SMTP (Simple Mail Transfer Protocol) is the technology responsible for delivering emails from your website to your contacts’ inboxes. Think of it as the postal service for email.
Groundhogg creates and schedules your emails, but it relies on an SMTP service to actually send them. Without a properly configured SMTP service, emails may fail to send, be delayed, or end up in spam folders.
Whether you use your web host’s email service, a dedicated SMTP provider like Amazon SES or SendGrid, or a WordPress SMTP plugin such as WP Mail SMTP, configuring SMTP is one of the most important steps in ensuring your emails are delivered reliably and reach the inbox.
Can I use my Host’s built-in SMTP?
Yes, you can use your web host’s built-in SMTP service with Groundhogg, but it’s not recommended.
Most hosting providers offer SMTP access through their email hosting platform, allowing Groundhogg to send emails using your webservers’ email infrastructure. This can be a simple and cost-effective option, especially for low-volume sending.
However, host-provided SMTP services often come with limitations such as:
- Daily or hourly sending limits
- Stricter rate limits
- Shared IP addresses
- Limited deliverability monitoring
- Reduced support for bulk marketing email
If you only send occasional emails, such as notifications, confirmations, or small newsletters, your host’s SMTP service may be sufficient. For larger marketing campaigns, a dedicated SMTP provider is usually a better choice.
You will likely see your email appear in spam or junk folders when using built-in SMTP.
Do I need a 3rd-party STMP service?
Yes, we recommend you do!
Groundhogg does not send email directly. Instead, it relies on WordPress and an SMTP service to deliver your emails.
Without SMTP, WordPress typically attempts to send mail using PHP Mail, which is unreliable and often blocked or filtered by receiving mail servers.
Using an SMTP service provides:
- Authentication for your domain
- Improved inbox placement
- Better sending reliability
- Bounce and complaint handling
- Sending logs and analytics
For any business using email marketing, an SMTP service is strongly recommended.
What SMTP services can I use?
Groundhogg works with a number of API based email services, including:
The API based services are significantly faster at sending lots of emails versus standar SMTP.
Though, you can technically integrate with any SMTP service using our generic SMTP add-on.
Can I use a 3rd party SMTP plugin like WP Mail SMTP?
Yes, with some caveats.
Groundhogg is fully compatible with most WordPress SMTP plugins, including popular options such as WP Mail SMTP, Post SMTP, and FluentSMTP.
These plugins connect WordPress to your preferred email delivery service and handle the actual email transmission. Groundhogg simply hands the email off to WordPress, and your SMTP plugin takes care of sending it through your configured provider.
Using an SMTP plugin can make setup easier because many providers offer guided configuration, authentication tools, and diagnostics to help ensure your emails are being sent correctly.
A few things to keep in mind:
- Make sure your SMTP plugin is properly configured and tested before sending campaigns.
- Verify your domain with your SMTP provider and configure SPF, DKIM, and DMARC records when available.
- Check your provider’s sending limits before launching large broadcasts.
- Avoid running multiple SMTP plugins at the same time, as they can conflict with one another.
Also, some features in Groundhogg won’t work when using a 3rd party SMTP plugin.
- Automatic bounce and complaint handling
- Faster parallel email sending
- Email threading
If you’re already using an SMTP plugin for WordPress, Groundhogg will typically work with it automatically without any additional configuration, but we recommend using one of our official SMTP integrations.
How does SMTP impact my deliverability?
SMTP itself does not guarantee good deliverability, but the SMTP service you choose plays a major role in whether your emails reach the inbox.
A quality SMTP provider helps by:
- Maintaining a strong sending reputation
- Authenticating your domain with SPF, DKIM, and DMARC
- Managing bounce handling
- Monitoring abuse and spam complaints
- Providing reliable infrastructure and IP reputation
Even with an excellent SMTP provider, deliverability still depends on factors such as:
- Sending to engaged contacts
- Maintaining a clean email list
- Obtaining proper consent
- Avoiding spam-like content
- Sending consistent volumes
- Configuring DNS records correctly
Think of SMTP as the delivery vehicle. A good vehicle helps get your message to its destination, but list quality, sender reputation, and authentication ultimately determine whether your emails land in the inbox or the spam folder.
Can I use GMAIL for sending my emails?
Sending email with Gmail/Google Workspace is NOT RECOMMENDED, Gmail/Google Workspace is an excellent mailbox tool, but it is NOT an SMTP service (even though it has one).
Problems with Gmail/Google Workspace:
- Poor deliverability, your emails will likely end up in spam anyway
- Limited to 100 emails per day, see: https://support.google.com/a/answer/166852?hl=en
If you are set on using Gmail/Google Workspace you will need to download the SMTP extension and follow Google’s instructions for enabling the SMTP gateway.
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