> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://www.spread.so/docs/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Create a List and Set Recipients

> Learn how to create a recipient list and set it as your email recipients.

## Overview

In Spread, you set email recipients **by 'list', not by individual email address.** So to send an email, you first **create a recipient list**, then select that list as the recipient when composing a campaign.

The overall flow is as follows.

1. **Add contacts** — Add subscribers (contacts) to Spread via [Google Contacts sync](/docs/google-contacts-sync) or [Import](/docs/import/ai-import).
2. **Create a list** — Create a list to hold the contacts you added.
3. **Set recipients** — Select that list as the recipient when composing a campaign.
4. **Send** — [Compose and send your email](/docs/send-email).

<Note>
  Contacts must be added to Spread before they can be placed in a list. To add contacts, see [Google Contacts sync](/docs/google-contacts-sync) or [Import](/docs/import/ai-import).
</Note>

## Step 1. Create a recipient list

A list is a **list of subscribers** you want to send an email campaign to.

Click **Lists** in the left menu of the Spread app to go to the Lists page, then create a new list. Splitting lists by purpose (e.g. newsletter subscribers, product users, event attendees) lets you send more precisely by segment.

There are two ways to add contacts to a list.

* **Add existing contacts to a list** — Select the subscribers you want from your full contact list and add them to the list.
* **Import directly into a list** — Create a list first, then import a CSV/Excel file directly into that list. Select **`Import from Excel/CSV`** from the `···` menu at the top of the list.

<img
  src="https://mintcdn.com/relate-fa98d7d/d9pLGjtQuKApYaEI/images/lists-and-recipients/list-import-menu.png?fit=max&auto=format&n=d9pLGjtQuKApYaEI&q=85&s=ad3630c706c13c3be32ac82b4dc35e24"
  alt="List - Import from Excel/CSV menu"
  width="420"
  style={{
display: "block",
margin: "12px auto",
boxShadow: "0 6px 18px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.16)",
borderRadius: "8px"
}}
  data-path="images/lists-and-recipients/list-import-menu.png"
/>

<Note>
  **Where do contacts go when you import directly into a list?**

  Contacts imported directly into a list are **added to that list and, at the same time, to your workspace's full contact list.** In other words, you fill the list and your overall contact database at once.

  For detailed steps, see [Import — Import directly into Lists](/docs/import/ai-import#import-directly-into-lists).
</Note>

<Tip>
  To keep your lists safe and protect your deliverability and domain reputation, see [Manage lists](/docs/manage-lists).
</Tip>

## Step 2. Set the list as recipients

On the campaign composition screen, select the list you created under **`Recipients` → `List`**. All leads in that list become the send targets. If you have no lists, you cannot send a campaign, so be sure to create a list first.

<Note>
  **How you set recipients differs slightly by sending method.**

  * **One-off Campaign**: Select the **list** under `Recipients`.
  * **Triggered Campaign**: Connect a `Source list`. Sending starts the moment a lead is added to that list.
  * **Sequence**: Add **individual contacts** in the `Recipients` tab.

  For detailed setup of each method, see [Send an Email](/docs/send-email).
</Note>