Email Services

Navigating SMTP Provider Constraints for Email Setup

SMTP (Simple Mail Transfer Protocol) plays a vital role in enabling email functionality within your CRM. Integrating an SMTP provider ensures smooth email communication with your contacts, but users may sometimes face issues related to the sender email settings. Identifying and resolving these configuration issues is crucial for maintaining effective email workflows. Setting Up the Sender Email Address When connecting your SMTP provider to the CRM, it’s essential that the sender email address is properly configured. This guide will walk you through verifying that the sender email address aligns with your SMTP provider's settings. Testing Your Email Configuration: Once you’ve completed the integration with your SMTP provider, initiate a test email either from the conversation section or by creating a test contact within the CRM. If an error related to the sender email occurs, follow the steps below. Ensuring Email Address Consistency: The sender email set within the CRM must match the email address linked to your SMTP provider account. For manual emails, this is typically the same as the user login email. Verifying the Email with Your SMTP Provider: If the sender email address doesn’t match, it’s necessary to confirm this with your SMTP provider. This can usually be done by adjusting the settings within your SMTP provider’s dashboard. Updating the User Login Email in the CRM: If you need to change the sender email for manual emails in the CRM, you’ll need to update the user login email. This is the only way to modify the sender email displayed in the CRM for manually sent emails. Addressing Common Email Sending Issues If your sender email is configured and verified but issues persist, here are additional troubleshooting steps you can take: Confirm Verified Sender Status: Ensure that the email address used in automated workflows or bulk email actions is verified by your SMTP provider. The sender email must correspond with the one integrated into the CRM. Seek Assistance from Your SMTP Provider: If you’ve followed all the necessary verification steps and still encounter problems, the issue may be with your SMTP provider. Opening a support ticket with them can help in diagnosing and resolving the delivery problems. Frequently Asked Questions What should I do if I continue to experience issues after verifying my sender email? Ensure that the email address is correctly verified with your SMTP provider and matches the one configured in the CRM. If problems continue, contact your SMTP provider's support team for further assistance. Can I use separate email addresses for manual and automated emails? Yes, you can. However, you must ensure that all the email addresses used are verified with your SMTP provider. The CRM defaults to the user login email for manual emails unless specified otherwise for individual messages. How do I modify the sender email for bulk actions or workflows? The process may vary depending on the specific action or workflow. Typically, you’ll find the sender email configuration within the settings of each particular workflow or bulk action within the CRM.

Configuring a Standard Email Header for Your Campaigns

Why Setting a Standard Email Header Is Crucial Brand Consistency: Establishing a default sender name and email for your specific sending domains ensures every email reflects your brand uniformly. This consistent representation enhances professionalism and strengthens brand identity with your audience. Boosted Email Deliverability: By utilizing a Default Header, you can avoid potential mismatches in email headers, reducing the likelihood of delivery issues. Sending through designated domains ensures better email deliverability, making it more likely your emails will reach the inbox. Regulatory Compliance: Email providers such as Gmail, Yahoo, and Outlook continuously update their policies. Staying compliant is essential to prevent your messages from being marked as spam. The Default Header feature helps ensure your email campaigns are aligned with these requirements, improving both compliance and deliverability. Step-by-Step Guide to Setting Up Default Headers in Your CRM Follow the instructions below to establish your Default Header within your CRM platform: Open Settings: After logging into your CRM account, navigate to the settings menu. Access Email Configuration: From the left-hand menu, select "Email Services" and then choose "Dedicated Domain And IP" under the SMTP Services section. Configure Header Settings: Identify the domain you'd like to modify and click on the three-dot icon for additional options. Choose "Set Headers" from the dropdown. Input Header Details: Enter the desired sender name and email address in the provided fields. These will be applied as the default for all emails sent through this domain. Save Configuration: Once you've filled in the necessary details, click "Save" to finalize the settings. You can view the saved name and email under the Default Header section. Following these steps will help you maintain consistent branding across your emails and optimize deliverability. Frequently Asked Questions and Troubleshooting What if I manage multiple domains? You can customize each domain individually by repeating the above steps, ensuring that each domain reflects its respective branding. How can I confirm that my default settings are working? Run a test by sending an email to yourself or a small control group. Verify that the sender's name and email appear as intended. Can I adjust the Default Header settings later? Absolutely. You can return to the "Set Headers" option for any domain and modify the default name or email as needed.

