Selzy Email Marketing
Create and send email marketing campaigns via Selzy API. Manage contacts, segments, templates. Schedule campaigns, run A/B tests, and analyze performance (op...
Description
name: selzy description: > Create and send email marketing campaigns via Selzy API. Manage contacts, segments, templates. Schedule campaigns, run A/B tests, and analyze performance (opens, clicks, bounces). Turn natural language requests into full email campaigns.
v2.1 — Fixed critical bug: Campaigns now require explicit list_id verification. Without list_id, Selzy sends to 1 contact only. Always call getLists first. metadata: openclaw: emoji: "✉️" requires: env: - SELZY_API_KEY primaryEnv: SELZY_API_KEY version: "2.3" lastUpdated: "2026-02-26" changelog: - "2.3: HARD LIMIT changed to 1 campaign per HOUR (was 1/min) after 35-campaign ban incident" - "2.2: Added RATE LIMIT WARNING — max 1 campaign per minute, batch sends forbidden" - "2.2: Documented account ban risk: 35 campaigns in few minutes triggered block" - "2.1: Added CRITICAL WARNING section about list_id requirement" - "2.1: Added SAFETY CHECKLIST for all campaign sends" - "2.1: Added real-world bug fix example (1 vs 4 recipients)" - "2.1: Updated all workflows to verify contact count before sending"
Selzy Email Marketing API — Complete Guide
Selzy is an email marketing platform with a REST API for managing contacts, creating campaigns, and analyzing performance. This skill lets you run your entire email marketing from an AI assistant.
🚨 CRITICAL WARNING — Read Before Using
⚠️ Common Pitfall: Campaigns Sent to Wrong Recipients
Problem: If you create a campaign without explicitly specifying list_id, Selzy will send to ONLY 1 contact (default behavior), not your entire list.
Solution: ALWAYS follow this workflow:
- Call
getLists→ get the correctlist_idAND verify contact count - Pass
list_idtocreateEmailMessage(REQUIRED parameter) - Verify recipient count matches expectations BEFORE calling
createCampaign - Get explicit user confirmation before sending
This affects ALL users. The fix is in the workflow, not the API.
🚫 RATE LIMIT WARNING — Account Ban Risk
REAL INCIDENT (2026-02-25): User sent 35 email campaigns in a few minutes using createCampaign. Selzy blocked the account for suspicious bulk activity.
Official Selzy API Rate Limits (from https://selzy.com/en/support/api/common/selzy-api-limits/):
| Endpoint / Action | Limit |
|---|---|
| General API | 1200 requests / 60 seconds (per API key or IP) |
| checkEmail method | 300 requests / 60 seconds |
| subscribe method | Limited (exact value not published) |
| sendEmail method | 1,000 emails/day default for new users (auto-increases) |
| sendSms method | 150 numbers per call |
| getCampaigns method | 10,000 campaigns per response |
| getMessages limit | 100 records per request (default 50) |
| importContacts timeout | 30 seconds per call |
⚠️ CRITICAL: Campaign Creation Rate (UNPUBLISHED but ENFORCED)
While general API allows 1200 req/min, creating campaigns (createCampaign) has additional fraud detection:
- MAX 1 campaign creation per HOUR (strict limit after ban incident)
- Burst of 35 campaigns in <5 min = instant account block (real incident 2026-02-25)
- Selzy's fraud system flags rapid campaign creation as suspicious bulk activity
Why the discrepancy?
- 1200 req/min is for read operations (getLists, getCampaigns, stats)
- Write operations (createCampaign, importContacts) have stricter anti-abuse limits
- No official documentation on campaign creation rate — enforced heuristically
Symptoms of Rate Limit Violation:
- API returns
count=0for all campaigns (even valid ones) - Campaigns stuck in
scheduledstatus but never send - Account flagged for manual review
Recovery:
- STOP all campaign creation immediately
- Wait 24-48 hours for automatic unblock OR contact Selzy support
- Request manual review + explain it was automation error
- When unblocked: implement rate limiting (1 campaign / hour MAX)
Prevention:
- Wait 1 HOUR between
createCampaigncalls — this is now the hard limit - For batch sends: create max 1 campaign per hour, spread across days
- Monitor API responses:
count=0across multiple campaigns = RED FLAG - NEVER automate bulk campaign creation without rate limiting
- Remember: 1200 req/min is for READ operations, not campaign creation
If you need to send to multiple segments:
1. Create all email messages first (no rate limit on createEmailMessage)
2. Schedule campaigns across multiple days (1 per hour max)
3. OR: use single campaign with segmented list (preferred)
4. Use cron jobs with hourly spacing for automated sends
This is now MANDATORY: Any automation creating >1 campaign per hour will risk permanent ban. 1 campaign per hour = HARD LIMIT.
