How to define a sender for the email campaign?
This article will clarify all possible options for sender settings.
While creating an email campaign it's important to pay attention to the sender configuration. It can influence on the open rate and general trust of your recipients.
In User.com there are 3 different options to send the email campaign from. Let's check all of them one by one.
Default System SMTP
This is the option that you have by default since the very beginning of the app usage. You can test the email with this configuration since the first day of trial.
The email address of the sender is created from name of the agent + surname + @userengage-mail.com ending
E.g.: john.smith@userengage-mail.com
The 'reply-to address' in such a case is taken right from the Agent's profile. So, the replies to campaigns sent from default system SMTP will go to the Agent's inbox.
Default system SMTP is used for test deliveries only. This option doesn't suit the mass email campaigns due to obvious reasons. Your users do not recognize your company domain and have less trust to such emails.
Custom SMTP
The second option is connected with the email provider your company is already working with. So, if you are currently using the email services from such providers like Amazon SES, Mailgun etc. you can connect your inboxes with the User.com application and deliver the email campaigns with there help.
In this case the User.com will send the email campaign, but your provider will be responsible for the deliverability.
Also, such stats like hardbounce/softbounce/spambounce will be also available from your provider's panel only.
You set up the SMTP account in Settings > SMTP Settings section. Here you can find the step by step instruction of this configuration.
While filling the form you also define the 'reply-to address'. It can be some company inbox, your agent's email address or User.com app email address.
If you want the replies to your email campaigns to be forwarded to User.com chat panel, then you need to use the app email address in 'reply-to' field. Find more about this feature in this article.
Own domain
The third option combines the first and second one. You can connect your company domain with the User.com account and create different senders under it.
So, you are adding your company domain which can be recognized by your users, what makes the open rate higher. Our SMTP provider (EmailLabs) is responsible for the deliverability of the campaigns.
Due to our internal integration with EmailLabs you will get the hardbounce/softbounce/spambounce stats right in Campaigns > Emails section.
The only thing you need is the access to the domain settings. Following these instructions you can configure the DNS records and then validate your domain inside the app.
Once you have it done you need to go to Settings > Email domains > Sender list and create the senders that you are planning to sign your future campaigns with. Later on you will be able to choose from these senders on the last step of the campaign creation.
Moreover, when you create a sender you can also set up the 'reply-to address'. The logic is the same as with the custom SMTP configuration:
While filling the form you also define the 'reply-to address'. It can be some company inbox, your agent's email address or User.com app email address. If you want the replies to your email campaigns to be forwarded to User.com chat panel, then you need to use the app email address in 'reply-to' field. Find more about this feature in this article.
Conclusion
Now you know about various possibilities to setup a proper sender for your email campaigns in User.com
Default System SMTP can be used for test deliveries only.
For mass campaigns with real recipients you need to choose between Custom SMTP and Own domain options.