Safeguarding Email Links with Secure SSL Certificates

What Are SSL Certificates and Why Are They Important? Before diving into the steps, it’s crucial to understand the concept of SSL certificates and their importance for email links. SSL (Secure Sockets Layer) certificates provide encryption for the data exchanged between a web server and a browser, ensuring that sensitive information remains protected and unaltered. This security measure is vital for email links, as it prevents unauthorized access or tampering. Steps to Activate SSL for Your Email Links To ensure your email links are secured, follow these comprehensive steps: 1. Domain Verification: The first and most important step is verifying your domain within your CRM system. Without domain verification, you cannot proceed with the SSL certificate issuance process, as this step confirms your ownership or control over the domain in use. 2. SSL Status Check: Once the domain is verified, the CRM will begin the process of issuing an SSL certificate. Here are the possible status outcomes: SSL Successfully Issued: This indicates that your domain now has an active SSL certificate, and no further steps are needed. SSL Certificate Pending: The system is still processing the SSL request, which may take a bit of time to finalize. Patience is required here. SSL Certificate Not Generated: In some cases, the certificate may not be created due to certain issues, which require manual intervention. Actions to Take Based on SSL Status If your SSL status shows Pending or Not Generated, follow these steps to resolve the issue: Click the “Verify Now” button within your CRM platform. This will redirect you to your domain’s DNS settings page. Double-check that all DNS records are properly configured. Correct DNS verification is critical for SSL certification. Click “Verify Domain” to trigger the SSL certificate issuance process again. Resolving Common SSL Issues Broken Links in Emails: If recipients are experiencing broken links, it could be due to the SSL certificate not being issued properly. Ensure the SSL status for your domain is up to date. SSL Status Remains Pending: If the status stays on pending for too long, revisit your DNS records. Incorrect settings can prevent the SSL from being issued. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) How long does SSL certificate issuance usually take? The SSL certificate process is usually fast but can sometimes take up to 24 hours. What happens if I modify my DNS settings after receiving an SSL certificate? If you make significant changes to your DNS settings (e.g., updating CNAME records), you may need to re-verify your domain and reissue the SSL certificate to maintain security.

Managing Email Tracking Preferences: A Complete Guide

Effective control of email tracking can enhance the precision of your marketing campaigns. This guide will walk you through how to enable or disable both open and click tracking, allowing for more refined management of your email strategies. Accessing Your Email Configuration To begin, follow these steps to navigate to your email settings: Go to Settings -> Email Service. Select Dedicated Domain and IP. Configuring Domain Preferences Once you're in the dedicated domain section, locate the Domain Settings option to manage your email tracking preferences. Enabling or Disabling Click Tracking Click tracking is automatically turned on. When this feature is active, the system analyzes your emails for links and modifies them for tracking purposes. To deactivate click tracking, simply toggle the switch next to the option. Enabling or Disabling Open Tracking By default, open tracking is also enabled. When this feature is active, an invisible pixel is added to the footer of your email, allowing you to monitor whether recipients have opened the email. To turn off this feature, toggle the switch next to the open tracking option. With these steps, you can easily customize your email tracking settings to align with your specific campaign goals. Common Questions and Answers Q: What is the purpose of email tracking? A: Email tracking helps monitor recipient engagement by tracking whether emails are opened and whether links are clicked. Q: How do I disable open tracking? A: You can turn off open tracking by adjusting the settings in the dedicated domain section. Q: How do I disable click tracking? A: Similar to open tracking, click tracking can be disabled in the dedicated domain section. Troubleshooting Tips Email Tracking Isn't Working Properly Confirm that your tracking settings are correctly configured within the dedicated domain settings. Ensure that your domain is properly set up and that DNS configurations are accurate. Changes Not Taking Effect Allow some time for any updates to apply. Refresh your email service settings and review your configurations to ensure everything is correct. This guide offers a straightforward approach to managing your email tracking features, ensuring better control over your email campaigns.