📊 Official Selzy API Limits Summary
| Operation | Limit | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| General API calls | 1200 / min | Per API key or IP |
| checkEmail | 300 / min | Email validation |
| sendEmail (transactional) | 1000 / day | New users, auto-increases |
| sendSms | 150 / call | Max numbers per request |
| getCampaigns | 10,000 / response | Pagination needed for more |
| getMessages | 100 / request | Default 50 |
| importContacts | 30s timeout | Per call |
| createCampaign | 1 / hour | Unpublished, HARD LIMIT after ban incident |
Source: https://selzy.com/en/support/api/common/selzy-api-limits/
🔐 Authentication
All requests require the SELZY_API_KEY environment variable. Pass it as the api_key parameter.
Base URL: https://api.selzy.com/en/api
Important: All methods use GET with query parameters (Selzy API uses GET for all endpoints). URL-encode parameter values when needed.
General Request Pattern
curl "https://api.selzy.com/en/api/{METHOD}?format=json&api_key=$SELZY_API_KEY&{params}"
Response Format:
- Success:
{"result": {...}}or{"result": [...]} - Error:
{"error": "message", "code": "error_code"}
📋 1. Contact Lists
1.1 Get Lists — getLists
Retrieve all contact lists.
curl "https://api.selzy.com/en/api/getLists?format=json&api_key=$SELZY_API_KEY"
Response:
{
"result": [
{"id": 1, "title": "Newsletter subscribers", "count": 15420, "active_contacts": 14800}
]
}
1.2 Create List — createList
Create a new contact list.
curl "https://api.selzy.com/en/api/createList?format=json&api_key=$SELZY_API_KEY&title=VIP%20Customers"
Response: {"result": {"id": 12345}}
1.3 Get List Details — getList
Get detailed info about a specific list.
curl "https://api.selzy.com/en/api/getList?format=json&api_key=$SELZY_API_KEY&list_id=12345"
👥 2. Contact Management
2.1 Import Contacts — importContacts
Bulk import contacts into a list.
curl "https://api.selzy.com/en/api/importContacts?format=json&api_key=$SELZY_API_KEY&field_names[]=email&field_names[]=Name&data[][]=john@example.com&data[][]=John&data[][]=jane@example.com&data[][]=Jane&list_ids=12345&overwrite=2"
| Parameter | Description |
|---|---|
field_names[] |
Column names: email (required), Name, phone, etc. |
data[][] |
Contact data rows (flat array, fills row by row) |
list_ids |
Comma-separated list IDs to add contacts to |
overwrite |
0=skip existing, 1=overwrite all, 2=overwrite empty only |
2.2 Subscribe — subscribe
Add a single contact with opt-in control.
curl "https://api.selzy.com/en/api/subscribe?format=json&api_key=$SELZY_API_KEY&list_ids=12345&fields[email]=user@example.com&fields[Name]=Alice&double_optin=3"
double_optin values:
0= no confirmation3= send confirmation email4= already confirmed (force subscribe)
2.3 Exclude Contact — exclude
Unsubscribe/remove a contact.
curl "https://api.selzy.com/en/api/exclude?format=json&api_key=$SELZY_API_KEY&contact_type=email&contact=user@example.com"
2.4 Get Contact — getContact
Get contact details by email.
curl "https://api.selzy.com/en/api/getContact?format=json&api_key=$SELZY_API_KEY&email=user@example.com"
2.5 Create Custom Field — createField
Add a custom field for contacts.
curl "https://api.selzy.com/en/api/createField?format=json&api_key=$SELZY_API_KEY&field_name=Company&field_type=text"
field_type options: text, number, date, boolean
📧 3. Email Messages (Templates)
3.1 Create Email Message — createEmailMessage
⚠️ CRITICAL: list_id is REQUIRED ⚠️
Without list_id, Selzy will send to ONLY 1 contact (default behavior). This is a common pitfall that causes campaigns to be sent to wrong recipients.
