Oby Reacts: How To Stop Your Gmail Emails Going Into Spam | WP Mail SMTP Tutorial

How to Prevent Your Gmail Emails from Going to Spam Using WP Mail SMTP

Are you running a WordPress website and noticing that your emails are either not sending or ending up in your customers’ junk mail folders? Perhaps your website forms aren’t delivering messages as they should. This is a common issue faced by many WordPress users, but fortunately, there’s a straightforward solution to improve your email deliverability.

Understanding the Problem with WordPress Emails

By default, WordPress uses the PHP mail function to send emails generated by WordPress or any contact forms on your site. However, this method lacks proper authentication, which often leads email providers like Gmail to mark these emails as spam. As a result, important notifications and messages from your website might never reach your intended recipients.

Introducing WP Mail SMTP Plugin

To solve this problem, we turn to the WP Mail SMTP plugin—a popular WordPress plugin trusted by over 3 million websites to improve email deliverability. WP Mail SMTP reconfigures the WordPress email sending function to use a proper SMTP (Simple Mail Transfer Protocol) provider when sending emails. This ensures that your emails are authenticated and have a higher chance of landing in the recipient’s primary inbox rather than the spam folder.

Setting Up WP Mail SMTP with Gmail SMTP Server

Whether you’re using a free Gmail account or a paid Google Workspace account with a custom domain, you can set up WP Mail SMTP to use Gmail’s SMTP server. Here’s a step-by-step guide to help you through the process.

Step 1: Install and Activate WP Mail SMTP Plugin

1. Log in to your WordPress dashboard.
2. Navigate to Plugins > Add New.
3. In the search bar, type WP Mail SMTP.
4. Locate the plugin titled WP Mail SMTP by WPForms and click Install Now.
5. After installation, click Activate.

Step 2: Begin the Setup Process

Once the plugin is activated, you will be prompted to start the setup wizard. Click on Let’s Get Started to begin.

Step 3: Choose Your Mailer

On the mailer selection screen:

1. Choose Google / Gmail as your mailer.
2. Click Save and Continue.
3. Acknowledge the notice by clicking I Understand, Continue.

Step 4: Configure Mailer Settings

At this stage, you’ll need to obtain a Client ID and Client Secret from Google. This requires setting up a project in the Google Cloud Platform.

Step 5: Create a Project in Google Cloud Platform

1. Open a new browser tab and go to console.developers.google.com.
2. Ensure you’re logged in with the Google account associated with your website’s email.
3. Click on Create Project.
4. Name your project (e.g., WP Mail SMTP) and click Create.

Step 6: Enable the Gmail API

1. With your project selected, navigate to APIs & Services > Library.
2. Search for Gmail API and select it.
3. Click on Enable.

Step 7: Create Credentials

1. After enabling the API, click on Create Credentials.
2. Select Gmail API from the dropdown.
3. Choose User Data as the data you’ll be accessing.
4. Click Next.

Step 8: Set Up the OAuth Consent Screen

Provide basic information about your app:

1. App name: Enter WP Mail SMTP.
2. User support email: Enter your email address.
3. Developer contact information: Enter your email address again.
4. Click Save and Continue.

Step 9: Configure Scopes (Optional)

For this setup, you can skip adding scopes. Click on Save and Continue.

Step 10: Set Up OAuth Client ID

1. Application type: Select Web Application.
2. Name: Enter WP Mail SMTP (or any name you prefer).
3. Authorized JavaScript origins: Click Add URI and enter your website URL (e.g., https://yourwebsite.com).
4. Authorized redirect URIs: Obtain this URL from the WP Mail SMTP setup screen on your WordPress dashboard. Copy the Authorized Redirect URI provided.
5. Paste the URI into the field in Google Cloud Platform.
6. Click Create.

Step 11: Copy Your Client ID and Client Secret

1. After creation, a dialog box will display your Client ID and Client Secret.
2. Copy the Client ID.
3. Return to the WP Mail SMTP setup in your WordPress dashboard.
4. Paste the Client ID into the corresponding field.
5. Go back to the Google Cloud Platform and click on Done.
6. Navigate to APIs & Services > Credentials.
7. Click on the OAuth 2.0 Client ID you just created.
8. Copy the Client Secret.
9. Paste the Client Secret into the corresponding field in WP Mail SMTP.

Step 12: Publish Your App

1. In the Google Cloud Platform, go to APIs & Services > OAuth Consent Screen.
2. Under Publishing Status, click Publish App.
3. Confirm by clicking Confirm.

Step 13: Authorize WP Mail SMTP

1. Back in your WordPress dashboard, click on Connect to Google.
2. A window will open prompting you to select your Google account. Choose the account associated with your Gmail.
3. You may receive a warning stating that the app isn’t verified. Click on Advanced, then click Go to wpmailsmtp.com (unsafe). (This is safe because you’re connecting your own app.)
4. Grant permission by clicking Allow.
5. Upon successful authorization, you’ll be redirected back to your WordPress dashboard with a confirmation message.

Step 14: Configure Email Settings

Complete the setup by specifying how your emails will appear to recipients.

1. From Email: Ensure your Gmail address is entered here.
2. From Name: Enter the name you want your emails to display as the sender (e.g., your business name or your own name).
3. Click Save Settings.

Step 15: Send a Test Email

Verify that everything is working correctly.

1. In your WordPress dashboard, navigate to WP Mail SMTP > Email Test.
2. Enter an email address where you have access to the inbox.
3. Click Send Email.
4. Check your email inbox for the test email.
5. If the email appears in your inbox (not the spam folder), the setup was successful.

Benefits of Using WP Mail SMTP

By configuring WP Mail SMTP with your Gmail account, you’ve significantly improved the chances of your emails reaching your recipients’ primary inboxes. This setup means your emails are properly authenticated, which is a key factor email providers consider when filtering spam.

WP Mail SMTP simplifies the process of setting up SMTP for WordPress. Its user-friendly interface and detailed documentation make it accessible even for beginners. Additionally, the plugin offers premium features, including detailed email logs, email controls, and integrations with other popular email services, should you choose to upgrade.

Troubleshooting Tips

If you encounter issues during the setup process, consider the following tips:

• Double-check that all URLs and email addresses are entered correctly.
• Ensure that you have published your app in the Google Cloud Platform; otherwise, the authorization may fail.
• If you receive authentication errors, try repeating the authorization steps.
• Consult the WP Mail SMTP documentation or support forums for additional help.

Conclusion

Email communication is important for maintaining contact with your website users. By properly configuring WP Mail SMTP with Gmail’s SMTP server, you can rest assured that your emails are more likely to reach the intended recipients without being marked as spam. This not only improves the professionalism of your website but also enhances user engagement and trust.

A Yak’s Perspective on the Tutorial

Well, wasn’t that a breeze? Watching Stewart Gauld’s tutorial felt like a gentle stroll through the highlands—clear paths, no unexpected twists, and plenty of fresh air! His step-by-step guidance is as meticulous as a yak grooming its fur, making the whole process approachable even for those new to WordPress plugins. It’s refreshing to see such straightforward instructions that help bridge the gap between tech complexities and user understanding. Kudos to Stewart for making email deliverability less of an uphill climb!