How to Use SMTP to Send Emails From WordPress
WordPress is one of the most popular content management systems (CMS) in the world, powering over 40% of all websites on the internet. It’s a versatile platform that allows users to create and manage websites with ease. One of the features that make WordPress so powerful is its ability to send emails. However, the native way of sending emails in WordPress is not always reliable. This is where SMTP comes in.
SMTP stands for Simple Mail Transfer Protocol. It’s a protocol used to send emails over the internet. SMTP is a much better alternative to the native way of sending emails in WordPress. In this article, we’ll discuss how to use SMTP to send emails from WordPress.
Why Use SMTP to Send Emails From WordPress?
The native way of sending emails in WordPress uses the PHP mail() function. While this method should theoretically be sufficient, it’s far from perfect. There are several reasons why you should use SMTP to send emails from WordPress:
1. Deliverability
The PHP mail() function relies on the server’s email configuration to send emails. This means that if the server’s email configuration is not set up correctly, emails may not be delivered or may end up in the spam folder. SMTP, on the other hand, uses authentication to ensure that emails are delivered to the recipient’s inbox.
2. Security
The PHP mail() function does not provide any security measures. This means that emails sent using this method can be intercepted and read by third parties. SMTP, on the other hand, uses encryption to ensure that emails are secure and cannot be intercepted.
3. Reliability
The PHP mail() function does not provide any feedback on whether an email was successfully delivered or not. This means that if an email fails to deliver, there is no way of knowing. SMTP, on the other hand, provides feedback on whether an email was successfully delivered or not.
How to Use SMTP to Send Emails From WordPress
Now that we’ve discussed why you should use SMTP to send emails from WordPress, let’s discuss how to set it up. There are several steps involved in setting up SMTP in WordPress:
Step 1: Install and Activate a Plugin
The first step is to install and activate a plugin that allows you to use SMTP to send emails from WordPress. There are several plugins available for this purpose, but we recommend using WP Mail SMTP by WPForms. This plugin is easy to use and provides a range of features.
To install and activate the plugin, go to Plugins > Add New in your WordPress dashboard. Search for WP Mail SMTP by WPForms, install and activate the plugin.
Step 2: Configure the Plugin Settings
Once you’ve installed and activated the plugin, go to WP Mail SMTP > Settings in your WordPress dashboard. This will take you to the plugin settings page.
On the settings page, you’ll need to configure the following settings:
– From Email: This is the email address that will be used as the sender’s email address.
– From Name: This is the name that will be used as the sender’s name.
– Mailer: Choose the mailer you want to use. We recommend using SMTP.
– SMTP Host: This is the hostname of your SMTP server.
– Encryption: Choose the encryption method you want to use. We recommend using SSL.
– SMTP Port: This is the port number of your SMTP server.
– SMTP Authentication: Check this box if your SMTP server requires authentication.
– SMTP Username: This is the username for your SMTP server.
– SMTP Password: This is the password for your SMTP server.
Step 3: Test the Email Settings
Once you’ve configured the plugin settings, it’s important to test the email settings to ensure that everything is working correctly. To do this, go to WP Mail SMTP > Email Test in your WordPress dashboard.
On the email test page, enter an email address to send a test email to and click the Send Email button. If everything is working correctly, you should receive the test email in your inbox.
Step 4: Use SMTP to Send Emails
Once you’ve tested the email settings, you can start using SMTP to send emails from WordPress. This means that any emails sent from your WordPress website will be sent using SMTP.
To send an email using SMTP, go to the page or post where you want to add the email and click on the Add Block button. Search for the Email block and add it to your page or post.
In the Email block, enter the recipient’s email address, subject, and message. Then, click on the Send Email button. The email will be sent using SMTP.
Conclusion
SMTP is a much better alternative to the native way of sending emails in WordPress. It provides better deliverability, security, and reliability. By following the steps outlined in this article, you can easily set up SMTP in WordPress and start sending emails using this method.