ALWAYS call getLists first to get the correct list_id and verify contact count BEFORE creating a message.
Create an email template for campaigns.
curl "https://api.selzy.com/en/api/createEmailMessage?format=json&api_key=$SELZY_API_KEY&sender_name=My%20Store&sender_email=news@yourdomain.com&subject=Summer%20Sale%20🔥&body=<h1>Hello!</h1><p>Check%20out%20our%20deals</p>&list_id=12345"
| Parameter | Required | Description |
|---|---|---|
sender_name |
Yes | From name |
sender_email |
Yes | From email (must be verified domain) |
subject |
Yes | Email subject line |
body |
Yes | HTML content (URL-encoded) |
list_id |
YES — CRITICAL | Target list ID. MUST be obtained from getLists. Without this, campaign sends to 1 contact only! |
lang |
No | Language code (en, ru, es, etc.) |
text_body |
No | Plain text version for fallback |
tag |
No | Campaign tag for filtering/analytics |
Response: {"result": {"message_id": 67890}}
3.2 Update Email Message — updateEmailMessage
Modify an existing email template.
curl "https://api.selzy.com/en/api/updateEmailMessage?format=json&api_key=$SELZY_API_KEY&id=67890&subject=Updated%20Subject"
3.3 Get Message — getMessage
Get email template details.
curl "https://api.selzy.com/en/api/getMessage?format=json&api_key=$SELZY_API_KEY&id=67890"
3.4 List Messages — listMessages
List all email templates with date filter.
curl "https://api.selzy.com/en/api/listMessages?format=json&api_key=$SELZY_API_KEY&date_from=2026-01-01&date_to=2026-02-01"
3.5 Create Email Template — createEmailTemplate
Create a reusable template (separate from messages).
curl "https://api.selzy.com/en/api/createEmailTemplate?format=json&api_key=$SELZY_API_KEY&name=Welcome%20Series&subject=Welcome!&body=<h1>Welcome {{Name}}!</h1>"
3.6 Get Template — getTemplate
Get template details.
curl "https://api.selzy.com/en/api/getTemplate?format=json&api_key=$SELZY_API_KEY&template_id=12345"
🚀 4. Campaigns
4.1 Create Campaign — createCampaign
Create and schedule a campaign.
curl "https://api.selzy.com/en/api/createCampaign?format=json&api_key=$SELZY_API_KEY&message_id=67890&start_time=2026-02-10%2010:00:00&timezone=Europe/Moscow&track_read=1&track_links=1"
| Parameter | Required | Description |
|---|---|---|
message_id |
Yes | Email message ID from createEmailMessage |
start_time |
No | Schedule time (YYYY-MM-DD HH:MM:SS). Omit for immediate send |
timezone |
No | Timezone for scheduled send (e.g., Europe/Belgrade) |
track_read |
No | Track opens (1=yes, 0=no) |
track_links |
No | Track clicks (1=yes, 0=no) |
Response: {"result": {"campaign_id": 11111}}
4.2 Cancel Campaign — cancelCampaign
Cancel a scheduled campaign before it sends.
curl "https://api.selzy.com/en/api/cancelCampaign?format=json&api_key=$SELZY_API_KEY&campaign_id=11111"
4.3 Get Campaign Status — getCampaignStatus
Check campaign status and progress.
curl "https://api.selzy.com/en/api/getCampaignStatus?format=json&api_key=$SELZY_API_KEY&campaign_id=11111"
Status values: draft, scheduled, sending, analysed, canceled
4.4 Get Campaigns — getCampaigns
List recent campaigns with optional date filter.
curl "https://api.selzy.com/en/api/getCampaigns?format=json&api_key=$SELZY_API_KEY&from=2026-01-01&to=2026-02-24"
Date format: YYYY-MM-DD HH:MM:SS or YYYY-MM-DD
📊 5. Campaign Statistics
5.1 Get Campaign Stats — getCampaignCommonStats
Get comprehensive statistics for a campaign.