Setting Up SMTP Credentials for Email Delivery

To ensure smooth and reliable email delivery from your domain, creating SMTP (Simple Mail Transfer Protocol) credentials is essential. SMTP facilitates sending emails, while each domain you add will have its own set of credentials. Keep in mind, our platform focuses solely on email transmission and does not support POP or IMAP protocols. This guide will walk you through how to create, reset, and remove SMTP credentials, along with understanding key settings. Steps for Generating SMTP Credentials Access Your Domain Settings Start by navigating to Settings. From there, head to Email Service > SMTP Service > Dedicated Domain and IP. Once you're within the dedicated domain settings, locate the SMTP Settings section. Create a New SMTP User Next, click the "Create New SMTP User" button. Provide the username and password required to establish the new SMTP credential. ? Note: Each dedicated domain allows you to create up to five SMTP credentials. SMTP Configuration Settings To properly configure your SMTP credentials, use the following details: SMTP Server Address: smtp.mailgun.org Secure Connection: TLS/SSL (Depending on your email client or plugin) SMTP Username: [YourChosenName@YourDomain.com] SMTP Password: [YourCreatedPassword] SMTP Ports: 25, 465 (SSL/TLS), 587 (STARTTLS), 2525 Mailgun-Supported Ports: Mailgun supports the following ports: 25, 465 (SSL/TLS), 587 (STARTTLS), and 2525. Resetting Your SMTP Password If you need to reset your SMTP password, click the "Reset Password" button within the pop-up window. Follow the prompts to update your credentials successfully. Removing an SMTP Credential To delete an existing SMTP credential, select the "Delete" option in the pop-up modal. Confirm your action, and the credential will be removed from your domain settings. SMTP vs. IMAP: Key Differences While SMTP is exclusively used for sending emails, IMAP is employed to retrieve them. As our platform does not host mailboxes, IMAP and POP protocols are not supported. For IMAP settings, you'll need to consult your email provider directly. Here are a few examples for common providers: Google: Generate an app password in Google Username: Your full email address Password: The app password IMAP Host: imap.gmail.com IMAP Port: 993 Verizon: IMAP Host: imap.verizon.net IMAP Port: 995 AOL: IMAP Host: imap.aol.com IMAP Port: 993 For other providers, refer to their support documentation for precise IMAP configuration. Managing SMTP Credentials for Seamless Email Operations Handling your SMTP credentials properly is critical for ensuring secure and effective email transmission from your domain. With the steps above, you can effortlessly create, reset, or delete SMTP credentials as needed. For IMAP settings, please rely on the specific instructions provided by your email service provider.

