmentation

Audience Criteria:

• Demographics: Age, Location, Industry
• Behavior: Past engagement, Purchase history
• Interests: Product interests, Content preferences
• Custom Segments: Upload custom contact lists

Audience Size Estimate:

Based on your criteria:
Estimated reach: 5,000 - 7,500 contacts
Segment coverage: 65% of client database

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Step 6: Campaign Schedule

Set up campaign timing and distribution:

Campaign scheduling and distribution timeline

Schedule Options:

Option	Description	Use Case
Immediate	Launch immediately upon approval	Urgent campaigns
Scheduled	Launch on specific date/time	Planned launches
Recurring	Repeat on schedule	Monthly newsletters
A/B Testing	Test variations before full launch	Optimize performance

Distribution Settings:

• Send time optimization (best time to send)
• Time zone handling
• Rate limiting (sends per hour)
• Batch processing options

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Step 7: Content Selection

Add content and assets to your campaign:

Content library with assets available for campaign

Content Types:

• 📧 Email templates
• 📄 Landing pages
• 🖼️ Images and graphics
• 🎥 Videos
• 📝 Copy and messaging
• 📎 Attachments (PDFs, documents)

Actions:

• Use Existing: Select from content library
• Create New: Create content within campaign workflow
• Upload: Upload new assets

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Step 8: Approval Workflow (Business)

Set up approval workflow for business campaign:

Simple approval workflow for business campaigns

Business Campaign Approval:

• Auto-Approve: No approval required (for simple campaigns)
• Single Approver: One team member approves
• Multiple Approvers: 2-3 team members approve (sequential or parallel)

Approver Selection:

1. Select approver from team members
2. Set approval deadline
3. Add approval notes/requirements

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Step 9: Review and Launch

Review all campaign details:

Summary of business campaign before creation

Final Checklist:

• ✅ Client correctly selected
• ✅ Campaign dates are accurate
• ✅ Objectives clearly defined
• ✅ Content added and verified
• ✅ Approval workflow configured
• ✅ Budget allocated (if applicable)

Action Buttons:

• Save as Draft: Save without launching
• Submit for Approval: Send to approvers
• Launch Now: Launch immediately (if no approval required)

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Step 10: Campaign Created

Success message after business campaign creation

What Happens Next:

1. Campaign created with status: DRAFT or PENDING_APPROVAL
2. Approvers notified (if approval required)
3. Campaign appears in campaigns list
4. Audit log entry created
5. You can monitor campaign progress

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Creating a Government Campaign

Step 1: Start Campaign Creation

Click the + Create Campaign button

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Step 2: Select Government Client

Choose a government client for this campaign:

Client selection showing government clients with security clearance badges

Government Client Information:

• Client name
• Sector icon (🏛️ for government)
• Government level (Local, Provincial, National)
• Security clearance level (Basic, Enhanced, Confidential)
• Department

IMPORTANT: Your user account must have matching or higher security clearance to create campaigns for this client.

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Step 3: Campaign Basic Details

Fill in government campaign information:

Campaign basic information form for government campaign

Same fields as business campaigns, plus:

Field	Description	Example
Government Initiative	Related government program	Provincial Skills Development
Department Reference	Internal department reference	DEPT/COMM/2026/001
Public Interest	Is this campaign public interest?	Yes/No

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Step 4: Data Classification

CRITICAL STEP: Classify campaign data security level.

Data classification selection for government campaign

Classification Levels:

Level	Description	Examples	Restrictions
PUBLIC	Publicly accessible data	Community announcements, Public events	No restrictions
CONFIDENTIAL	Limited distribution	Tender information, Inter-dept comms	Need-to-know basis
RESTRICTED	Highly sensitive	National security, Cabinet communications	Strict access control

Selection Guide:

PUBLIC:
- General public campaigns
- Community engagement
- Public service announcements
- Municipal events

CONFIDENTIAL:
- Provincial strategic initiatives
- Tender and procurement campaigns
- Interdepartmental communications
- Budget consultations

RESTRICTED:
- National security campaigns
- Cabinet-level communications
- Classified operations
- High-level government strategy

IMPORTANT: Data classification cannot be lowered once set (security requirement).

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Step 5: Government Compliance Checklist

Complete mandatory compliance requirements:

Government campaign compliance checklist

Mandatory Compliance Items:

• ☑️ POPIA Compliance: Campaign complies with POPIA regulations
• ☑️ Government Branding: Uses approved government branding guidelines
• ☑️ Accuracy Verified: All information factually accurate
• ☑️ Non-Partisan: Campaign is politically neutral (if required)
• ☑️ Accessibility: Content meets accessibility standards (WCAG 2.1 AA)
• ☑️ Language Policy: Complies with official language policy
• ☑️ Budget Approved: Campaign budget approved by relevant authority

IMPORTANT: All items must be checked before campaign can proceed to approval.