curl "https://api.selzy.com/en/api/getCampaignCommonStats?format=json&api_key=$SELZY_API_KEY&campaign_id=11111"
Response:
{
"result": {
"total": 15000,
"sent": 14800,
"delivered": 14500,
"read_unique": 4200,
"read_all": 5100,
"clicked_unique": 890,
"clicked_all": 1200,
"unsubscribed": 12,
"spam": 3
}
}
Metrics to calculate:
- Open Rate =
(read_unique / delivered) × 100 - Click Rate =
(clicked_unique / delivered) × 100 - Bounce Rate =
((sent - delivered) / sent) × 100 - Unsubscribe Rate =
(unsubscribed / delivered) × 100 - Spam Rate =
(spam / delivered) × 100
📮 6. Senders
6.1 Get Sender Emails — getSenderEmails
List all verified sender emails.
curl "https://api.selzy.com/en/api/getSenderEmails?format=json&api_key=$SELZY_API_KEY"
Response:
{
"result": [
{
"id": 8526648,
"email": "news@yourdomain.com",
"name": "Your Store",
"isVerified": true,
"dkimStatus": "verified",
"isFreeDomain": false
}
]
}
Note: sender_email in campaigns must be from this verified list.
🎯 Instructions for the Agent
Critical Rules
🚨 SAFETY CHECKLIST (Before Any Campaign Send)
MANDATORY — verify ALL before proceeding:
-
getListscalled → have explicitlist_id - Contact count verified → matches expected recipients
- If count = 0 or count != expected → STOP and alert user
-
createEmailMessageincludeslist_idparameter - User confirmed: list name, count, subject, send time
- Explicit "send" or "confirm" received from user
- RATE LIMIT CHECK: Last campaign created >1 HOUR ago (HARD LIMIT)
- BATCH WARNING: If creating >1 campaign per hour = ACCOUNT BAN RISK
If ANY check fails → DO NOT SEND, ask user first.
CRITICAL: Creating 35 campaigns in a few minutes = ACCOUNT BAN. MAX 1 campaign per HOUR.
-
NEVER send a campaign without explicit user confirmation. Always show:
- Recipient list name and count (VERIFY this matches expectations)
- Subject line
- Body summary (first 100 chars)
- Send time (immediate or scheduled)
- list_id being used
-
For new campaigns, follow this workflow (MANDATORY):
1. getLists → GET list_id AND count of contacts 2. VERIFY: count >= expected recipients (if count=0, STOP and ask) 3. createEmailMessage → MUST include list_id parameter + confirm subject + content 4. RATE LIMIT CHECK: If created campaign in last 60s, WAIT before proceeding 5. createCampaign → confirm timing + recipient count 6. WAIT for explicit "send" or "confirm" from user⚠️ BATCH SENDS: If creating multiple campaigns (e.g., for different segments):
- Create all
createEmailMessagecalls first (no rate limit) - Queue
createCampaigncalls with 1 HOUR delays between each (HARD LIMIT) - NEVER create >1 campaign per hour — instant ban risk
- Real incident: 35 campaigns in few minutes = account blocked
- Use cron jobs to space campaigns across days if needed
- Create all
-
CRITICAL: list_id is REQUIRED
- NEVER create email message without explicit list_id
- ALWAYS verify contact count matches expectations before sending
- If list_id is missing or count is wrong → STOP and alert user
-
For statistics requests:
- Always calculate rates as percentages
- Compare to industry benchmarks if asked (avg: 20% open, 2.5% click)
- Highlight trends (up/down vs previous campaigns)
-
Handle errors gracefully:
- Explain what went wrong in plain language
- Suggest specific fixes
- Retry once for rate limiting (add 1s delay)
-
Security reminders:
- Never log or display the full API key
- Remind users that sender_email must be verified
- Warn about GDPR/compliance for contact imports
Common Workflows
"Create a campaign for my VIP customers"
1. getLists → find VIP list, confirm count (MUST match expected recipients)
2. If count is wrong → STOP and alert user (DO NOT proceed)
3. Ask: subject, content type (promo/newsletter/event)
4. createEmailMessage → MUST include list_id parameter, show preview
5. createCampaign (omit start_time for immediate)
6. ⚠️ WAIT for "send it" or "confirm" before considering it done
7. Report: campaign_id, status, recipient count (verify matches step 1)
"How did my last campaign perform?"
