Mail merge tutorial
From an empty sheet to your first campaign — mock data, templates, preview, test, send or schedule.
This walkthrough matches the MailG for Gmail start dialog.
1. Open MailG
Extensions → MailG for Gmail → 🚀 Start.
If you see No email address found in your sheet, either add real emails or click Fill with mock data (creates sample rows and often My First Template). See Start dialog tour.
2. Create or select a template
- Click New Template (or pick an existing one under Template).
- Set Template Name and Email Subject (subject is not merge-substituted today).
- Write the body and insert merge tags via Merge Tag.
- Save Template.
Body example:
Hi {{First Name}},
I saw that {{Company}} is growing and wanted to share a short idea…3. Configure the campaign
In the sidebar:
- Choose Recipient column (cells must be valid single emails for the UI to count them).
- Open More options for CC, BCC, Sender name, Reply to address.
- Leave Track emails on (default) if you want open status in the sheet.
- On a paid plan, enable Remove branding.
Attachments
Attachments appears under More options, but files are not attached on send yet. Link to Drive or a URL in the body instead — see Attachments and Images.
What you should see in the sheet
| Area | Expected |
|---|---|
| Headers | Column names that match your merge tags (for example First Name, Email) |
| Recipient column | One valid email per cell |
| After send | A campaign column such as 🚀 My Template (yyyy/MM/dd) with status chips |
4. Preview and test
- Use previous/next arrows to step through rows.
- Confirm To: and the merged body (subject shows the raw template subject).
- Send menu → Send me a test email.
- Check your inbox.
Details: Preview & test.
5. Send or schedule
- Primary button: Send N email(s) when recipients are counted.
- Or send menu → Schedule send → pick date/time → Schedule Send.
Busy overlays: Starting your campaign… / schedule confirmation toasts.
MailG adds a campaign column such as 🚀 My Template (yyyy/MM/dd) or 🗓️ … when scheduled.
Row statuses:
| Status | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 🗓️ Scheduled | Waiting for start |
| ⏳ Sending… | Processing |
| ✉️ Sent | Handed to Gmail |
| ⚠️ Failed | Error |
| 👀 Opened | Open pixel loaded |
Common mistakes
- Subject tags expecting personalization — body only for now
- Recipient cells with multiple comma-separated addresses — the UI validates one email per cell for counting
- Wrong Google account vs install account
- Hitting daily quota — check Daily quota in the sidebar
Tips
- Use the footer Help checklist the first time
- Start with 2–3 real rows after mock data
- After opens: Extensions → MailG for Gmail → 🔄 Refresh Tracking → alert
Tracking info synced(orNo active campaigns)