In this article, we will discuss using an SMTP server to ensure your emails always reach their addressee. Sounds interesting? Then, read on and find out what Simple Mail Transfer Protocol is.
Successful emailing is important for several reasons, especially in a professional or business context. According to the forecast made by the Radicati Group, the number of worldwide email users will exceed 4.5 billion by the end of 2025. Therefore, the effectiveness of emailing can have a significant impact on various aspects of personal and professional life.
Let’s take a closer look at the reasons why emails may not reach the recipients’ inboxes and how SMTP can help.
4 reasons why emails may not reach the recipient's inbox
Despite many benefits of emailing, sometimes your messages may not reach the recipient's inboxes. Here are the 4 most common reasons for this:
1. Problems with hosting
Your email hosting provider may be experiencing technical issues that may prevent your emails from arriving as intended. For example, server downtime, incorrect settings, or network problems. To resolve this issue, contact your hosting provider's support team.
2. Conflicting plugins on the website
If you send emails from a website or web application, conflicting plugins or scripts may interfere with the sending process. To find out which plugin is interrupting the normal sending, disable the plugins one by one while sending a test email to your own email address.
3. Spam
Email service providers use sophisticated spam filters to protect users from unwanted and potentially malicious emails. If your email message activates these filters, it may end up in the spam folder or be blocked completely. Review the content of your newsletters; perhaps you need to work on the quality of your content.
4. Frequent mass emails
Sending large volumes of emails in a short period of time may raise suspicions of spam. Email service providers may throttle or block your email traffic to prevent abuse. If your business requires sending bulk emails, use an SMTP server.
Understanding these potential pitfalls is the first step to improving your email deliverability. Let's take a closer look at the possibility of implementing SMTP.
What is SMTP?
SMTP (Simple Mail Transfer Protocol) is a set of rules and permissions that govern the sending, relaying, and delivery of email over the Internet. It operates like the traditional postal service we are used to, only in the digital world. SMTP ensures efficient and reliable delivery of your emails to the recipient's Gmail inbox or other email services.
(Source: SendPulse)
The main functions of SMTP in the email delivery process are routing — which means that it literally routes the email from the sender's server to the recipient's server, and authentication — which provides mechanisms to verify the identity of the sender. All this reduces the risk of unauthorized access and spam and ensures the message reaches the recipient without problems.
Along the email’s path, SMTP processes error messages and notifications, informing the sender of any problems or delivery failures.
Email transport protocol also checks if emails are properly formatted and structured so they are readable and interpretable by email clients.
Essentially, a Simple Mail Transfer Protocol is the backbone of email delivery that works behind the scenes to ensure your messages are sent and received reliably.
Why you should use SMTP in your emailing
Now that we've covered what SMTP is, let's highlight some of the benefits of using it in your emailing.
- Improved deliverability
As we already know, SMTP is designed to transmit emails securely. Simple Mail Transfer Protocol ensures that your messages are delivered to the recipient's server and processed according to email delivery standards.
- Authentication
SMTP provides authentication mechanisms such as SMTP Authentication and DKIM (Domain Key Identified Mail) that help verify the authenticity of the sender's domain. SMTP Authentication verifies the sender's identity, preventing unauthorized access to email servers. DKIM adds an additional layer of trust, reducing phishing and spoofing risks in email communication.
- Dedicated server
SMTP servers are optimized for email delivery. Many marketing platforms, like SendPulse or Mailchimp, provide a dedicated SMTP server. By using such a server, you can increase the likelihood that your emails will end up in your inbox rather than being marked as spam.
- Error handling
Forwarding an email is a complex process, and errors may occur. SMTP handles error messages and bounce-backs, giving you valuable information about the delivery status of your email. This allows you to identify and fix any problems quickly.
- Security
To keep your email secure, SMTP supports encrypted connections (such as SSL/TLS). These protocols employ complex encryption algorithms to secure data transmitted between email servers and clients, safeguarding sensitive information from prying eyes. Encrypted connections stand as a critical barrier against data breaches and unauthorized access, fortifying the trustworthiness of email communication.
- Customization
Finally, SMTP allows you to customize the email-sending process to suit your specific needs, including setting custom headers, tracking email opens, and managing bounces and unsubscribes.
By using SMTP, you can take control of your email delivery process, improve deliverability, and ensure that your messages are sent and received reliably.
5 platforms providing SMTP server
Now that we have established the importance of SMTP, let's look at five platforms that provide SMTP server solutions:
1. SendPulse offers a reliable SMTP service that allows you to send transactional and marketing emails easily. They provide features like email tracking, segmentation, and automation to optimize your email campaigns.
(Source: SendPulse)
2. Brevo (formerly known as Sendinblue) offers a user-friendly SMTP server solution with advanced features such as real-time analytics, A/B testing, and responsive email templates. Their platform is designed to help businesses achieve high email deliverability rates.
(Source: Brevo)
3. Mailchimp is known for its email marketing services, but it also offers SMTP service. Their platform provides comprehensive email delivery tools, including campaign management and reporting.
(Source: Mailchimp)
4. SendGrid, now part of Twilio, is a reliable SMTP provider used by many businesses. They offer scalable infrastructure for sending transactional and marketing emails, as well as robust analytics and delivery tools.
(Source: SendGrid)
5. Mailgun is another popular choice for SMTP services. They offer features such as email verification, routing, and analytics to ensure your emails reach their intended recipients.
(Source: Mailgun)
Each of these platforms has its own unique features and pricing structure, so it's important to evaluate your specific needs and choose the one that best suits your email marketing and communications goals.
Wrapping up
Now you know that the email transfer protocol plays a critical role in ensuring that your emails are delivered reliably and efficiently to their intended recipients.
When choosing an SMTP service provider, consider your specific needs, budget, and the features that matter most to you. By using the right SMTP solution, you can make your email more professional, reliable, and efficient.
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