1. getCampaigns (last 7 days) → get latest campaign_id
2. getCampaignCommonStats → get metrics
3. Calculate: open rate, click rate, bounce rate, unsubscribe rate
4. Present as: "X% opened, Y% clicked, Z% bounced"
5. Optional: compare to industry avg or previous campaign
"Add new subscribers to my newsletter"
1. getLists → find newsletter list
2. Confirm: list name, number of contacts to add
3. importContacts (bulk) OR subscribe (single)
4. Report: success count, skipped count, errors
"Show my contact lists"
1. getLists → retrieve all
2. Present table: Name | Total | Active | Created
3. Offer: "Want to create a new list or add contacts?"
"Schedule a webinar invitation"
1. getLists → confirm audience (GET list_id + count)
2. VERIFY count matches expected recipients
3. Ask: webinar details (title, date, time, link)
4. createEmailMessage with storytelling approach + list_id parameter
5. createCampaign with start_time="2026-02-25 10:00:00" timezone="Europe/Belgrade"
6. Confirm: "Scheduled for Feb 25 at 10:00 AM Belgrade time to {count} recipients"
📖 Real-World Bug Fix Example
❌ WRONG — Campaign sent to 1 person instead of 4
# Missing list_id — Selzy sends to 1 contact by default!
curl "https://api.selzy.com/en/api/createEmailMessage?format=json&api_key=$KEY&sender_name=My+Store&sender_email=me@example.com&subject=Sale&body=<h1>Sale!</h1>"
Result: Campaign #327590492 sent to 1 recipient instead of 4 contacts in list.
✅ CORRECT — Always include list_id
# Step 1: Get lists and verify count
curl "https://api.selzy.com/en/api/getLists?format=json&api_key=$KEY"
# Response: [{"id": 12345, "title": "My first list", "count": 4}]
# Step 2: Create message WITH list_id
curl "https://api.selzy.com/en/api/createEmailMessage?format=json&api_key=$KEY&sender_name=My+Store&sender_email=me@example.com&subject=Sale&body=<h1>Sale!</h1>&list_id=12345"
# Response: {"result": {"message_id": 67890}}
# Step 3: Create campaign
curl "https://api.selzy.com/en/api/createCampaign?format=json&api_key=$KEY&message_id=67890"
# Response: {"result": {"campaign_id": 11111}}
# Result: Campaign sent to ALL 4 contacts ✅
⚠️ API Error Handling
| Error Response | Meaning | Fix |
|---|---|---|
"error": "Incorrect API key" |
Wrong/missing API key | Check SELZY_API_KEY in config |
"error": "Access denied" |
Insufficient permissions | Verify API key has correct scope |
"error": "Not found" |
Resource doesn't exist | Check ID (campaign_id, message_id, list_id) |
"error": "Bad date-time literal" |
Wrong date format | Use YYYY-MM-DD HH:MM:SS |
| HTTP 429 | Rate limited | Wait 1-2 seconds, retry once |
"error": "Sender not verified" |
Email not in verified list | Use getSenderEmails, pick verified one |
📚 Resources
- API Reference: https://selzy.com/en/support/api/
- Getting Started: https://selzy.com/en/support/
- Sign Up: https://selzy.com/en/registration/
- Blog: https://selzy.com/en/blog/
🧪 Quick Test Commands
Verify API access:
# Check connection
curl "https://api.selzy.com/en/api/getLists?format=json&api_key=YOUR_KEY"
# Check verified senders
curl "https://api.selzy.com/en/api/getSenderEmails?format=json&api_key=YOUR_KEY"
# Test campaign stats (replace ID)
curl "https://api.selzy.com/en/api/getCampaignCommonStats?format=json&api_key=YOUR_KEY&campaign_id=123456"
Skill Version: 2.0 (Complete)
Last Updated: 2026-02-24
Tested Methods: getLists, getSenderEmails, getCampaigns, getCampaignCommonStats, createEmailMessage, createCampaign, getTemplates
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