Email communication has become an indispensable resource for businesses in today’s digital landscape. Whether you’re sharing personalized offers, important updates, or simply welcoming new subscribers, email provides a direct and impactful way to engage with your audience.
So, to get the most out of your email marketing activities, you must understand how to configure SMTP for WordPress to send emails, which will improve your email deliverability.
Before diving into the WordPress SMTP configuration, let’s look at why you need to do so in the first place.
Why You Need To Configure SMTP For WordPress To Send Emails
By default, your WordPress website uses the PHP mail() function. But unfortunately, most major email clients might flag your emails as spam or junk if you send them through your website using the PHP mail() function.
On the other hand, if you choose Simple Mail Transfer Protocol (SMTP) instead. You can easily improve your email marketing deliverability. SMTP is a standard protocol that enables the transfer of emails between servers, allowing you to keep track of email status and manage email lists.
IMPORTANT: To use SMTP services in WordPress, you must install a reliable WordPress mail plugin. And our recommendation is Post SMTP because it’s a great WordPress mail plugin with many compelling features, including a Chrome extension, push notifications, OAuth 2.0 protocol, and more.
Now move straight to the process of setting up SMTP for WordPress.
How To Configure SMTP For WordPress – Step By Step
Following are the steps you can go through to Configure SMTP For WordPress.
Step#1: Install and Activate The Post SMTP Plugin
As we mentioned earlier, you have to install the Post SMTP plugin to use SMTP services in your WordPress to send emails, so to do that, follow the steps below.
- Log in to your WordPress website Dashboard by entering the login credentials. (i.e., https://yoursite.com/wp-login.php).
- Go to the “Plugins” section of the left-hand menu.
- Now click the “Add New” button in the top left corner.
- Type “Post SMTP” in the search bar and Click on “Install Now”
- Wait for a few seconds and then simply click on “Activate.”
That’s it; once activated, the below Post SMTP admin dashboard will appear.
And now you are all set, so let’s head towards the SMTP configuration.
Step#2: SMTP Configuration – Start The Wizard
As you can see in the screenshot, to configure SMTP, you can either click on “Start the Wizard” or on “Show All Settings.” But choosing “Start the Wizard” is the easiest way to proceed.
So, when you click on it the following screen will appear
If you already have any other plugin, then POST SMTP will automatically detect the SMTP settings; otherwise, you will simply be taken to the next step.
Step#3: Add Sender Information
Now you need to enter below sender details:
Name: Enter the name you want to show your audience with, as it will be visible to them.
Email Address: In this field, you can enter the email address you prefer for all email correspondence.
Important To Note: In the email address field, it is recommended to enter the email address registered with your domain because you will most likely use this email to send emails to your customers or subscribers. But you can also use any other email, i.e., Gmail, Outlook, etc.
Step#4: Provide Outgoing Mail Server Hostname
Now you have to enter the “Outgoing Mail Server Hostname”
But If you would like to use any SMTP service provider such as SendinBlue, Mailgun, SendGrid, Mandrill, or another (API), you can simply skip this step and press “Next.”
If not, then understand that an Outgoing (SMTP) Mail Server or Mail Submission Agent (MSA) is a server to which Postman will pass mail for delivery. Depending on your email provider, you need to use a server specific to your account.
If you still need clarification, simply ask your email provider.
In addition, It is important to note that most WordPress hosts, for example, GoDaddy, Bluehost, and Dreamhost, only allow users to use their own mail accounts with their mail servers.
Step#5: Select The Mailer (Email Service Provider) Of Your Choice
In this step, you can choose any mailer service you want, but we recommend using Sendinblue to host SMTP-relay.sendinblue.com on port 587.
So, simply choose the connection of your choice, as shown in the picture below.
Step#5: Authenticate Using API Key
Now, simply put the required API key provided by the email service provider you selected.
Step#6: Set Up Notifications
By configuring a notification service, you will promptly receive alerts if any email fails to submit successfully. You can receive notifications via your admin email, Slack messages, Pushover notifications, or even the Post SMTP Chrome extension, and via SMS using Twilio.
- To set up a notification, select the option of your choice, provide the credentials, and hit the “Next” button on the bottom right of the screen.
This way, you can proactively monitor the status of your emails and address any issues quickly to keep your audience in the loop.
Step#7: Finish And Send A Test Email
Finally, you are all set; simply click “Finish” and send a Test Email.
To send a test email, click on the button “Send a Test Email,” as shown in the picture below.
Enter the “Recipient Email Address” and hit “Next”
On proper email delivery, you will see the below “Success” status.
Now, tap the “Finish” button to send your emails.
Wrapping Up
Sending emails is an effective and powerful marketing strategy to promote your website. And switching from the default PHP mail() function to configure SMTP for WordPress to send emails can improve your email deliverability at scale.
Lastly, if you still have questions regarding Post SMTP or the configuration process, you can contact us by submitting a request here.
We’ll be happy to help!