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Send Your First Mailer

What it is​

This guide walks you through creating a thanks.io account, finishing account setup, and placing your first physical mail order - all from the web dashboard.

When to use it​

  • You're new to thanks.io and want to send something for the first time.
  • You want to verify the process works end-to-end before committing to a campaign.

How to do it​

Step 1 - Create your account​

  1. Go to https://dashboard.thanks.io/register and fill in your name and email address.
  2. Click Next to continue.

Account setup​

Right after you register, thanks.io opens account setup (/app/account-setup). It is short, and you can skip any step.

Step 2 - Get free samples in the mail​

  1. On Get Free Samples in the Mail, start typing your mailing address and pick it from the suggestions. Add an apartment or suite number if you need one.
  2. Click Send My Samples. thanks.io ships you physical samples so you can see the print quality before you mail anyone else. Click Skip if you don't want them.

Step 3 - Design your first mailer with ThanksAI (optional)​

  1. On Design your first mailer with ThanksAI Studio, describe the mailer you want: your business, your offer, your audience and your brand style.
  2. Click Build Creatives to open ThanksAI with your description, or Skip for now to go to the dashboard.

A design you save in ThanksAI becomes a creative, ready to send.

Step 4 - Finish setting up your account​

When setup ends you land on the dashboard. While anything is left to do, the Finish setting up your account card lists it:

  • Set up your branding - opens account setup on Set Up Your Brand. Enter your name, company, contact details and website, add your logo, and pick an accent color. Live postcard and letter previews update as you go. Click Save & Continue. On a Free plan, the next step is Choose Your Plan, where you can start a paid plan, click Add card & stay on Free, or Skip.
  • Add a payment method - opens Settings → Payment Method, where you save a card so your mail goes out without delay.
  • Create your first design - opens ThanksAI in Creatives.

You can update branding at any time under Branding in the sidebar, and change plans under Settings → Subscription Plan.

Your first send​

Step 5 - Make a creative (recommended)​

A creative is a saved design for one mail piece: a front design paired with a message. Making one first means your send is just a few clicks, and you can mail it again later.

  • Go to Creatives in the sidebar and click New creative. Choose Design it with ThanksAI to have one drafted for you, or Build it yourself to upload your own artwork or start from an inspiration. Then write your message and save. See Creating a Creative.
  • If you would rather start sending right away, skip this step. You can make a creative inside the send with Make creative now (Step 8).

Step 6 - Open Send Mail​

Start a send in any of these ways:

  • Click Send it on a creative's card in Creatives. The send opens with that creative already chosen.
  • Click Send Mail in the sidebar.
  • On the dashboard, pick a format under What would you like to send?

Step 7 - Choose what to send​

  1. On Choose What To Send, pick a mail piece. Postcards lists the 4x6, 6x9 and 6x11 postcards and the MagnaCard. Premium Mail lists windowed and windowless letters, the Notecard and gift cards.
  2. For your first send, a 4x6 Postcard is the simplest and most affordable option.

If you started from a creative or a format on the dashboard, the mail piece is already chosen.

Step 8 - Choose your design​

The Design step offers three tabs:

  • Completed Creatives - pick one of your ready-to-send creatives. Its front and message are filled in, and the send moves straight to recipients.
  • Separate front & message - pick any of your designs or click Upload an image, then write the message on the next step.
  • Make creative now - build a creative yourself or design one with ThanksAI without leaving the send. It is saved to your Creatives and the send carries on with it.

Step 9 - Write your message​

If your design came without a message, the Customize Your Message step opens.

  1. Type your message, or use the Write with AI tab to have one written for you. This is the handwritten-style text printed on your mailer.
  2. Click Personalize to insert fields like %FIRST_NAME% so each piece is personalized automatically.
  3. Choose a handwriting style, and click Check my message for a score and a stronger version.

Step 10 - Add a recipient​

  1. On Select Recipients, click Add Recipients.
  2. Choose Manually Enter Address, then enter the recipient's name, street address, city, state or province, and postal code. Start typing the address to fill the fields from suggestions.
  3. Click Add Recipient, then Done.
  4. Click Continue.

Step 11 - Review and send​

  1. On Review & Confirm, check the front and back previews. The message is shown personalized for your first recipient.
  2. Check the return address. Tick Save for future sends to keep it for next time.
  3. Review the cost breakdown. On a Free plan, choose between the FREE Plan and BUSINESS Plan price for this order.
  4. Click Submit Order & Send Now.

Your order enters the processing queue immediately, and the confirmation page links to its order details.

Tips & best practices​

  • Use your own address as the recipient for your first send - that way you can inspect the printed result in person.
  • Keep your first message short. One clear sentence plus a call-to-action is enough to test the full flow.
  • Check the preview carefully before confirming. Orders move to print quickly and cancellation is only possible within one hour of placing the order.
  • Save designs you like as creatives. Next time, click Send it on the creative and go straight to recipients.