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Step 6: Enhanced Approval Workflow

Government campaigns require multi-level approval:

Multi-level approval workflow for government campaigns

Approval Levels:

Level	Role	Purpose	Typical Timeline
Level 1	Content Creator	Initial content review	1-2 days
Level 2	Compliance Officer	POPIA and regulatory compliance	2-3 days
Level 3	Department Head	Strategic alignment	3-5 days
Level 4	Legal Review	Legal compliance (for CONFIDENTIAL+)	3-7 days

Workflow Configuration:

1. Add approvers for each level
2. Set sequential or parallel approval
3. Define approval deadlines
4. Add escalation rules

Sequential Approval:

Content Creator → Compliance Officer → Department Head → Legal Review

Parallel Approval (same level):

Level 2: Compliance Officer + Legal Reviewer (both must approve)

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Step 7: Security Clearance Verification

Verify all team members have appropriate clearance:

Team member security clearance verification

Verification Check:

Campaign Classification: CONFIDENTIAL
Client Clearance: ENHANCED

Team Member Clearance Check:
✅ Account Manager: ENHANCED (Approved)
✅ Content Creator: ENHANCED (Approved)
❌ Designer: BASIC (Insufficient - Cannot be assigned)
✅ Compliance Officer: CONFIDENTIAL (Approved)

Action Required:

• Remove team members with insufficient clearance
• Or upgrade their security clearance
• Or reduce campaign classification (not recommended)

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Step 8: Review Government Campaign

Review all details with enhanced scrutiny:

Summary of government campaign with compliance indicators

Enhanced Review Checklist:

• ✅ Government client selected correctly
• ✅ Data classification appropriate
• ✅ Compliance checklist completed
• ✅ Multi-level approval workflow configured
• ✅ All approvers have sufficient clearance
• ✅ Campaign aligns with government mandate
• ✅ Content meets government standards
• ✅ Budget approved and documented

Click Submit for Government Approval button.

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Step 9: Government Campaign Created

Success message for government campaign with approval workflow initiated

What Happens Next:

1. Campaign created with status: PENDING_GOVERNMENT_APPROVAL
2. Level 1 approvers notified immediately
3. Enhanced audit logging initiated
4. Compliance monitoring activated
5. Campaign enters approval queue
6. Email notifications sent to all approvers

Expected Timeline:

Typical government campaign approval: 7-14 business days
Fast-track (if available): 3-5 business days
Priority (emergency): 1-2 business days (requires justification)

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Campaign Status Workflow

Campaign Statuses

Status	Description	Available Actions
DRAFT	Being created	Edit, Delete
PENDING_APPROVAL	Awaiting approval	View, Cancel
APPROVED	Approved, not yet launched	Edit, Schedule, Launch
SCHEDULED	Scheduled for future launch	View, Edit schedule, Cancel
ACTIVE	Currently running	View, Pause, Monitor
PAUSED	Temporarily paused	View, Resume, End
COMPLETED	Successfully completed	View, Report, Clone
CANCELLED	Cancelled before completion	View
FAILED	Failed to execute	View, Investigate, Relaunch

Status Transitions:

DRAFT → PENDING_APPROVAL → APPROVED → SCHEDULED → ACTIVE → COMPLETED
                ↓              ↓          ↓          ↓
            CANCELLED      CANCELLED   CANCELLED   PAUSED → ACTIVE
                                                      ↓
                                                   ENDED

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Managing Active Campaigns

Campaign Dashboard

View campaign performance in real-time:

Individual campaign dashboard showing live performance metrics

Metrics Displayed:

• Reach: Number of contacts reached
• Engagement: Interaction rate (opens, clicks, shares)
• Conversions: Goal completion rate
• ROI: Return on investment
• Sentiment: Audience sentiment analysis
• Compliance: Compliance status (government campaigns)

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Pausing a Campaign

If you need to pause a campaign:

1. Go to campaign details
2. Click Pause Campaign button
3. Provide reason for pausing
4. Confirm pause

Pause campaign dialog with reason field

POPIA Note: Pausing campaigns is audit logged.

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Editing Active Campaigns

Business Campaigns:

• Can edit content and schedule with simple approval
• Changes take effect immediately or on schedule

Government Campaigns:

• Material changes require re-approval through workflow
• Minor changes (typo fixes) may be allowed without full re-approval
• All changes are audit logged

Campaign editing with change tracking

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Approval Process

Approving Campaigns

If you’re an approver, you’ll receive notifications:

Campaign approval notification email and in-app alert

Approval Steps:

1. Click notification or go to Pending Approvals
2. Review campaign details thoroughly
3. Review compliance checklist (government)
4. Check content and assets
5. Make decision: Approve, Request Changes, or Reject

Campaign approval interface with review details

Approval Options:

Action	Description	Next Step
Approve	Campaign meets requirements	Moves to next approval level or launches
Request Changes	Needs modifications	Returns to creator with feedback
Reject	Does not meet requirements	Campaign cancelled, must be recreated

Approval Comments:

• Always provide clear feedback
• Reference specific issues if requesting changes
• For government campaigns: cite compliance requirements