Comprehensive Guide to Linking Mailgun with Your CRM

Introduction Ready to simplify your email campaign management by integrating Mailgun with your CRM? This guide offers a clear, step-by-step process to help you set up a new domain in Mailgun, configure your DNS settings accurately, and complete the integration with your CRM platform. Whether you're new to Mailgun or just looking for a refresher, this guide will provide all the essential details to streamline your email operations. Registering a New Domain in Mailgun Access Mailgun's Domain Section: Start by logging into your Mailgun account. Navigate to the "Sending" tab, and from there, click on "Domains" to begin adding a new domain. Add Your Domain or Subdomain: You have the option of using either a primary domain or creating a subdomain. For client-specific communications, using a subdomain is recommended to keep email activities for each client separate and secure. Example: You could use a subdomain like marketing.yourdomain.net for specific campaigns. Input and Confirm Your Domain: Enter the domain or subdomain you wish to use and then click the "Add Domain" button to proceed. Setting Up DNS Records Log Into Your Domain Provider’s Portal: Access the account for your domain provider, and head over to the DNS settings for your domain. Input Required DNS Records: You will need to add TXT, MX, and CNAME records from Mailgun into your DNS settings for proper email verification and functionality. TXT Records: These are essential for verifying your domain and ensuring email security. MX Records: These records route your emails to the appropriate mail servers. CNAME Record: This allows Mailgun to track email opens and click-through rates, helping with performance monitoring. Confirming DNS Setup in Mailgun Verify Your DNS Records: Once you’ve entered all the necessary DNS records, return to Mailgun and select the option to verify your DNS settings. If the verification doesn’t succeed right away, give it another try after a few moments. Adjust Domain Settings: After verification, go to "Domain Settings" in Mailgun and enable features like unsubscribe tracking, click tracking, and open tracking to better manage your email campaigns. Connecting Mailgun to Your CRM System Retrieve SMTP Credentials from Mailgun: Go to the "Domain Settings" section of your Mailgun account, and locate your SMTP credentials. Copy the provided email address used for login. Set Up SMTP in Your CRM: In your CRM platform, go to the settings menu and look for the "Email Services" section. Click "Add Service" to configure Mailgun as your email provider. Provider Name: Enter "Mailgun" as the service provider. SMTP Server: Use smtp.mailgun.org as your SMTP server address. Port Number: Set the port to 587. Login Information: Paste the email address you copied from Mailgun into the username field. For the password, reset and copy it from your Mailgun account and paste it into the appropriate field. Sender Email Address: Ensure that the email address you're sending from aligns with the domain you registered in Mailgun.  Troubleshooting Common Issues DNS Records Not Verifying: If Mailgun is unable to verify your DNS records, double-check for any typographical errors or unnecessary spaces. Keep in mind that DNS changes can sometimes take a while to propagate. Emails Landing in Spam: To avoid emails being marked as spam, ensure your domain has a strong reputation and that all SMTP settings are correct. Make use of Mailgun’s tracking features to monitor and improve your email deliverability.

Comprehensive Evaluation of Email Campaign Risk

The Email Campaign Risk Evaluation feature is crafted to fine-tune your email marketing efforts. Leveraging Bulk Verification, it scrutinizes your imported contact lists and offers in-depth insights into potential risks and deliverability issues. By using this feature, you can significantly lower bounce rates and enhance the success of your email campaigns. This advanced tool is invaluable for those looking to optimize their email strategy. It carefully analyzes imported contact lists and delivers a detailed overview of both the deliverability and risk factors associated with the email addresses. In-Depth Risk Analysis with Bulk Verification The system employs cutting-edge Bulk Verification technology to assess your contact list. Email addresses are divided into four categories: Deliverable, Undeliverable, Catch-All, and Unknown. Additionally, these categories are assigned risk levels: High, Medium, Low, and Unknown. This allows for a comprehensive breakdown of your list's deliverability prospects. By identifying problematic addresses, the system not only provides useful data but also enhances your strategy by reducing the likelihood of bounced emails and helping avoid blocks on your email-sending capabilities. For those not already using email verification, it will recommend enabling this feature, further improving your campaign’s effectiveness. In short, this feature acts as a strategic ally, ensuring that your emails are