# Create a recognition campaign

> Go to Recognition → Campaigns → Create campaign, set the dates, choose at least one campaign badge, pick the two emails and select Create campaign.

- Product: Recognition › Campaigns
- Who can do this: Super admins
- Plan: Recognition. Campaigns
- Where: Admin dashboard
- Last checked: 15 Oct 2026
- Web page: https://www.vantagecircle.com/en/help/recognition/campaigns/create-a-recognition-campaign/

Go to **Recognition → Campaigns** and select **Create campaign**. There are three steps: **Details**, **Badges** and **Emails**.

## Before you start

- Only super admins see **Campaigns**.
- Campaigns must be included in your company's plan. If they aren't, the page says "Campaigns are not available". Contact your Vantage Circle account manager.

## 1. Details

- **Campaign name:** up to 150 characters. You can't change it once the campaign starts.
- **Start date:** today or later. A campaign that starts today is **Active** as soon as you create it.
- **End date:** the same day as the start date or later.
- **Campaign description:** optional, up to 800 characters.

## 2. Badges

Choose at least one badge under **Available badges**. Only campaign badges that aren't in another campaign are listed. Your everyday badges from **Recognition → Badges** can't be added to a campaign.

To add a new badge, finish **Details** first, or you'll see "Finish the campaign details first". Then select the **Create badge** tile and, in **Create a new badge**, select **Proceed**. Complete **Details**, **Design** and **Certificate**, as when [creating a badge](/en/help/recognition/badges-and-greetings/create-a-badge/). Saving takes you back to the campaign with the new badge chosen. Cancelling takes you back without creating it.

Each badge's own settings decide who can give and receive it: its countries, grade groups, tenure and eligibility rules. Its **Certificate** step decides whether recipients get a certificate.

## 3. Emails

There are two emails:

- **Invitation email:** "Sent when the campaign starts".
- **Reminder email:** "Sent one day before the campaign ends".

Each shows its send date and uses the **Default** template unless you pick another under **Template**. **Preview** shows the email with your campaign's dates filled in. **Customise** opens your templates, where you can edit one or select **Use for this campaign**.

Select **Create campaign**. You'll see "Campaign created".

## What happens next

- The campaign appears under **Scheduled**, or under **Active** if it starts today.
- The emails go to every active employee in your company, not only the people who can give the campaign's badges.
- While the campaign runs, employees see its badges first when they choose a badge. See [How recognition campaigns work](/en/help/recognition/campaigns/how-recognition-campaigns-work/).

## If something goes wrong

- **"End date cannot be before the start date or in the past."** Pick a later end date.
- **"Campaign saved, but badge changes need review"** means the campaign was saved but at least one badge wasn't added. A common reason is "Badge '…' is already mapped to another campaign." Open the campaign again and check its badges.
- **"Campaign could not be saved"** comes with the reason underneath. Fix it and select **Create campaign** again.