Interested in delving deeper into SMTP? You’re in the right spot! Here’s a comprehensive guide on SMTP relay, equipping you with all the essentials to seamlessly integrate email sending into your workflow.
In the realm of transactional email, there’s a flurry of activity behind the curtain to ensure your emails are dispatched and received promptly by recipients. One crucial component in this process is SMTP.
SMTP, or Simple Mail Transfer Protocol, serves as the backbone for transmitting email messages between mail servers. The majority of email systems rely on SMTP to shuttle messages from one server to another and to deliver them to local mail clients such as Gmail, Microsoft Outlook, or Apple Mail.
But what exactly are SMTP relays, and how do they play into this equation? In this guide, we’ll unravel the intricacies of SMTP relay servers, elucidating how they ensure your messages navigate from point A to point B (and every juncture in between). Ready to embark on this journey? Let’s dive in!
What is an SMTP relay and how does it work?
An SMTP relay is a service that directs large quantities of email messages through SMTP servers to prevent them from being flagged as spam.
A relay, also known as a mail relay, refers to the process of transferring an email from one server to another in a zig-zag fashion until it reaches its intended recipient.
When you send an email, it goes through a complex journey and faces several obstacles before it finally appears in your recipient’s inbox.
When you hit “send” in your email app or Mail User Agent (MUA), your email is dispatched to your server’s Mail Submission Agent (MSA). You can think of the MSA as your mail courier. It examines your email for accuracy, like ensuring all necessary fields are filled, before handing it off to a Mail Transfer Agent (MTA), similar to your local post office.
The MTA (like the sender’s local post office) reviews the Mail Exchange (MX) records of the recipient’s domain. This indicates which server the email should be sent to, similar to an address. The email follows this path and is sent to another MTA (like the receiver’s local post office) before being accepted by a Mail Delivery Agent (MDA), which acts like the delivering mail carrier.
The MDA (akin to the mail carrier) gets your email, converts it to a readable format, and delivers it to the recipient’s Mail User Agent (MUA). After this intricate journey, which only takes seconds, your email finally arrives in the recipient’s email app inbox.
OK, so what’s an SMTP relay service?
Setting up SMTP and managing the mail relay process demands a sophisticated sending infrastructure. Instead of handling this themselves, businesses can opt for an SMTP relay service to handle all the technical aspects.
SMTP relay services or email service providers handle the delivery of the sender’s email messages by directing them through a reputable third party, guaranteeing their secure and reliable arrival at the intended destination. SMTP services like MailerSend are commonly employed for sending transactional emails, such as welcome messages, one-time passwords, and shipping notifications.
When to use an SMTP relay service
An SMTP relay service simplifies transactional email management and enhances your email delivery rates. Consider employing a third-party SMTP relay service if you aim to streamline this process.
1. Scale your email sendings
Popular web hosts and webmail providers like GoDaddy and Outlook.com often enforce sending limits on their SMTP servers. These limits typically range from 300 to 500 emails per day, and some even impose a further restriction of 100 recipients per email!
While these limits aim to deter spammers, they can negatively impact your customer experience if your emails take hours to be delivered.
Using a hosted SMTP relay service to send mass emails on your behalf resolves these sending limitations by offering a generous sending quota every month. Additionally, you can manage scaling costs by paying as you go or subscribing to a monthly plan if you’re a high-volume sender.
2. Protect your sending reputation
Every domain name corresponds to an IP address used for sending emails. Web hosting companies often allocate one IP address for multiple websites on a single server. This means you’re probably sharing an IP address with other domains!
Sharing an IP address means your sending reputation is influenced by the actions of other websites on the server. To regain control, you have two options: using a dedicated IP address or utilizing a third-party SMTP relay service.
A reliable SMTP relay provider safeguards your sending reputation, preventing email deliverability issues. The use of pristine IP addresses helps keep you off email blocklists, and thorough filters ensure that no spam originates from your IP address.
3. Authenticate your emails
Email spoofing is employed in spam and phishing attacks, where the email header is altered to make it appear as if it originated from a trusted sender. But how do major Internet Service Providers (ISPs) such as Gmail, Yahoo, and Outlook.com verify the authenticity of an email sender?
Email security protocols like SPF, DKIM, and DMARC are utilized to authenticate your emails. These records confirm your legitimacy, safeguard your identity from compromise, and verify that you’re not sending emails on behalf of others.
However, incorporating these protocols into your DNS records can be challenging if you want to ensure your emails land in the inbox rather than the spam folder. Setup instructions and support can vary significantly among SMTP servers provided by webmail and hosting providers.
An SMTP relay provider like MailerSend automatically generates optimized authentication records for you. Additionally, a custom return-path is provided to handle bounced emails and further safeguard your sending reputation.
4. Secure your email
SMTP relay can be secure, but its security depends on how it’s configured and utilized. By default, SMTP sends messages in plain text, making them susceptible to interception by anyone with network access.
To safeguard message confidentiality, it’s vital to employ encryption methods like Transport Layer Security (TLS) or Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) to secure connections between the client and the server.
Moreover, it’s essential to configure the SMTP relay properly to prevent unauthorized usage. This involves implementing authentication methods for sending messages through the relay and restricting the IP addresses or domains permitted to utilize the relay.
Using a third-party service simplifies email security by incorporating necessary security protocols and offering additional features such as 2FA (Two-Factor Authentication) and IP allowlisting.
5. Comply with privacy regulations
A third-party SMTP service aids senders in adhering to privacy regulations by offering essential security features alongside privacy controls and policies. This is especially beneficial when sending sensitive or confidential information, such as personal or financial data. These services can provide:
1. Compliance with privacy regulations like the EU’s General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) or the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA). Third-party services like MailerSend often include features for managing consent or opt-out preferences, as well as implementing data protection controls.
2. Secure servers utilized for storing and transmitting emails, enhancing protection against unauthorized access or data breaches.
3. Access controls that enable users to set permissions, ensuring that only authorized individuals can access sensitive information, as mentioned earlier.
Unleash your email sendings with SMTP relay
Utilizing a third-party SMTP relay service allows you to send extensive email volumes without the need for coding or server setup. Choose a reliable email provider (hint: MailerSend) to assist you in reaching the inbox, safeguarding your sending reputation, and enhancing email performance.
Have you ever tried setting up an SMTP server independently? How was your experience? Share your thoughts in the comments!