consistently delivered to your intended recipients, resulting in more effective campaigns. ? Important Notes: For LC Email Users: The Bulk Verification feature is only available to those who haven’t enabled individual email validation. For Agencies: This feature is specifically designed for agencies using LC Email for their clients. How the Process Works After importing a CSV file to your CRM, if your sub-account uses LC Email SMTP and hasn't yet enabled the email validation feature, the system will automatically analyze the imported contacts. Following this, a popup will appear, and an email will be sent to your team detailing the risk levels associated with the imported email addresses, encouraging you to activate the Email Verification feature. High Risk (Deliverable < 90%): An error notification will be sent both via email and displayed prominently in the system to alert the agency and sub-account of the risk. Moderate Risk (Deliverable 91% to 95%): A warning will be displayed, signaling potential issues. In-App Guidance: Both agency and sub-account users will be provided with instructions to enable email verification. Risk Evaluation Dashboard Within the Risk Evaluation tab, located under Settings > Email Services > Risk Assessment, you can track the risk analysis of previously imported email addresses. This dashboard provides an overview of your email verifications and results. Records: Displays the number of verification records. Date Range: Shows the time frame for which records are displayed. Import Name: Lists the unique name of each verification job, pulled from Bulk Actions. Created At: Shows the exact date and time of completion for each job. No. of Emails: The total number of email addresses in the verification job. Deliverable (%): The percentage of emails verified as valid. Undeliverable (%): The percentage of invalid or unreachable email addresses. Unknown (%): The percentage of emails whose status could not be determined. At the bottom of the page, you will find pagination controls that allow you to navigate through your records. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) What does the Deliverable percentage represent? The Deliverable percentage indicates the proportion of emails that were confirmed as valid and reachable. It's calculated by dividing the number of valid email addresses by the total number of addresses in the job and multiplying by 100. How is the Undeliverable percentage determined? This figure represents the percentage of email addresses found to be invalid or unreachable. The calculation involves dividing the number of undeliverable addresses by the total number of emails in the batch and multiplying by 100. What is the significance of the Unknown percentage? The Unknown percentage shows the share of email addresses whose deliverability could not be definitively confirmed. It's calculated by dividing the number of emails with unknown status by the total number in the job and multiplying by 100. Why is the Import Name important? Each import job is assigned a unique name to help you track and differentiate between batches of email addresses that have undergone verification. How can I use the "Created At" column? This column shows when each job was completed, helping you track the sequence of your email verifications and monitor progress over time. Common Concerns and Recommendations Why aren't all email addresses verified? Some addresses may be unverified due to server restrictions, privacy settings, or other technical reasons. These are categorized as 'Unknown.' What should I do if an email server doesn't respond? If a server doesn’t respond, the email will be marked as 'Unknown.' You can try re-running the verification later or contact Support for assistance. What steps should I take after receiving the Risk Evaluation report? After reviewing the report, it's best to remove or re-verify any email addresses marked as Undeliverable or Unknown before sending out any campaigns. This ensures better deliverability and reduces bounce rates. How often should I verify my email lists? It’s advisable to verify your lists before any significant email campaign to ensure that your data is accurate and up-to-date. Why do different batches show varying Deliverable, Undeliverable, and Unknown rates? Each batch may contain email addresses from different sources or time periods, which can affect the deliverability outcomes. Older lists may have more undeliverable addresses than newly collected ones. Can I re-run verification for a batch? Yes, you can re-run verification, especially if you had a large number of Unknown results, which may have been caused by temporary server issues. How does verification benefit my overall strategy? Verifying your email list improves deliverability, protects your sender reputation, and increases the effectiveness of your marketing campaigns. Is the verification process secure? Yes, the email verification process is conducted over secure channels, ensuring that the data is handled with care according to privacy policies.

