Create your first campaign

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1. Sign in to Campaign Manager

Campaign Manager is the advertising platform on LinkedIn. After you create a free account, the platform will guide you through each step of setting up your first campaign. Learn how to prepare for your first LinkedIn campaign, and then read on for an overview of the key steps in this process.

2. Choose your ad format

After creating your Campaign Manager account, you’ll be asked to choose an ad format for your first campaign. You can select Sponsored Content, Sponsored InMail, or Text Ads.

Learn more about Sponsored Content
Learn more about Sponsored InMail
Learn more about Text Ads

3. Set up your ad creative

As you create Sponsored Content and Text Ads, Campaign Manager will generate previews in different sizes and environments, so you can see what they’ll look like. For Sponsored InMail, you can send yourself a test message to preview.

Best practices vary depending on the ad format (Sponsored Content, Sponsored InMail, or Text Ads), so refer to these guidelines and tips to create the most effective ads for your business.

View LinkedIn ad specs and guidelines
Get Sponsored Content tips
Get Sponsored InMail tips
Get Text Ads tips

4. Build your target audience

Next, you’ll be guided to build and save an audience for your campaign.

You can target with professional traits—like job title, company name, and industry type—or customize by bringing in your own data using Matched Audiences—which includes retargeting, email contact targeting, and account-based targeting.

Learn ad targeting best practices
Learn about Matched Audiences

5. Set your bid and budget

Setting the right initial budget will help you control costs and validate your marketing strategy. Learn how to plan your starting budget and adjust it over time based on campaign performance:
Make the most of your budget

Campaign Manager will suggest a range based on current competing bids for your target audience.
Learn how to set the right bids for your ads

6. Save your billing information

The final step before launching your first campaign is setting up payment details. Enter a debit or credit card, save, and your campaign will enter a review process before launching.

Learn how ads are reviewed
Learn more about billing