A manual campaign doesn't look for planning applications itself. It only writes to the leads you add to it, from Planning data or a lead's page. Use one for jobs you've spotted yourself and want to follow up with letters.
Set up a manual campaign
Click Letter campaigns in the sidebar, then New campaign.
Type a Campaign name.
Instead of choosing a search area, click Skip, I'll add leads myself. It goes straight to the letters.
Under Who do you want to write to?, tick who gets letters, and add your letters as usual.
Click Next: Review campaign, check it, and click Start campaign.
There's no reviewing in a manual campaign: choosing a lead is the check, so its letters go as soon as you add it.
Add a lead to it
Open a planning application in Planning data, or open a lead.
Under People, click Add to campaign.
Pick your campaign from Choose a campaign….
Check who gets which letters, and what they'll cost. Untick anyone who shouldn't get them.
Click Add and send letters.
Add leads to it whenever you find one worth writing to.
Why can't I see Add to campaign?
The button only shows when your plan includes letter campaigns and at least one person on the application can be written to. It's hidden when everyone is marked do not contact, or has no address we can post to.
Why won't someone on the lead get letters?
The line under their name in Add this lead to a campaign says why:
Already in this campaign.
Marked do not contact — won't get letters.
The council's address isn't one we can post to — won't get letters.
The campaign doesn't write to that kind of person, for example agents.
Not on your plan — won't get letters.: agents and company owners need the Enterprise plan (Outreach in Australia).
Someone's already getting letters. What happens?
You're told who and from which campaign, and asked to choose:
Move them to your campaign: their other letters stop.
Keep both: they'll get two sets of letters.
Can a manual campaign find leads by itself later?
Yes. Give it a search area and targeting from its Search area and Targeting pages, and it starts finding new planning applications every day.