Beginners Guide To Setting Up WordPress Email

Table of Contents

• WordPress Default Email Settings
• Why configure WordPress SMTP email settings?
• Setting up SMTP for WordPress

Are you struggling with WordPress emails ending up in spam folders or not being delivered at all? You are not alone. 

In this blog, we’ll explore how to overcome these issues by properly configuring your WordPress email settings and more specifically SMTP settings. Whether you’re just starting out on setting up your WordPress settings or looking to enhance your site’s email performance, this guide will help you get it right.

WordPress Default Email Settings

The default WordPress settings use the PHP mail() function to send emails generated by the system. This includes website notifications, password resets, and contact form submissions. However, this default setting may not be optimal for every website and your needs. You might need to configure other email settings in order to achieve your desired email preferences. While this setup works for many, it has limitations:

Deliverability Issues: Emails sent using the default setup might end up in spam folders because they are not authenticated.

Limited Control: The default setup doesn’t provide detailed logs or the ability to resend emails.

Customisation Challenges: Customising email headers or using HTML templates requires additional coding.

Why configure WordPress SMTP email settings?

WordPress comes with default email settings that manage the system’s notifications. These settings, however, may not always meet your needs. Often, emails end up in spam folders, or they fail to deliver entirely which can harm your site’s user experience and credibility.

Switching to SMTP (Simple Mail Transfer Protocol) is essential for reliable email delivery.

Unlike the default PHP mail function, SMTP uses proper authentication, reducing the chances of your emails being marked as spam. Configuring SMTP can be done through plugins like WP Mail SMTP or Post SMTP, which offer a seamless setup process.

Customising your WordPress email settings can lead to better deliverability, more reliable communication, and enhanced control over your website’s email functions. 

Improve Email Deliverability

One of the most common issues with the default WordPress email setup is poor deliverability. Emails sent via the default wp_mail() function may be marked as spam by email providers and may land up on the spam folder of the receiver.

Enhance Security and Authentication

Using an SMTP plugin allows you to send emails via your preferred email service provider (e.g., Gmail, SendGrid, or Amazon SES), which often requires authentication. This ensures that your emails are verified, reducing the likelihood of them being marked as spam.

Gain Detailed Email Logs

SMTP plugins and other custom email solutions often provide detailed logs, allowing you to track every email sent from your WordPress site. This can be valuable for troubleshooting issues or ensuring that all communications are successfully delivered.

Setting up SMTP for WordPress

SMTP is the recommended method for sending emails from WordPress. It replaces the default PHP mail() function and ensures that your emails are sent via an authenticated mail server, improving deliverability and reliability.

Step 1: Choose an SMTP Plugin

First, you will need to choose from several SMTP plugins available for WordPress. 

Add the plugin to your WordPress library and click on activate.

Here are some of the plugins you can choose from – 

• WP Mail SMTP by WPForms
• Easy WP SMTP
• Post SMTP Mailer/Email Log

For this blog, we will be using the WP Mail SMTP plugin.

Step 2: Configure SMTP Settings on WP Mail SMTP Plugin

After installing your chosen SMTP plugin, you’ll need to configure it with the appropriate settings from your email service provider.

You can first start by Launching the setup wizard.

You will first be prompted to choose your SMTP mailer, you can either choose from the free or paid mailers. Click on Save and continue. You might also need to provide an API key or similar credentials for this.

After choosing the mailer, you will be asked to choose the email features you want to enable. Simply choose the features you want and click on ‘Save and Continue’.

Then, you can choose to enter your plugin licence key, if you have any. Feel free to skip if you are only using the free version. 

Just to sum up, here are some of the general email settings:

• SMTP Host: This is the server address for your email provider (e.g., smtp.gmail.com for Gmail).
• SMTP Port: Common ports include 587 for TLS encryption and 465 for SSL encryption.
• Encryption: Choose between SSL and TLS based on your provider’s recommendations.
• Authentication: Enter your email address and password for the SMTP server.

Step 3: Test Your Configuration

Once you’ve configured the plugin, it’s crucial to test your settings. Most SMTP plugins include a test feature where you can send a test email to ensure everything is working correctly.

In addition to these, you can also choose to integrate with third-party email services like connecting to MailChimp, using Sendgrid with WordPress and automating emails with Zapier to add on multiple features to your WordPress email. The above WordPress email settings are essential for ensuring that your website’s communications are reliable, secure, and most importantly to ensure we solve the email issues listed above.  
Need extra help in WordPress support and maintenance? We offer WordPress Care Plans to ensure your website is safe and secure. Reach out to discuss further.