AI SDR onboarding takes 14 days from account creation to first booked meeting if executed properly. Day 1 setup (1-2 hours), days 2-14 warmup, day 15 launch, days 18-28 first meetings. Artra's onboarding checklist is the same as other AI SDRs but designed for self-serve completion.
The complete onboarding checklist
| Step | Action | Time |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sign up at artra.ai (free or paid tier) | 5 min |
| 2 | Verify domain DNS (SPF, DKIM, DMARC) | 10 min (or 30 min for new domain) |
| 3 | Connect Gmail or Outlook via OAuth | 2 min |
| 4 | Define ICP (titles, industries, signals) | 20 min |
| 5 | Provide 2-3 voice sample emails | 10 min |
| 6 | Approve first sequence draft (edit aggressively) | 30 min |
| 7 | Configure CRM integration (Salesforce/HubSpot) | 10 min |
| 8 | Set up calendar link for booked meetings | 5 min |
| 9 | Configure quiet hours + DNC compliance | 5 min |
| 10 | Launch warmup (2-4 weeks runs automatically) | auto |
| 11 | Build target account list during warmup | varies |
| 12 | Launch cold outbound after warmup | auto |
| 13 | Daily review process (15-30 min/day) | daily |
Common mistakes to avoid
- Launching cold outbound before warmup completes
- Skipping voice training
- ICP too broad ("all SaaS marketing")
- Not editing first 10-20 AI drafts
- Forgetting CRM integration before launch
- No daily review cadence
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Frequently asked questions
How long does AI SDR onboarding take?
AI SDR onboarding takes 14 days from account creation to first booked meeting if executed properly. Day 1: account setup, inbox connection, ICP definition, voice training (1-2 hours). Days 2-14: email warmup runs while you refine sequences and build target lists. Day 15: launch cold outbound. Days 18-28: first replies and booked meetings. Skipping warmup is the most common cause of delayed or broken onboarding.
What's in a complete AI SDR onboarding checklist?
Complete AI SDR onboarding checklist: (1) Sign up for AI SDR account, (2) Verify domain DNS authentication (SPF, DKIM, DMARC), (3) Connect sending inbox via OAuth, (4) Define ICP (role titles, industries, signals, exclusions), (5) Provide 2-3 voice sample emails, (6) Approve first sequence draft with active editing, (7) Configure CRM integration, (8) Set up calendar link for booked meetings, (9) Configure quiet hours and DNC, (10) Launch warmup for 2-4 weeks, (11) Daily review setup.
What can I skip during AI SDR onboarding?
You cannot skip: email warmup (skipping kills deliverability), voice training (skipping produces generic AI spam), and ICP definition (broad ICPs produce poor results). You can defer: detailed CRM mapping (can be added later), custom field configuration (start with defaults), and advanced sequence A/B testing (add after baseline works). Onboarding is fastest when you focus on the non-skippable steps first.
Who should run AI SDR onboarding?
AI SDR onboarding should be run by the rep who will use the account day-to-day, not by sales ops or IT. The rep makes ICP decisions (their territory, their buyers) and provides voice samples (their own writing). Sales managers and IT support specific steps (CRM integration, DNS authentication) but the rep owns the configuration. Solo reps onboard themselves in 1-2 hours; team rollouts take 1-2 weeks across reps.
What's the biggest onboarding mistake?
The biggest AI SDR onboarding mistake is launching cold outbound before warmup completes. A fresh domain that sends 100 cold emails on day 1 gets flagged as spam, and the damage often persists for 30-90 days. Always run 2-4 weeks of warmup first. Second biggest mistake: skipping voice training. Third: defining ICP too broadly. Fourth: not configuring CRM integration before launch.