How to Get Started With Your Carly Agent
Here’s how to get started with your Carly agent. Carly’s AI email agents work over email — you send a message, they take action. Schedule meetings, update contacts, search the web, manage files. No app to open.
Two paths: email the built-in base agent, or create your own custom agents from the dashboard.
Get Started With the Carly Agent (Base Agent)
Every Carly user on the Personal plan ($35/mo, 200 credits/month) gets access to the base agent at agent@usecarly.com.
Email it in plain English:
From: you@yourcompany.com To: agent@usecarly.com Subject: Schedule a call with Jamie
Hey, reach out to jamie.torres@newco.io and set up a 30-minute call sometime next week. We’re discussing the Q2 roadmap.
The base agent can:
- Manage your calendar — create, update, and check events across Google Calendar and Outlook Calendar
- Handle email — draft, send, reply, search your inbox
- Update contacts — add contacts, update CRM fields, look up details
- Search the web — research people, companies, topics
- Manage files — upload to Google Drive or OneDrive, organize files
No setup required. If your integrations are connected, the base agent acts on them immediately.
Set Up a Custom Carly AI Email Agent
Custom agents are specialized assistants with their own email addresses, instructions, and tool access. A sales agent that logs deal info, a recruiting agent that screens candidates — you build it in the dashboard.
Step 1: Open the Email Agents Tab
- Go to your Carly dashboard
- Navigate to Email Agents
- Click Add Email Agent
Step 2: Name Your Agent and Pick an Email
Give your agent a name (e.g., “Sales Agent,” “Recruiting Agent”) and pick a handle that matches the agent’s role — like sales@ or recruiting@. Each custom agent gets its own dedicated email address.
Reserved addresses that can’t be used: agent, billing, calbot, carly, carl, hello, intro, no-reply, noreply, support.
Step 3: Write the Agent’s Instructions
Define what your agent does and how it behaves. Be specific — the more context, the better.
Sales agent example:
You are a sales assistant for [Company Name]. When someone emails you:
1. Extract the sender's name, company, and role
2. Check if they're already in the CRM — if not, create a new contact
3. Update CRM fields: Company, Role, Deal Stage (set to "Lead" for new contacts)
4. Reply acknowledging their email and ask what they're looking for
5. If they want to schedule a call, check my calendar and offer 3 available times
Tone: Professional but warm. Keep emails under 150 words.Recruiting agent example:
You are a recruiting coordinator for [Company Name]. When candidates email you:
1. Save their resume to Google Drive in the "Candidates" folder
2. Create a contact with their name, email, role they're applying for
3. Reply confirming you received their application
4. If they ask about interview scheduling, check my calendar and offer times
Tone: Friendly and encouraging. Always thank them for their interest.Step 4: Configure Tool Access
Toggle on only the tools your agent needs:
| Tool | What It Does |
|---|---|
| Calendar | Read and create calendar events |
| Update Contacts | Create and update CRM records |
| Web Search | Research people, companies, topics |
| Lookup Person | Find contact details for a person |
| Google Drive | Upload and organize files |
| Outlook Mail | Send, read, and reply to Outlook email |
| OneDrive | Upload and organize files |
A recruiting agent needs Calendar, Update Contacts, and Google Drive. A research agent might only need Web Search and Lookup Person.
Step 5: Choose Outbound Email Mode
- Assistant sender (SES) — Emails come from the agent’s dedicated Carly address.
- User Gmail / Outlook — Emails come from your connected Gmail or Outlook account. Recipients see your name and domain — not a platform address. This is the best option for client communication, sending proposals, following up on contracts, and anything where the agent should feel like you. Replies land in your inbox.
Step 6: Link Accounts
If your agent needs Outlook Mail or OneDrive, link those accounts here. Google services (Gmail, Drive, Calendar, Contacts) use your existing Google Account connection.
Step 7: Save
Click Save. Your agent is live. Anyone can email its address and get a response based on your instructions and tools.
Connectable Integrations
- Gmail — search, read, send, reply, handle attachments
- Google Calendar — create and manage events
- Google Drive — upload, list, organize documents
- Google Contacts — search contacts, get details
- Outlook Mail — search, read, send, reply, handle attachments
- Outlook Calendar — create and manage events
- OneDrive — upload, list, organize documents
- Outlook Contacts — search contacts, get details
- Zoom — generate video conferencing links
Custom Agent Examples
Each agent gets its own email handle — pick one that matches the role (e.g., deals@, hiring@, intake@). You can also configure agents to send from your own Gmail or Outlook domain.
Sales Pipeline Agent
Instructions: Extract deal info from inbound emails. Create contacts with Company, Role, Deal Stage, and Deal Size fields. Log every interaction. When someone wants a demo, check my calendar and offer times. Send follow-up if no reply in 3 days. Tools: Calendar, Update Contacts, Lookup Person, Web Search
Recruiting Coordinator
Instructions: Save resumes to “Candidates/[Role]” in Google Drive. Create a contact with name, email, role, application date. Confirm receipt. If they ask about next steps, schedule a 30-minute screening call. Tools: Calendar, Update Contacts, Google Drive
Networking Tracker
Instructions: When I forward an introduction, create a contact for the new person. Log where we met, who introduced us, topics discussed. Look up their background and add company/role to the CRM. Tools: Update Contacts, Lookup Person, Web Search
Client Intake Agent
Instructions: Extract name, company, project description, budget range from prospective client emails. Create a CRM contact, set Deal Stage to “Inquiry.” Reply asking about timeline and meeting format. Upload attachments to “Client Inquiries” in Drive. Tools: Calendar, Update Contacts, Google Drive
Tips for Writing Agent Instructions
- Be specific about the workflow. Don’t say “handle sales emails.” Spell out: extract this info, update these fields, reply with this tone.
- Set the tone. “Professional but warm” is different from “casual and brief.”
- Define edge cases. What if the agent doesn’t have enough info? Add: “If unsure, ask a clarifying question rather than guessing.”
- Keep instructions under 500 words. Concise, structured instructions perform better.
- Iterate. Send test emails, see how the agent responds, refine. Check our first 30 days guide for a structured ramp-up plan.
FAQ
How many custom agents can I create?
No hard limit. Each agent gets its own email address, instructions, and tool configuration.
Do custom agents use my credits?
Yes. Every agent action uses credits from your monthly allocation. The Personal plan includes 200 credits/month. Multi-step workflows, file uploads, and web searches use more credits than simple replies.
Can other people email my custom agent?
Yes. Anyone with the address can email your agent, making it useful for client-facing workflows. Share your agent’s email on your website and it handles first responses automatically.
What’s the difference between the base agent and a custom agent?
The base agent (agent@usecarly.com) is a general-purpose assistant. Custom agents have specific instructions, a dedicated email, and scoped tool access — built for a particular job. Base agent = personal assistant. Custom agents = specialized team members.
Can I edit an agent after creating it?
Yes. Go to Email Agents, click the agent, update instructions/tools/settings. Changes take effect immediately. For a broader look at AI agents for productivity, see our full guide.
What happens if someone emails a reserved address?
Emails to reserved handles (like carly@ or support@) are routed to Carly’s built-in systems, not custom agents.
Ready to set up your first agent? Get started with Carly.
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