Spread out the delivery of a large Single Email Campaign with Batch sending. Instead of sending to everyone at once, Drip sends your email over a window of time you choose. Here's how it works:
- Create your Single Email Campaign as usual.
- When you're ready to send, turn on Batch sending.
- Pick Metered to let Drip spread your send evenly over a set number of hours, or Manual to split your send into 2–5 batches with a set amount of time between each.
- Send or schedule your email!
Sending in batches can help protect your sender reputation, since inbox providers like Gmail are less likely to slow down or defer mail that arrives at a steady pace. It's also handy if a big send usually leads to a rush of website traffic or support requests you'd rather spread out.
Batch sending is only available for Single Email Campaigns. It isn't available for Workflows or Email Series Campaigns.
Metered vs. Manual
There are two ways to send in batches. Metered is recommended for most sends, and it's selected by default when you turn on Batch sending.
| Metered | Manual | |
|---|---|---|
| How it works | Drip spreads your sends evenly across the time window you choose. Each person gets your email at a random time inside that window. | Drip places your recipients into batches at random and sends one batch at each interval. Batch sizes won't be exactly equal, and with a small list a batch may even be empty. |
| What you choose | How long to spread your send over: 1, 2, 4, 8, 12, or 24 hours | How many batches to send (2–5) and how much time to leave between each one |
| Default | 4 hours | 4 batches, every 1 hour |
| Best for | Most sends, since inbox providers see a steady stream | Sending in distinct waves throughout the day |
Send a Single Email Campaign in Batches
- Go to Campaigns > Single Emails > + New Single Email Campaign, or open an existing draft.
- Choose your recipients and create your email as usual. (Need a refresher? Check out Create a Single Email Campaign.)
- Click Send/Schedule.
- Under When should we send this email, choose Send immediately or Schedule for later. If you're scheduling, choose a date, time, and time zone.
- Turn on Batch sending.
- Metered is selected by default. Under Spread evenly over, choose how many hours to send over.
- To send in batches instead, select Manual. Next to Send in, choose how many batches to send and how often to send them.
- Check the info box under your settings. It shows when the last email will go out, and updates as you change your settings.
- Click Schedule or Send immediately.
You can unschedule a batch send just like any other Single Email Campaign, up until the first batch is queued to send. Once it's queued, the send can't be stopped, and the remaining batches will keep going out until the last one is sent. Double-check your recipients and batch settings before you confirm!
You'll be redirected to the Campaign Dashboard. Sends, opens, and clicks will keep climbing as each batch goes out, so your numbers will look low until the last batch is sent. Learn more in Single Email Campaign Metrics.
Batch Sending Limits
A batch send can run for up to 2 days from the first email to the last. If you're sending in each person's local time zone, that window is shorter, since those sends already start up to a day early.
| Standard send | Local time zone send | |
|---|---|---|
| Metered | Up to 24 hours | Up to 12 hours |
| Manual | Up to 48 hours | Up to 22 hours |
For Manual sends, the longest time you can leave between batches depends on how many batches you choose:
| Number of batches | Longest interval, standard send | Longest interval, local time zone send |
|---|---|---|
| 2 | 2 days | 12 hours |
| 3 | 1 day | 6 hours |
| 4 | 12 hours | 6 hours |
| 5 | 12 hours | 4 hours |
Keep in mind:
- Batch sending and Split Testing can't be used on the same email. If you add a split test, Batch sending is turned off. Remove the split test to turn it back on.
- You can unschedule a batch send until the first batch is queued. After that, it can't be stopped.
- If you turn off Batch sending before sending, your email goes back to sending normally.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will anyone get the email more than once?
No. Each person in your recipient list gets your email one time, in one batch.
If someone joins my segment after the first batch goes out, will they get a later batch?
No. Your recipient list is locked in when sending starts, and every recipient is assigned to a batch at that time.
Why do my opens and clicks look low on the Dashboard?
Your email is still going out! Sends, opens, and clicks update as each batch is sent, so your numbers will keep growing until the last batch goes out.
If I duplicate a Single Email Campaign that was sent in batches, are the batch settings copied?
Yes. Your batch settings carry over to the copy. If the original start time is in the past, you'll need to pick a new one.
Can I use Batch sending in a Workflow or Email Series Campaign?
Not right now. Batch sending is only available for Single Email Campaigns.
Can I unschedule a batch send?
Yes, up until the first batch is queued to send. Open the scheduled Campaign and select Unschedule, just like you would for any scheduled Single Email Campaign.
We strongly recommend unscheduling at least one hour before your scheduled send time. If you're sending in each person's local time zone, unschedule a full 24 hours before. If you don't see the option to Unschedule, the first batch is already queued and the send can't be stopped.