How To Use Smtp With Woocommerce

Stop Your WooCommerce Emails Going to Spam! (And How to Fix it with SMTP)

So, you’ve built your awesome WooCommerce store. Products are listed, customers are buying… but are they *actually* getting your emails? Order confirmations, password resets, shipping updates? If not, you might have a serious problem – and the culprit is often your email setup.

Most WooCommerce stores rely on the default WordPress email function, `wp_mail()`. While convenient, it’s notorious for sending emails straight to the spam folder. Why? Because your web server probably isn’t properly configured to send authenticated emails. Think of it like sending a letter without a return address. The receiving mail server doesn’t trust it and marks it as suspicious.

That’s where SMTP comes in. SMTP (Simple Mail Transfer Protocol) is a standard protocol for sending emails reliably. It essentially allows you to use a dedicated email provider to handle your WooCommerce emails, authenticating them properly and ensuring they reach your customers’ inboxes.

Think of it this way: Imagine you’re sending a package. Using the default `wp_mail()` is like just leaving it on the doorstep hoping it arrives. Using SMTP is like shipping it with a trusted carrier like FedEx or UPS – they have a reliable system and tracking, ensuring the package gets delivered and the recipient knows who sent it.

This article will walk you through how to set up SMTP for your WooCommerce store, step-by-step, even if you’re a complete beginner.

Why You Need SMTP for WooCommerce

Before we dive into the how-to, let’s solidify why this is so important for your business:

• Improved Deliverability: Significantly reduces the chance of your emails landing in the spam folder. This is the biggest benefit!
• Better Customer Experience: Customers receive order confirmations, shipping updates, and password resets reliably, leading to happier customers.
• Increased Sales: When customers get crucial email updates, they’re more likely to return for repeat purchases. Missing emails can lead to frustrated customers and lost sales.
• Brand Reputation: Emails that consistently go to spam can negatively impact your brand reputation.
• Fixes Common WooCommerce Email Problems: Solves issues like emails not being sent at all or being marked as spam.

Choosing an SMTP Provider

You’ll need an SMTP provider. There are many options, some free (with limitations) and some paid. Here are a few popular choices:

• Sendinblue: Offers a generous free plan with a decent sending limit. Great for small businesses.
• Mailgun: A popular choice for developers, known for its reliability and scalability. Offers a free tier for testing.
• SendGrid: Another reliable option with a focus on deliverability and analytics. Offers a free plan as well.
• Gmail/G Suite: While you *can* use Gmail SMTP, it’s generally not recommended for high-volume transactional emails as it’s against their terms of service and you risk getting your account suspended. It’s better for testing or very small stores.

For this example, let’s assume you’re using Sendinblue. The process is similar for other providers, but the specific settings will vary.

Setting Up SMTP with a Plugin (The Easy Way!)

The easiest way to configure SMTP for WooCommerce is by using a plugin. Several excellent plugins are available, and they simplify the process considerably. Here are a couple of popular options:

• WP Mail SMTP by WPForms: The most popular option, known for its ease of use and reliability.
• Easy WP SMTP: A simpler, more lightweight option that gets the job done.

We’ll use WP Mail SMTP by WPForms for this example.

1. Install and Activate the Plugin:

• In your WordPress dashboard, go to Plugins > Add New.
• Search for “WP Mail SMTP by WPForms”.
• Click Install Now and then Activate.

2. Run the Setup Wizard (Recommended):

• After activating the plugin, you’ll usually be prompted to run a setup wizard. This is the easiest way to configure the plugin.
• Follow the wizard’s instructions. It will ask you to choose your SMTP provider (e.g., Sendinblue, Mailgun, etc.).
• The wizard will guide you through the steps specific to your chosen provider, including entering your API key or credentials.

3. Manual Configuration (If the Wizard Fails or You Prefer):

• If the wizard doesn’t work or you prefer manual configuration, go to WP Mail SMTP > Settings.
• From Email: Enter the email address you want to use as the “From” address for your WooCommerce emails (e.g., `[email protected]`). Use a real address associated with your domain. This is crucial for deliverability.
• From Name: Enter the name you want to appear as the sender (e.g., “Your Store Name”).
• Mailer: Choose your SMTP provider. In our example, let’s choose “Sendinblue”.
• Sendinblue API Key: Enter your Sendinblue API key. You’ll find this in your Sendinblue account dashboard.
• Return Path: It’s generally recommended to check “Set the return path to match the From Email” for better deliverability.
• Save Changes.

