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Sending transactional emails via SMTP with CleverReach

In addition to classic newsletters, our email marketing tool also allows you to send transactional emails automatically to your recipients.

In this article, you will learn everything you need to know about transactional emails and how you can send them quickly and easily with CleverReach.

Information about transactional emails

What is a transactional email?

Transactional mails, or system mails, are triggered by a (trans)action of a user and are notifications of all kinds of activities. These mails triggered by the customer themselves contain important information for them and confirm business transactions. The prompt reaction to the user's action also promotes trust. This makes transactional emails an important piece of the customer journey puzzle

Which emails belong to transactional emails?

  • Order, order and reservation confirmations
  • Shipping and delivery confirmations
  • Delivery status of an order
  • Registration, login and logout confirmations
  • Account creation and account status changes
  • Password requests and password changes
  • Double opt-in mailings
  • Notifications about comments on social networks or blogs

What are the advantages of sending transactional emails via CleverReach?

  1. Secure delivery via our whitelisted servers
  2. High delivery and opening rates - your recipient is just waiting for your email
  3. You have an overview of the emails that have arrived, been delivered and bounced e-mails
  4. No further mail server is required
  5. Data maintenance in one tool - you save valuable time

How to send transactional emails via CleverReach

In order to send your transactional mails, the transactional mail of the external system is delivered in full to CleverReach via an interface and then sent via our servers. The external system can be, for example, an online store, booking system, social network, forum, CRM or CMS system.

The transactional emails are not sent from our standard mailing servers but from separate servers. This is optimal for the deliverability of your transactional mail. We use SMTP servers for sending.

What does SMTP stand for and what is it?

SMTP is the abbreviation for Simple Mail Transfer Protocol and is used for sending emails.
Normally, an email is not sent directly from the sender to the recipient. The mailing passes through several intermediate steps in a regulated process. This is mainly controlled by the SMTP relay servers, which ensure that the e-mail reaches its recipient. SMTP relay refers to the process of forwarding emails on the Internet from a sender to a recipient.

An important function of the SMTP server is the prevention of spam by means of authentication mechanisms. These mechanisms allow only authorized users to send emails. Without these servers, it would not be possible to send emails.

Configuration of the transactional emails in your CleverReach account

Note: We are currently activating our transactional mail beta function for you on request. Please feel free to contact us here, we look forward to hearing from you. Thank you very many thanks!

Transactional emails are sent via profile icon → My account → Extras → Transactional mails (beta) configured:

  1. Log in to your CleverReach account and click on the Profile Icon > My account. 

  2. Under Account, select the Extras tab and click on Transaction mails.
  3. Connect your system to CleverReach by clicking on Connect new system.

  4. Now you can:

    Enter your own name for the connection (e.g. your store system), an existing DKIM entry behind it OR create a new entry and set up a CSA List-Help Header.

  5. Since we are in the CSA association you need a CSA List-Help header. What exactly is it and what is it for?
    No unsubscribe link is sent with a transactional email and no consent is no consent is required to send this email. For legal protection, you need a URL or page on which you explain why the recipient is receiving the email and how they can unsubscribe or why they cannot unsubscribe directly in the email.

    Instead of a URL, you can also enter a mailto: link where your recipient can contact you directly by email;

    Your stored page/URL is located in the headers of the emails and is not directly is not directly visible to the recipient.

    Every new domain that is to be used for sending requires a such a list help URL.

    One URL can be used for multiple domains.

    CSA inclusion criteria.

  6. Once you have entered all the details, click on Save connection.

  7. If all settings are correct, a new area appears SMTP access data. You can now copy this data in each case and store them in your system to establish the SMTP connection. Where exactly you store this in your system is always different. If you have any questions or need help with this, please refer to the help center or contact the service team if necessary. Many thanks in advance. Thanks in advance.

  8. The setup is now complete and your transaction emails will be sent automatically via us.

  9. On your Transactional mail dashboard (under My account > Extras > Transactional mails) you can see whether the connection is active or inactive.

  10. You can also see the emails that have arrived, been delivered and bounced here on your dashboard under Statistics (Note: Please note that the statistics are retrieved every 15 minutes).

Contingent and booking of your transactional emails

With our demo quota of 1,000 emails, you can already send your first transactional emails via your system and have them sent via our system.

There is an additional plan for billing the transactional emails, which you can book in blocks.

If you want to send more transactional emails, you can use the plan management in your account to book your desired quota.  

Notes:
- Under Transaction mails, you can use the Settings tab to send an automatic email notification to the account administrator if the volume has fallen below the set sending volume.
- All transactional mails sent from our mail server reduce the transactional mail quota. Bounced addresses are also billed.
- Remaining quotas expire automatically after 30 days
- If you fall into the minus quota, the most expensive price of currently 0.00095 euro will be charged by email.

Own billing

  • A new plan is created for billing the transactional mail, which can be booked in blocks. Technically, billing is similar to with our Enterprise plans.
  • Transaction mail remaining quotas expire automatically after 30 days
  • Email reminders are automatically sent to account holders when Email quota falls below X (can be set under Settings)
  • If you enter the minus quota, the most expensive price will be charged by mail of currently 0.00095 euro will be charged.
  • All transactional mails sent from our mail server will reduce your transactional mail quota.
  • Bounced addresses are also billed

FAQ

  • Answer: Don't worry, the transaction mails will continue to be sent. On the next billing date, all transaction mails will be sent on the basis of the price of 0.00095 euro/mail.
  • Answer: No, the minimum order value is 25,000 transactional mails.
  • Answer: 25 emails per hour.
  • Answer: The limit is unlimited, but depends on how much the system can handle. 
  • Answer: Unused quota expires after 30 days. The booked quota is automatically renewed after 30 days.
  • Answer: Yes, attachments are also sent via the transactional emails. The maximum size per email is limited to 30 MB.
  • Response: The client connecting to the data must support StartTLS. Otherwise, the connection will be rejected. In addition DKIM must be set up   

Help & Support

If you have any questions or need help, you can always contact our service team.