Transactional emails with Mailchimp’s Mandrill & Gravity SMTP

Back to: Bootcamp: Using the Mailchimp Add-On

In this final video, Matt introduces Gravity SMTP and its integration with Mailchimp’s Mandrill service for handling transactional emails from WordPress sites. This extends beyond newsletter functionality to cover important automated communications.

What You’ll Learn

• Understanding Gravity SMTP’s purpose
• Introduction to Mandrill integration
• Basic setup requirements
• Use cases for transactional emails

Key Components

Gravity SMTP Availability

• Elite license holders
• Nonprofit license holders
• Legacy Developer license plans

Types of Transactional Emails

• Notification emails
• Receipt emails
• Donation confirmations
• Membership registrations
• E-commerce transactions

Technical Requirements

Mandrill Setup

1. Create free Mandrill account (connected to Mailchimp)
2. Generate API key
3. Configure DNS records
4. Connect with Gravity SMTP

Mailchimp Integration

• Located under automation section
• Transactional email settings
• Free tier includes up to 500 emails
• Paid service beyond initial quota

Implementation Notes

DNS Configuration

• Required for email verification
• Links Mandrill account to WordPress site
• Ensures proper email delivery
• Technical setup required

Best Practices

• Maintain both marketing and transactional emails in one account
• Ensure proper DNS configuration
• Monitor email quotas
• Consider scaling needs

Use Cases

1. E-commerce

• Order confirmations
• Shipping notifications
• Payment receipts

1. Nonprofit Organizations

• Donation receipts
• Member communications
• Registration confirmations

1. Membership Sites

• Welcome emails
• Access credentials
• Member notifications

Important Notes

• More complex setup than basic newsletter integration
• Requires technical DNS knowledge
• Paid service after initial free quota
• Essential for business-critical communications

Next Steps

• Download Gravity SMTP from Gravity Forms dashboard
• Review Mandrill documentation
• Plan DNS configuration
• Consider email volume needs