This guide assumes that you have at least 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.

Before you start, note that we use these two terms in the guide:

Primary domain is the one you use on a daily basis to send business emails from Woodpecker (for example, customer-success.us).

When using Mailgun, it’s better to come up with a subdomain (for example, m.customer-success.us), and set it up in Mailgun settings. This will also require you to set up the subdomain in your DNS settings panel.

Can I use the same domain name for Mailgun and for Google Apps (or another email server)?

To create a subdomain in Mailgun, add a prefix before your primary domain name in the Mailgun panel.

That way, if your primary domain name is “customer-success.us”, add a prefix, such as “m.” (followed by a dot) to your primary domain name.

So if your domain name is: customer-success.us in Mailgun you would use a subdomain: m.customer-success.us

Important: the subdomain address will not be visible to your email recipients. You only use it for Mailgun to be able to set all the required records properly in order to keep your deliverability as high as possible.

Before you start using Mailgun 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 Mailgun account.

First, establish where your DNS records are being hosted. DNS records are usually hosted by your domain registrar, for example, GoDaddy or Name.com.

However, sometimes you can buy a domain from a domain registrar like GoDaddy or any other, but your DNS server is hosted externally by a web hosting company.

This step is necessary to allow Mailgun to send emails from your domain on your behalf.

It will require you to copy 4 types of records from Mailgun to the DNS settings of your domain:

The screenshots below come from the panel at Name.com. We use it only as an example here. If you use another domain registrar, you will see a different panel, but look for the same type of settings.

4.1. Open the DNS settings at your domain account

After logging in, you'll see your Account Overview. Click your domain's name to see your Domain Details.

Find the DNS section and click Manage DNS Records. Here's the Name.com view:

4.2. Check your SPF records at your domain account

DNS setup for your domain should now include Mailgun in the SPF (TXT) records of your domain.

It will read “include:mailgun.org”, just like in the screenshot below:

4.3. Find your TXT records in Mailgun

4.4. Paste in the TXT records from Mailgun to the DNS settings of your domain

TXT records (SPF)

DNS settings panel (here: Name.com)

Note: It’s important to make sure the SPF record is set up for both your domain and subdomain.

1. Copy the SPF value from Mailgun and paste it into the DNS records of your domain (i.e. customers-success.us).

2. Define a new record for your subdomain:

3. Click on Add record to save the record for the subdomain (e.g. m.customer-success.us).

DNS settings panel (here: Name.com)

Copy the DKIM record from Mailgun into your DNS records. It should be the exact same record in both places.

DNS settings panel (here: Name.com)

The MX and CNAME records are optional, however:

Important: Woodpecker tracks opens and clicks and it allows you to add the Unsubscribe link to your emails, so if you’d rather use the built-in tools in Woodpecker (which is recommended), you can skip this entire step.

Set two MX records only for your subdomain:

In Mailgun, you’ll find two MX records. You need to copy both of them to your DNS settings.

Mailgun dashboard

How to copy an MX record from Mailgun panel to DNS settings:

Go to your DNS settings, and define a new record only for your subdomain:

Click on “Add record” to save the record for the subdomain (i.e m.customer-success.us).

Remember to perform that action for both MX records. Copying just one is not enough. Here’s what it should look like in your DNS server settings:

DNS settings panel (here: Name.com)

Copy the CNAME record from Mailgun only to your subdomain in DNS settings.

1. Copy the CNAME value from Mailgun.

Mailgun Dashboard

2. Go to your DNS settings and define a new CNAME record for your subdomain:

DNS settings panel (here: Name.com)

4.5 Check the settings you’ve just updated by clicking on “Check DNS Records Now”

If you did everything right, you’ll see a green mark next to it.

Mailgun dashboard

5.1 Choose your email provider

5.3 Connect your SMTP from Mailgun

1. In the SMTP Server data section in Woodpecker, choose Mailgun from the dropdown list of SMTP providers, just like in the screenshot below.

2. Copy your subdomain name (for example, m.customer-success.us) and paste it in Woodpecker into the API domain field.

3. Add your Private API key into the API key field.

Where can you find the API Key?

5.2 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.

5.4. Click "CONTINUE"

There you go! You’ve just connected your email account with Mailgun 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.