This guide assumes that you have at least a basic understanding of what a domain, DNS, SPF and DKIM are. If you're not sure what they taste best with, please take a moment to read about them, following the links for each.
Head over to our blog to learn about the benefits of Connecting External SMTP from SendGrid to Woodpecker »
Before you start, note that we use these two terms in the guide:
Primary domain
Subdomain
Primary domain is the one you use on a daily basis to send business emails from Woodpecker (for example, customer-success.us).
When using SendGrid, it’s better to come up with a subdomain (for example, m.customer-success.us), and set it up in SendGrid settings. This will also require you to set up the subdomain in your DNS settings panel.
SendGrid and Woodpecker: Step-by-Step setup
1. Set up and warm up your domain
Before you start using SendGrid to send your emails, it’s crucial to have a properly prepared domain. We recommend using a separate domain for cold outreach », so if you don’t have one yet, set it up.
Choose whatever domain registrar and/or DNS server you prefer. Configure your DNS and take some time to warm up the domain before sending your cold emails.
Once your domain is ready for sending emails, you can set it up with your SendGrid account. Also, note that SendGrid gives quite fresh IP addresses that also need to be warmed up first.
Here you can check how to do it: Warming Up an IP Address »
2. Add a domain to SendGrid
To start with, you will need to create a domain in Sendgrid. To do so please follow these steps:
Open your SendGrid account
Go to Settings.
Click Sender Authentication.
4. Navigate to Authenticate Your Domain section.
5. Click Get Started.
6. Select your DNS host and click Next.
If you are not sure about your DNS host, select Other Host (Not Listed) or skip this step by clicking "Next".
To send from a subdomain, add a prefix in the "Return path" field and provide the name of your domain in the Domain field.
Ex. if your domain name is:
“customer-success.us”
in SendGrid you can use a subdomain:
“s.customer-success.us”
Note that recipients will see the email coming from your domain, and the subdomain will only be visible in the header of the message.
As a suggestion for the subdomain address, Sendgrid advises against using a "_" character as it may cause some issues, and a "mail" prefix due to its frequent use and possible negative impact on deliverability.
7. Add your domain in the From Domain field under Domain You Send From.
To set up a subdomain, checkmark the "Use custom return path" box and add a prefix in the field.
Domain authentication removed the "via sendgrid.net" text that some inbox providers attach to your "From" address.
8. You will be redirected to the Install DNS Records page. Complete the process by installing CNAME records. Below, you'll find instructions on how to add these records. Move on to the next step.
3. Copy DNS records from SendGrid to your domain settings
Once the subdomain is created, you will see the DNS records that need to be added to the domain settings - 3 CNAME records to be exact.
CNAME records
Please set up CNAME records in your domain settings.
To better understand this process, have a look at SendGrid's guide on How to set up domain authentication »
1. Copy and paste the CNAME records that SendGrid will provide you with.
SendGrid panel
2. Go to your DNS settings and define a new CNAME record for your subdomain.
Your domain panel
3. The next step is to go to SendGrid and validate all CNAME data that you’ve just set up in your domain settings panel.
Check-mark "I've added these records" and click "Verify".
SendGrid panel
If you did everything right, you will see that the Status has been marked in green as Verified.
4. Connecting SendGrid to Woodpecker
4.1. Choose your email provider
Go to Woodpecker, navigate to Settings → Email Accounts.
Click Add Email Account.
Choose your email provider or click ”Manual connection".
4.2. Connect your SMTP from SendGrid
For connecting SMTP, you will need an API Key from SendGrid.
Go to Settings.
Navigate to API Keys.
Click Create API Key.
To create an API key, you will need to provide the API Key Name. It’s the name of your subdomain.
Click on the API Key to copy it.
Please remember that SendGrid will generate and show an API Key for you just once. In case you don’t copy it, you will need to create it again.
4.3. Go back to Woodpecker
Click the dropdown menu and select SendGrid as the SMTP Server data.
Provide the API Key from SendGrid to Woodpecker.
4.4. Fill out IMAP server data
Please note: the fields will be empty only if you chose “Other” in the dropdown list. If you’re using a default IMAP from Google, Office 365, or Exchange, these will be set to their respective default for you.
4.5. Click "CONTINUE"
If all data provided in SMTP settings in Woodpecker is valid, you’ll get a notification about successfully connecting your email address to Woodpecker, SendGrid included.
There you go! You’ve just connected your email account with SendGrid SMTP to Woodpecker.
To test the SMTP connection, create a campaign in Woodpecker, add at least one email address as your prospect, and click the RUN button to send a test email to this address.