StellarSites includes Solid Mail, a powerful SMTP plugin that helps ensure your emails, like contact form messages, password resets, and order notifications, are delivered reliably. With Solid Mail, your site avoids the common pitfalls of WordPress’s default email setup.
First: Sending vs. Receiving Email: What’s the Difference? #
This document covers sending emails from your WordPress website, but since StellarSites also deals with Domain names and DNS, it’s important to understand the differences here, so that you’re not attempting to configure emails, thinking about it from the wrong direction.
- MX Records are for receiving mail. They tell the internet where to deliver emails sent to your domain (e.g.,
[email protected]). If you are not receiving emails sent to you, here’s the documentation on ensuring your DNS records are correctly configured. The specific type of record is (again) MX records. - SMTP Configuration is for sending mail. It gives your website permission to send emails from your email address.
What Are MX Records? (Receiving Mail) #
Think of your domain name (e.g., yourdomain.com) as a business address and your email as its mailbox. MX (Mail Exchanger) records are the part of your DNS (Domain Name System) settings that act like a listing in the global post office directory. They tell the world, “If you have an email for someone @yourdomain.com, deliver it to this specific mail server.”
If during configuration of your Domain at StellarSites you pointed your NameServers to StellarSites, you should be careful to also add a DNS MX record for your email to continue working. Without an MX record to point to your email provider (like Outlook 365 or Google Workspace), the internet will no longer know where to deliver your mail. This is a common reason why an email address can suddenly stop receiving messages.
MX records are like the postal address for your email. If the address is wrong or missing in the public directory, your mail will never arrive. Setting them correctly ensures emails sent to you reach your inbox.
What is SMTP Configuration? (Sending Mail From Your Website) #
Your website and your email service are usually hosted in two different places. Your StellarSites website lives on StellarSites servers (which are not reliable for sending emails), while your email might be handled by Microsoft or Google on their servers, fine-tuned to send emails that actually arrive at their destination.
Your website often needs to send emails for things like password resets, contact form submissions, and order notifications. By default, it might try to send these emails from the web server itself, which can often lead to them being marked as spam or failing to deliver altogether.
This is where SMTP (Simple Mail Transfer Protocol) and the Solid Mail plugin come in. SMTP is the standard protocol for sending emails. By configuring Solid Mail, you are essentially giving your website the secure username and password to log into your email provider’s sending server (e.g., Microsoft’s SMTP server) and send emails on your behalf.
Think of your website as a personal assistant and your email provider as a secure post office. SMTP configuration is like giving your assistant (your website) the key and security code (your email username and app password) to enter the post office (your mail server) and send letters that are authentically from you.
Introducing Solid Mail #
Solid Mail connects your site to trusted SMTP providers like Mailgun or SendGrid, replacing WordPress’s less reliable default email system with a secure, high-deliverability alternative.
Key benefits include:
- Enhanced deliverability – Helps prevent emails from landing in spam folders
- Secure connections – Supports SSL/TLS encryption
- Comprehensive logging – Tracks sent emails for easier troubleshooting
Learn more about Solid Mail here.
Configuring Solid Mail on Your StellarSites Website #
Follow the steps below to make sure you have optimal email performance:
- Access Solid Mail Settings:
- Log in to your WordPress dashboard.
- Click Solid Mail in the left-hand menu.
- Add a New Connection:
- Click on Add Connection.
- Choose your SMTP provider from the list.
- Mailgun
- SendGrid
- Postmark
- Brevo (formerly Sendinblue)
- Amazon SES
- Generic SMTP for other providers
- Enter SMTP Credentials:
- Enter the information provided by your SMTP service:
- API Key or SMTP Username/Password
- SMTP Host
- Port Number
- Encryption Method (SSL/TLS)
- Save your settings to establish the connection.
- Enter the information provided by your SMTP service:
- Test Email Configuration:
- Go to the Email Test tab in Solid Mail.
- Send a test email to confirm that everything is set up correctly.
For a detailed setup guide, refer to Getting Started with Solid Mail.
Improving Email Deliverability #
Here are some additional steps to help maximize your email deliverability:
- Use Professional Email Addresses: Send emails from an address associated with your domain (e.g., [email protected]) rather than generic providers.
- Authenticate Your Domain: Set up SPF, DKIM, and DMARC records in your domain’s DNS settings to verify your emails’ legitimacy. Your SMTP provider will offer specific instructions for these configurations.
- Monitor Email Logs: Regularly review the email logs provided by Solid Mail to identify and address any delivery issues promptly.
Troubleshooting Common Email Issues #
If you encounter problems with email delivery:
- Check SMTP Settings: Make sure all credentials and configurations in Solid Mail match those provided by your SMTP service.
- Review Email Logs: Go to Solid Mail > Email Logs to inspect sent emails and identify any errors.
- Consult Your SMTP Provider: Reach out to your SMTP service’s support team for assistance with service-specific issues.
Tips #
- Keep Solid Mail updated – Regular plugin updates include security fixes and new features
- Avoid conflicts – Disable other SMTP plugins to prevent interference
- Contact support when needed – If setup gets tricky, StellarSites Support is here to help
