Launch File Campaigns

How to send messages to recipients outside your subscriber database using Reach file campaigns, including the CSV format and launch steps.

Overview

A file campaign lets you send messages to recipients who are not stored as subscribers in Reach. Instead of targeting a category, you upload a CSV at launch time that specifies who gets what message. This is useful when your recipient list changes frequently or when you need to send a one-off notification to a specific set of contacts without setting them up as permanent subscribers.

File campaigns use Confirmations

File campaigns are linked to the Confirmations folder, not Notifications. Make sure you have a Confirmation configured with live templates before attempting a file campaign launch. See How Confirmation Campaigns Workfor Confirmation setup.

What You'll Need

• Reach Administrator or Department Administrator access.
• A configured Confirmation with at least one Live template.
• A CSV file containing recipient contact details and Template IDs.

Understanding the File Format

The file campaign CSV has a different structure from the subscriber bulk upload. It specifies who to contact and which template to send to each recipient.

Column	Description
SI	Row number (sequential integer starting at 1).
Channel	The channel for this row: Email, SMS, Voice, or Push.
Address	The contact detail for this row: email address for Email, phone number for SMS/Voice.
TemplateID	The sequence number of the Confirmation template to use for this recipient.

To get a pre-formatted template, go to the File campaign upload screen and click either Advanced File Format Dynamic Data or Simple File Format to download the appropriate starting file.

Step-by-Step: Launching a File Campaign

1. Go to Campaigns Launch Campaign and click File.
2. Select the Department from the dropdown.
3. Enter a Campaign Name for tracking purposes.
4. Upload your CSV by clicking Select files or dragging it in.
5. Click Next.
6. The Review and Launch step shows a table with the number of rows, Template ID, and channel counts.
7. Verify the row counts and Template IDs match what you intended.
8. Click Launch to send immediately.

No scheduling for file campaigns

File campaigns send immediately when you click Launch. There is no schedule-for-later option. Plan your timing before uploading.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Can I send to the same person on multiple channels in one file?

A: Yes. Add separate rows for each channel. One row for their email address with channel Email, another row for their mobile number with channel SMS.

Q: Can I mix different Template IDs in the same file?

A: Yes. Each row can reference a different Template ID. This lets you send different message variations to different recipients in a single launch.

Q: Can I target subscribers and non-subscribers in the same campaign?

A: Not in one launch. System campaigns target stored subscribers; file campaigns target recipients from the uploaded file. Run them as separate launches if needed.

Q: Where do the results show in Analytics?

A: File campaign results appear in the Analytics tab under the Campaign ID generated at launch. Search for the campaign name you entered at launch to find it.

Q: What is the difference between Advanced File Format and Simple File Format?

A: Simple File Format has the four basic columns. Advanced File Format supports dynamic data fields that can be used as wildcards in the template. Use Advanced if your template has dynamic content beyond what is in the subscriber record.

Need More Help?

If you have followed the steps above and still require assistance, please refer to the relevant articles listed below for additional guidance.

• How Confirmation Campaigns WorkHow to set up a Confirmation before running a file campaign.
• Launch System CampaignsFor campaigns that target stored subscribers instead.