Customers are not receiving emails from WordPress

So you have worked hard and have a website you are proud of but customers are not receiving email notifications from your website.

This means customers are not getting emails including “thanks for your order” mails and you’re not getting someone has placed a new order emails etc.

All in all this is not a good look!

But it is easily fixable with a free WordPress plugin and a free sending service for up to 300 mails a day which is easily suitable for the vast majority of website with low rates for any that need to send more than that.

Below, we have some simple steps that will solve your problem once followed.

None of the steps involve paying any money so not only will it make your emails get into inboxes it also won’t cost you anything to do so!

To start you need to be logged into your WordPress admin panel.

Once logged in you need to install the WP Mail SMTP Plugin.

Go to Plugins and click on Add New.

This takes you to the add plugin page.

In the top right you will see a handy search box!

Type WP Mail SMTP

It is case sensitive so type it exactly as shown.

You should now see the plugins filtered down with WP Mail SMTP showing.

Click on Install Now

This will install the plugin.

Once the plugin installs you need to activate it.

Go ahead and click Activate

Now the plugin is installed and activated.

You will now be transported to the opening page of the setup wizard!

So let’s get going on this.

Click Let’s Get Started.

On the next page you have to choose the mailing sender you would like to use.

Select Sendinblue as it is an extremely reliable sender.

There are some steps to be done to configure things but they don’t take long

Once they are done you will enjoy reliable email sending.

Now you have selected your sender.

Click Save and Continue.

On the next stage of setup you need to create a a free account at Sendinblue

No card is required so click Get Started with Sendinblue.

On the page find the space to enter you email address as shown.

Once entered click Sign up for free.

You will then need to enter your email address again if it is not auto entered.

Also choose a password for your Sendinblue account.

Then once done click Create and account.

At this point you need to verify your email address.

Sendinblue will send an email to the email address you entered in the last step.

Go and find it and click on the verify link/button within it.

Once you do that you will then start entering some basic information.

Enter information in the fields.

Once you are done click Next

On the next page enter some further information about your company.

Once all fields are complete.

Yep you guessed it!

Click Next!

Not much further now.

Enter some additional information about your business.

Maybe you don’t want to receive updates etc, if you do not then please also tick the box.

Otherwise if you are happy to receive them leave it unticked and click Next.

The last part before choosing the free plan is providing your mobile number so they can validate it.

It is used for two factor authentication which secures your account.

Enter it and click Send verification code.

When it arrives enter the code and continue on.

Now you get to choose your plan.

Remember if your WordPress install is sending under 300 a day then the Free plan is absolutely fine.

Most websites will fit into this plan and it has reasonable rates for additional emails if you require it.

The next item on the agenda is to add your sending domain into Sendinblue.

It’s simple to do just follow the steps.

First click your company name in the top right.

Then select Senders & IP.

You will be taken to that page.

On the page you are taken to click Domains.

You are now prompted to add your domain.

Go ahead and click Add a domain.

Now enter your domain in the Domain name box.

**DO NOT enter www. before your domain name.

Just enter the domain itself for example domain.com not www.domain.com.

The next step details changes that need to be made to your domains DNS.

Please note we have numbered each which will become useful in a later step as this information needs to be added to your domains DNS.

Also note that your information will not be the same as you see in this example.

It is not as daunting as it sounds and we have provided steps here for doing this in the hosting control panel cPanel that we use for customers at PAC, but it is a very popular control panel so if we are not your provider then you may still already be using it.

Keeping the Sendinblue browser tab with information you need open, now open another browser tab and login to cPanel.

Our customers can see how to login to cPanel HERE (opens in new browser tab)

Once logged in enter zone editor in the top right search box.

Then click Zone Editor.

You will now see a list of the domains in your cPanel.

Click Manage on the line of the relevant domain.

Now you need to add two TXT records to your domains DNS.

Click the dropdown arrow next to Add Record and chose Add “TXT” Record.

This will open up a line to add the first record details in.

You can now add the first set of records in.

Helpfully numbered 1 and 2, go back to your Sendinblue tab you have open and click copy on the line of 1 then come back here and paste it into the area marked 1 and then do the same with 2.

Then click Save Record

Now click to add the next TXT record as you did for the first.

Then copy and past 3 and 4 in from the Sendinblue tab.

Once done click Save Record.

Once you have done that go back to the Sendinblue tab.

At the bottom you will see Verify and Authenticate.

Click it.

Assuming all went well with the DNS additions you should see a message that your domain is authenticated.

Congratulations!

Next step is to generate an API key.

In Sendinblue click your company name.

Then this time choose.

SMTP & API.

On the page you are taken to there are two tabs.

Click the one titled API Keys.

Now find the button marked Generate a new API key.

And give it a click.

You are then asked to give this new key a name.

It’s up to you what you enter here just use something so you know what it is in future.

Once entered click Generate.

Once it generates it will warn you that it will only show it once.

Click the little copy icon at the end of the line to copy the code.

Make a note of it by pasting it somewhere safe then click OK.

OK nearly there now!

Go back to the browser tab that still has WordPress open at the WP Mail SMTP page.

Underneath where you clicked Get Started with Sendinblue you will see a space to paste the API key.

Now fill in the rest of the information on the page.

You can see an example here, use it to formulate your version of it.

So enter your domain you entered in Sendinblue.

Enter the From Name as you would like it to appear in recipients email programs.

And also enter a from email address so as an example something@yourdomain.com.

Once done click Save and Continue.

You will now be asked if you would like to help improve WP Mail SMTP and receive smart recommendations.

This up to you, if you wish to receive them and help then enter your email address and tick Yes, count me in.

Otherwise click Skip This Step.

The next step asks if you have a key for the WP Mail SMTP Pro version.

If you do enter it and click Connect.

It is not necessary but adds extra functionality and logs etc.

If you don’t have a key click Skip this Step.

OK! almost there, Now you can test sending out!

Click Send a Test Email

Then enter the email address to send the test email to.

And then click Send Email.

All being well the email will send and you will receive it!

And that is your work done.

Your WordPress install can now send emails that will actually be delivered!

Now that’s got to be worth joining our mailing list for further useful information like this!

You can find it at the bottom of this page.