4. Get Your SMTP Credentials from Sendinblue (or Your Chosen Provider):

• Log in to your Sendinblue account (or your chosen provider).
• Navigate to the “SMTP & API” section (or similar). The location varies depending on the provider.
• Generate an API key if you don’t already have one.

Example: Sendinblue SMTP Settings

You might see something like this in Sendinblue:

SMTP Server: smtp-relay.sendinblue.com

Port: 587

Username: [email protected]

Password: Your_Sendinblue_API_Key

The plugin often handles the server and port automatically based on your provider choice.

5. Test Your SMTP Configuration:

• In the WP Mail SMTP settings, find the Email Test tab.
• Enter an email address to send a test email to.
• Click Send Test Email.
• Check your inbox (and spam folder!) for the test email. If you receive it successfully, congratulations! Your SMTP setup is working. If not, double-check your settings and credentials.

Common Problems and Solutions

• Emails Still Going to Spam:
• Check your SPF and DKIM records: These are DNS records that verify your server’s authority to send emails on behalf of your domain. Most SMTP providers will provide instructions on how to configure these. This is *essential* for good deliverability.
• Use a dedicated IP address: If you’re sending a high volume of emails, consider using a dedicated IP address from your SMTP provider. This can further improve deliverability.
• Email Content: Ensure your emails aren’t spammy. Avoid using excessive exclamation marks, ALL CAPS, or words like “free” or “guaranteed.”
• Error Messages:
• “Could not authenticate”: Double-check your username and password (or API key) are correct.
• “Connection timed out”: Check your firewall settings and ensure your server can connect to the SMTP server. Contact your hosting provider if you’re unsure.
• The Test Email Doesn’t Arrive:
• Start by checking your spam folder
• Confirm you are sending an email to an active email you use and can access.

Code Snippets (Advanced – Use with Caution!)

While using a plugin is highly recommended, here’s a simplified code snippet to illustrate how SMTP works in PHP, though you likely won’t need to use this directly with WooCommerce when using a plugin.

<?php
// This is just an example, use a plugin for real-world WooCommerce!

use PHPMailerPHPMailerPHPMailer;

use PHPMailerPHPMailerException;

require ‘path/to/PHPMailer/src/Exception.php’; // Adjust the path

require ‘path/to/PHPMailer/src/PHPMailer.php’; // Adjust the path

require ‘path/to/PHPMailer/src/SMTP.php’; // Adjust the path

$mail = new PHPMailer(true);

try {

//Server settings

$mail->SMTPDebug = 0; // Enable verbose debug output

$mail->isSMTP(); // Send using SMTP

$mail->Host = ‘smtp.example.com’; // Set the SMTP server to send through

$mail->SMTPAuth = true; // Enable SMTP authentication

$mail->Username = ‘[email protected]’; // SMTP username

$mail->Password = ‘your_password’; // SMTP password

$mail->SMTPSecure = PHPMailer::ENCRYPTION_STARTTLS; // Enable TLS encryption; `PHPMailer::ENCRYPTION_SMTPS` encouraged

$mail->Port = 587; // TCP port to connect to, use 465 for `PHPMailer::ENCRYPTION_SMTPS` above

//Recipients

$mail->setFrom(‘[email protected]’, ‘Your Name’);

$mail->addAddress(‘[email protected]’, ‘Recipient Name’); // Add a recipient

// Content

$mail->isHTML(true); // Set email format to HTML

$mail->Subject = ‘Here is the subject’;

$mail->Body = ‘This is the HTML message body in bold!‘;

$mail->AltBody = ‘This is the body in plain text for non-HTML mail clients’;

$mail->send();

echo ‘Message has been sent’;

} catch (Exception $e) {

echo “Message could not be sent. Mailer Error: {$mail->ErrorInfo}”;

}

?>

Important Notes:

• You would need to install the PHPMailer library separately.
• Never hardcode your credentials in your WordPress theme or plugin files. Use constants or environment variables to store sensitive information.

Conclusion

Setting up SMTP for your WooCommerce store is an investment that pays off in improved email deliverability, happier customers, and ultimately, more sales. While it might seem technical at first, using a plugin makes the process relatively straightforward. Don’t let your hard work go to waste by letting your emails end up in the spam folder. Follow these steps, and you’ll be well on your way to reliable and effective WooCommerce email communication. Good luck!