MailPoet Tutorial: How to Create Your First Newsletter and Send Test Emails

I want to use MailPoet to doEmail Marketing? Your focus should be on getting a run-through that can be sent out consistently, displayed properly, and delivered correctly in the first place. Here's what I've done withFrom zero to sending the first test emailThe process takes you through the key settings once and for all, avoiding the most common pitfalls that newbies step into.

1. Check before you start: which sending method do you want to use?

MailPoet has two common sending routes, you choose one first and the setup will be smoother later.

1.1 Use of the MailPoet Sending Service (official sending)

Ideal for: new sites, small subscriber base, wanting to save money.
Pros: relatively simple configuration and more consistent delivery rates.
Note: Often there is a limit on the amount of delivery or a paid plan (per MailPoet (Rule).

1.2 Use your own SMTP (e.g. Gmail/Outlook/Enterprise mailbox/third party SMTP)

Ideal for: you already have a stable mailbox service, or need more flexible sending control.
Pros: Highly controllable.
Note: SPF/DKIM/DMARC needs to be configured correctly to be less likely to get into the trash.

Suggestion: Newbies should first run through "Test Email Arrived Successfully + Displayed Normal" before pursuing higher-order automation.

2. Install MailPoet and complete the basic setup.

2.1 Installation of plug-ins

• WordPress Backend → plug-in (software component) → Installation of plug-ins
• look for sth. MailPoet
• Click Install and Enable

When enabled the left menu will appear MailPoetThe

2.2 Setting sender information

Go to: MailPoet → Settings

You need to fill it out:

• From name: Suggested brand name or website name
• From email: It is recommended to use a domain mailbox, such as news@你的域名.com
• Reply-to (reply to e-mail): may be identical to the sender

Points of Attention:

• Using a random free email address as a sender is not recommended (especially if you're going to be marketing for a long time)
• The sender's email address should be the same as the domain name of the website, which is more like "regular mail" and more stable for delivery.

3. Create your first newsletter.

MailPoet → Emails → Newsletter → Create

3.1 Choose a template or start with a blank slate?

Newbies are advised to pick templates for realistic reasons:

• More stable template layout, less prone to distortion in Gmail/Outlook
• You just have to change the text and images and you'll be sending out your first letter in no time!

3.2 Editing the content of messages: "Simple structure" is recommended for beginners.

A First Letter Newsletter, you don't need to make it too complicated. Recommended structure:

• Title (1 sentence stating value)
• 1 main image (optional)
• 3 to 5 short paragraphs of text
• 1 or 2 buttons or links (not too many)
• Footer: unsubscribe, address, brand information

How common modules are placed:

• Text: Write the main content
• Image: Illustrations (try to compress them, they load faster)
• Button: a clear CTA (e.g., "view full text," "pick up literature," "view new products")

3.3 How do you write headlines that are easier to open?

The title suggests doing that:

• Keep it short and clear, don't pile on too many symbols
• Make it clear what the recipient gets

Example (can be applied directly):

• "3 Practical Tips of the Week: Make Websites Faster and More Stable"
• "Newbie must see: your first email is safer this way.
• "The Update You Missed: This Change Is Important"

4. Set up recipients: who do you send it to?

4.1 Best for newcomers

Don't send it to real subscribers right off the bat. Make a test list first.

Operation:

• MailPoet → Subscribers → Lists
• Create a new list: e.g. "Test List".
• Add 1 to 3 of your own e-mail addresses (preferably with different service providers)
  • Gmail (social networking website)
  • Outlook/Hotmail
  • Enterprise mailbox (if any)

This way you can see how different mailboxes show up and go into the box.

4.2 Avoiding common reasons why "test emails don't go out"

• No subscribers in the list
• Subscriber status is not Subscribed
• The e-mail is still in draft and not saved
• Sending method setting not completed

5. Send test emails

5.1 Method A: Direct "Send a test email" (fastest)

On the email edit page, there is usually Send test email Function.

You enter an email address and it sends out a test email.
Pros: no need to build lists, good for quick checking of typos.

Inspection focus:

• Whether the title display is complete or not
• Whether the image is loading properly
• Whether the button is clickable
• Does it go in the dumpster

5.2 Method B: Sending to a "test list" (closer to real sending)

Process:

• Select your Test List
• Click Send (or go to the scheduling screen and send now)

Pros: more like real mass mailing, will expose configuration issues more easily.

6. What do you check after the test email is sent?

6.1 Delivery: did it go into the inbox or the trash?

You have to look at it separately:

• Gmail: Inbox / Promotions / Spam
• Outlook: Focused / Other / Junk

If it goes in the dumpster, don't panic yet and prioritize these things:

• Confirm that the sender's email is trustworthy (preferably a domain name email)
• Don't have a bunch of "promotional words" and too many links in your content.
• Test sending with small quantities first, not sudden large quantities

6.2 Show: did the typography fall apart?

Focused Look:

• Whether the title is truncated
• Are paragraphs too crowded
• Is the image too large
• Is the button better on a cell phone

I suggest you open it on your cell phone and read through it as well, since many users read their emails on their cell phones.

6.3 Links: any jumping errors?

Point by point:

• Button Links
• text link
• Link to the image (if you've added a link to the image)

The most common error is: copying the link with spaces, which prevents it from opening.

7. Troubleshooting common problems: What if the test e-mail cannot be sent?

7.1 Keeps showing queued or failed to send

Probable Cause:

• Sending service not configured (official service or SMTP not connected)
• Your host is limiting PHP mail
• Domain DNS not configured (especially SMTP)

Solution Idea:

• Switch to a more stable sending method first (official service or reliable SMTP)
• probe MailPoet Send Status Alerts
• Post again with the simplest content (one line of text only) to rule out content issues

7.2 Gmail/Outlook can't see pictures

Common Causes:

• Image links are insecure or blocked
• Images too big and slow to load
• Incoming mail does not show images by default

Recommendation:

• Image compression before uploading
• Try to use regular formats for images (jpg/png/webp)
• Don't use weird external linking graph beds

7.3 Mail layout messed up in some mailboxes

Recommended Practice:

• Less use of complex multi-column layouts
• Less use of oversized headline fonts
• Use MailPoet's built-in modules, don't copy and paste complex HTML!

8. Suggestions for safe delivery of "first newsletter" for newbies

When you have tested it without problems, then you are ready to send it to real subscribers. Suggestion:

1. Start by sending it to a small subgroup (e.g., a few dozen people)
2. Observe open rates, unsubscribe rates, complaints
3. Gradual expansion of delivery capacity
4. Stable sending frequency, no sudden spikes

The biggest fear of email marketing isn't not writing enough flowers, it's that the deliverability rate will be beaten.

9. To summarize: you have now completed the most crucial step

You finish your first letter. Newsletter The correct path is:

• Match the sender information
• Choose a simple template to write content
• Build Test List
• Send a test email first to check delivery and display
• Send to real subscribers on a smaller scale

As long as you can consistently deliver your test emails and have them show up properly in Gmail/Outlook, it will be much smoother to do automated welcome emails, shopping follow-ups, and abandoned purchase recalls later on.

Contact Us
Can't read the tutorial? Contact us for a free answer! Free help for personal, small business sites!	Customer Service
① Tel: 020-2206-9892
② QQ咨询：1025174874
(iii) E-mail: info@361sale.com
④ Working hours: Monday to Friday, 9:30-18:30, holidays off