Mailgun-Sending Node

CampaignsPlus is probably the only email marketing application which provides that much variety of sending choices. We already have learnt configuring SMTP servers for sending. In this particular article, we’ll discuss using Mailgun service for email relaying. Mailgun is reputable mail service provider known for the powerful and reliable sending infrastructure. For the users of CampaignsPlus who prefer Mailgun for sending, we’ve thoroughly integrated its APi. 

Before You Start

Before we start discussing the CampaignsPlus function of integrating your Mailgun account, let’s take note of some elements. These elements belong to Mailgun account and are required to get your configuration done with CampaignsPlus as well.

Domain Verification

When you setup your account with Mailgun, they would provision your account with a Sandbox domain for the testing purposes only. For practical sending, you will have to provide a custom domain of yours and also would need to verify it. The compulsory part of verification required creating SPF and DKIM dns records to establish oneself as authorized sender from the specific domain, the other records that you can implement are MX and CNAME (For Tracking Purposes). The verification process of domain is thoroughly discussed by Mailgun in its documentation.

Note: Since you need to configure a Sending Domain within CampaignsPlus a mandatory part, make sure you verify the same domain that you want to configure with CampaignsPlus as sending domain.

Using Mailgun Webhooks

You can also use the Mailgun powered webhooks to receive event notification, these events would be tracking the unsubscribe action, bounces and spam etc. You can create a Callback URL for your domain and can manage it for your account with Mailgun. When specific event occurs like Unsubscribe, Mailgun invokes the particular webhook to post it to the Callback URL you have defined for the webhooks tab in Mailgun control panel. You can use webhooks to track opens, clicks, spam, unsubscribe, bounces, deliveries and failures. Mailgun documentation discusses the scope of webhooks in detail.

Authentication

Singing up an account with Mailgun will provide you an API key for your account. You can manage your account APi key from your account panel with Mailgun, according to the instruction provided by their knowledgebase.

Getting Started

If you are looking to use Mailgun for sending, you would need to configure your sending node with Mailgun. Sending node is an internal term for the CampaignsPlus sending function. Here is how you do.

Navigate to Add a Sending Node

Landing on sending node page, you’ll see a display of several sending options/mail services, select “Mailgun” among them to proceed.

Name & Group Name

Provide a name to the sending node you are about to configure, i.e. Mailgun Sender etc. The second field is making the sending node part of any existing or a new group. Grouping helps you manage Sending Nodes belonging to certain service, server or genre, i.e. Email Service Providers etc.

Domain Name

Provide the domain that you have verified with Mailgun account. Above mentioned area under “Before you start” discusses this specific domain in detail.

API Key

APi key is the authorization method that Mailgun uses to authenticate an APi request. Your account with Mailgun offers you a unique APi key that you can manage using your account panel with Mailgun. This field needs to be filled with that APi key.

Sender Information Batch

From here onwards the fields/selections belong to the sender information batch, also known as from information. It consists of From Name and Emil, Reply email and Bounce Email address.  Sender Information is managed on different levels in CampaignsPlus, a sender information batch is attached with the lists you create, with the Sending Nodes you configure and you can also provide custom sender info during the processing of scheduling an email campaign. All these fields are mandatory and need to be filled with appropriate information.

Sending Domain

Select a sending domain from the dropdown. Sending domains are discussed extensively in a separate article that you can refer to learn more about the sending domains. Make sure, the domain you select for sending should be verified within your Mailgun account. Domain verification is discussed above in this article.

Status

Select the status for the sending node as “Active” or “Inactive”. Inactive nodes will not be able to send emails.