Ensuring Compliance: Adapting to Google and Yahoo's 2024 Email Sending Standards

Starting in February 2024, email senders targeting Google and Yahoo users must adhere to new regulations involving email authentication, consent, and engagement. If these rules are not followed, emails risk being delayed, blocked, or flagged as spam. While this may seem like a major shift, these practices have long been seen as essential for ensuring reliable email delivery. Prepare Your Account: Steps to Meet Google and Yahoo’s New Standards Follow these steps to ensure compliance with the new requirements for bulk email senders. 1. Strengthen Your Brand with a Dedicated Sending Sub-Domain Create a branded sending sub-domain to improve your sender reputation and elevate your inbox branding. This will also eliminate the “sent via msgsndr.com” message, ensuring a more professional appearance. Starting in February, this is a must-have for bulk senders reaching Google and Yahoo users. After setting up a branded sending sub-domain, a warm-up period of 2–4 weeks for your sending infrastructure may be necessary. For more details, explore our step-by-step guide on setting up a branded sending sub-domain. Example of a Branded Sending Domain in Gmail:  2. Implement DMARC for Secure Email Authentication What is DMARC? DMARC (Domain-based Message Authentication, Reporting & Conformance) is a protocol that works in conjunction with SPF and DKIM to provide email authentication. It helps mailbox providers determine how to handle emails that fail these checks, preventing spoofing and ensuring legitimacy. Steps to Set Up DMARC: Step 1: Use a free tool like Dmarcian to check if your domain already has a DMARC record. Step 2: If no record exists, access your DNS hosting provider and create a new TXT record. Step 3: Set the Host/Name field to "_DMARC" and input the following in the Content field: v=DMARC1; p=none;. Step 4: Save the record and use Dmarcian to verify successful implementation. Example of a DMARC Record Setup in Cloudflare:  You can check the email header in Gmail by clicking the three dots and selecting "Show More" to verify the DMARC record. Sample Header in Gmail:  3. Align Your "From" Address with Your Domain To ensure brand consistency and maintain DMARC compliance, your "from" email address should match the domain of your branded sending domain. For instance, if your sending domain is "lc.msgsndr.com," your "from" address should be "hello@msgsndr.com." Make sure all your email templates and campaigns use the correct "from" address by February 2024. 4. Avoid Impersonating Gmail or Yahoo Why is this Important? Google and Yahoo are enforcing stricter DMARC policies, including "quarantine." If you attempt to send emails as Gmail or Yahoo, your deliverability may suffer. Solution: Never use 'example@gmail.com' or 'example@yahoo.com' in your "from" headers to avoid impersonation issues. 5. Simplify Unsubscribing for Recipients Making it easy for recipients to opt out of your emails is now a critical requirement. Hidden unsubscribe buttons lead to negative engagement and higher spam complaints. If you use LC Email Service, you can enable an automatic unsubscribe link in the footer of all your emails. This ensures compliance with the new one-click unsubscribe policy. Example of One-Click Unsubscribe in Gmail:  Before February, review your email templates to ensure they have clear unsubscribe links, preferably in the footer. It doesn’t have to be a one-click solution but should be easy to find. 6. Maintain a Low Spam Complaint Rate Why Consent Matters: Sending emails to people who haven’t opted in can lead to spam complaints, which negatively impact deliverability. Aim to keep your spam complaints below 0.30% (or fewer than 1 in 1,000 emails). If you notice higher spam complaints, particularly from Yahoo, review your email list and engagement practices. You can monitor Yahoo spam reports through Spam Reports. For Gmail, use Google Postmaster Tools to track and manage spam complaints. By following these steps, you'll be well-positioned to comply with Google and Yahoo's new sender requirements and optimize your email deliverability in 2024.

Dedicated Domain for Email Services

Using a custom domain for your email communications enhances professionalism and improves deliverability. This guide explains how to add and verify a custom domain in your CRM system. Accessing Email Configuration Open Email Settings: Navigate to the Settings menu on your CRM dashboard. Click on Email Services. You might see an empty page initially. Adding a Custom Domain Select and Add a Domain: Choose the option for a custom domain and click Add a Domain.   Select Your Subdomain: Choose a subdomain for sending emails (like mail, email, or replies) to maintain consistency and professionalism. Verifying Your Domain Domain Verification Process: After adding your subdomain, you will receive five DNS records (TXT, CNAME, and MX) to input into your domain registrar (such as Cloudflare, Namecheap, or GoDaddy). Input these records exactly as instructed. After entering the DNS records, return to the CRM and click Verify to complete the verification. Troubleshooting and Tips Verification Challenges: If verification fails, recheck the records for errors. DNS changes can take time to fully update. Using Cloudflare: When adding CNAME records, make sure the proxy status is "DNS only" to avoid verification issues. Managing Email Deliverability Ensuring high email deliverability is key to effective communication. This section guides you on setting up workflows and lists to manage bounced emails, complaints, and unsubscribes. Setting Up Maintenance Workflows Handling Bounced Emails: Create a workflow to tag contacts with bounced emails, set them to "Do Not Disturb" for email, and remove them from workflows. Managing Complaints: Set up a workflow to tag contacts who have filed complaints, remove them from communication channels, and stop their participation in workflows. Handling Unsubscribes: Use a custom value in your email footer to catch unsubscribes, tag them accordingly, set them to "Do Not Disturb," and remove them from workflows. Building a Clean Email List Use Smart Lists: Filter out contacts with bounced emails, complaints, and unsubscribes. Ensure your email list only includes valid email addresses that are not marked as "Do Not Disturb." FAQs How long for DNS changes to propagate? DNS updates can take up to 48 hours but usually happen faster. Can the same domain be used across multiple accounts? It’s best to set up a dedicated domain for each account to improve branding and deliverability. What to do if issues occur during setup? Verify all DNS records for accuracy. If problems continue, consult support or detailed documentation.