Configure FluentSMTP | Improve Email Deliverability

In this tutorial, Zero2Webmaster Founder Dr. Kerry Kriger provides a step-by-step walkthrough on configuring FluentSMTP for Gmail and Google Workspace.

FluentSMTP is a powerful WordPress plugin that improves email deliverability by connecting your site to an SMTP (Simple Mail Transfer Protocol) service. It supports multiple email providers, including Gmail, Google Workspace, SendGrid, and Amazon SES. In this guide, we focus on setting up FluentSMTP with Gmail or Google Workspace, as they are free options for sending emails from your website, that are ideal for website owners who have small newsletter lists: Gmail allows up to 500 emails per 24-hour period; Google Workspace allows 2,000.

Using FluentSMTP helps ensure that your WordPress emails are authenticated and reliably delivered, reducing the chances of them being marked as spam. Note though that while SMTP setup is a major step toward improving email deliverability, for optimal results, you should also configure DKIM, SPF, and DMARC records in your domain’s DNS settings. These authentication protocols help further verify your emails and prevent spoofing or phishing attempts, but they can be handled later. For now, you must focus on the SMTP connection as it is the essential first step in getting your WordPress emails delivered successfully.

Recorded March 3rd, 2025 in Dharwad, Karnataka, India. If you found this tutorial helpful, subscribe to the Zero2Webmaster YouTube Channel for more WordPress and website optimization tips! 🚀

More Info

🚀 Want to ensure your WordPress website reliably sends emails? Whether you’re handling transactional emails (password resets, order confirmations) or marketing emails (newsletters, updates), setting up FluentSMTP with Gmail or Google Workspace is essential for better email deliverability.

🔧 In this step-by-step tutorial, Zero2Webmaster Founder Dr. Kerry Kriger walks you through configuring FluentSMTP in WordPress using Gmail or Google Workspace. You’ll learn how to:

✅ Install and set up the FluentSMTP plugin
✅ Choose the best SMTP provider for your needs (Gmail, Google Workspace, Amazon SES, SendGrid or Brevo)
✅ Obtain a Google Client ID and Client Secret for authentication
✅ Enable the Gmail API in Google Cloud Console
✅ Configure FluentSMTP settings for optimal email sending performance
✅ Test your setup to ensure emails are delivered successfully

💡 Why use FluentSMTP?
• Improves email deliverability and ensures messages don’t go to spam
• Keeps logs of all sent emails for easy troubleshooting
• Works with multiple email providers, including Gmail, Google Workspace, SendGrid, and Amazon SES

🔗 Resources & Links:
📌 FluentSMTP Plugin’s Documentation
📌 Google Cloud Console
📌 Book A Free Call With Dr. Kerry Kriger

💥 Zero2Webmaster Websites help ensure your business has an exceptional online presence. You will have access to tech support and a comprehensive WordPress-based website with CRM, e-commerce, donation capabilities, learning management, membership site features, and hundreds of customizable templates – all while ensuring you have a reliable email setup through SMTP. ⚡️

📺 Timestamps:
00:00 Intro: Why FluentSMTP is essential for WordPress email sending
04:30 Choosing the right SMTP provider: Gmail, Google Workspace, SendGrid, or Amazon SES
05:50 Setting up FluentSMTP with Gmail or Google Workspace (Step-by-step)
09:20 Creating a Google Cloud Project & enabling Gmail API
13:06 Configuring FluentSMTP settings in WordPress
15:08 Setting up OAuth authentication for Gmail
17:52 Testing email deliverability & troubleshooting tips
22:00 Final thoughts & building a reliable WordPress website