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Approval History

View complete approval history:

Timeline of campaign approvals and decisions

History Includes:

• Approver name and role
• Approval decision
• Timestamp
• Comments and feedback
• Changes made between approvals

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Campaign Templates

Using Templates

Save time by using campaign templates:

Template library showing available campaign templates

Template Types:

Template	Description	Best For
Email Newsletter	Standard email campaign	Regular communications
Product Launch	Product announcement campaign	New product/service
Event Promotion	Event marketing campaign	Events and webinars
Government Announcement	Official government communication	Government campaigns
Civic Engagement	Public participation campaign	Community engagement

Using a Template:

1. Click Create from Template
2. Select template
3. Auto-populated fields with template defaults
4. Customize for your specific campaign
5. Launch

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Creating Custom Templates

Save your campaign as a template for future use:

1. Go to completed campaign
2. Click Save as Template
3. Name your template
4. Select which elements to include
5. Save

Save campaign as template dialog

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Best Practices

Business Campaign Best Practices

1. Clear Objectives: Define specific, measurable goals
2. Audience Targeting: Use data-driven audience segmentation
3. A/B Testing: Test variations before full launch
4. Timing: Launch at optimal times for your audience
5. Multi-channel: Consider multi-channel approach for better reach
6. Monitoring: Monitor performance daily during campaign
7. Optimization: Adjust campaign based on early performance data

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Government Campaign Best Practices

1. Compliance First: Complete all compliance checks before submission
2. Accuracy: Triple-check all facts and figures
3. Clearance: Verify all team members have appropriate security clearance
4. Timeline: Allow 2-3 weeks for approval process
5. Documentation: Keep all supporting documents readily available
6. Accessibility: Ensure content meets WCAG 2.1 AA standards
7. Language: Use clear, accessible language for public campaigns
8. Branding: Follow government branding guidelines strictly
9. Approval: Communicate regularly with approvers during workflow
10. Audit: Maintain comprehensive audit trail

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Troubleshooting

Issue: Campaign Won’t Submit

Symptom: Create Campaign button not working

Solution:

1. Check all required fields are filled (marked with *)
2. Verify dates: End date must be after start date
3. For government: Ensure compliance checklist is complete
4. Check team member security clearances
5. Verify content assets are properly uploaded
6. Check browser console for errors (F12)

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Issue: Insufficient Security Clearance

Symptom: Cannot create campaign for government client

Solution:

1. Verify your security clearance level
2. Request clearance upgrade from admin
3. Temporarily assign campaign to team member with sufficient clearance
4. For CONFIDENTIAL campaigns: May require background check

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Issue: Approval Stuck

Symptom: Campaign pending approval for extended period

Solution:

1. Check approval timeline in campaign details
2. Send reminder to current approver
3. Check if approver has read notification
4. Escalate to admin if approval is overdue
5. For government campaigns: Allow full 14-day approval window

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Issue: Campaign Performance Low

Symptom: Campaign not meeting KPIs

Solution:

1. Review audience targeting criteria
2. Analyze engagement metrics to identify issues
3. Consider A/B testing different approaches
4. Check send times and frequency
5. Review content quality and relevance
6. Pause and optimize before resuming

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POPIA Compliance for Campaigns

Campaign Data Processing

All campaign activities involve personal data processing:

Activity	Data Processed	POPIA Requirement
Audience Targeting	Contact details, Demographics	Consent required
Content Distribution	Email addresses, Phone numbers	Legitimate interest or consent
Performance Tracking	Engagement metrics, Behavior	Transparent processing
Reporting	Aggregated statistics	Anonymization where possible

Consent Management

CRITICAL: Ensure you have consent for campaign communications.

Consent verification before campaign launch

Consent Requirements:

• ✅ Explicit consent for marketing communications
• ✅ Opt-out mechanism in all communications
• ✅ Consent recorded and timestamped
• ✅ Consent renewal for inactive contacts (12 months+)

Audit Logging

All campaign actions are logged:

{
  "action": "CAMPAIGN_CREATED",
  "timestamp": "2026-01-26T15:00:00Z",
  "userId": "user_123",
  "campaignId": "camp_456",
  "details": {
    "campaignName": "Q1 2026 Product Launch",
    "clientId": "client_789",
    "sector": "BUSINESS",
    "type": "EMAIL_MARKETING",
    "estimatedReach": 5000
  },
  "ipAddress": "102.134.xxx.xxx"
}

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What’s Next?

Now that you’ve created your campaign, learn how to manage content and track performance:

Recommended Next Steps:

1. Managing Content - Create and manage campaign content
2. Viewing Analytics - Track campaign performance
3. Team Management - Collaborate with your team

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Getting Help

If you need assistance with campaign creation:

• Email: support@isutech.co.za
• Video Tutorial: Campaign Creation Walkthrough

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Previous: ← Creating Your First Client | Next: Managing Content →

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Last Updated: January 26, 2026