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How to ensure a reliable and secure WordPress contact form
March 26, 2023

One of the most common issues faced by WordPress users is unreliable email delivery, particularly with contact form submissions. This problem is often attributed to the limitations of PHP mail functions or the lack of proper SMTP (Simple Mail Transfer Protocol) configuration on many WordPress hosting options.  Another issue is contact form spam submitted by bots which can be a major source of irritation for WordPress site owners. In this article we discuss how Heer WP Maintain ensures contact form email delivery is reliable and spam submissions are minimal.

SMTP Issues with WordPress Hosting

The default email function in WordPress relies on PHP mail, which can be problematic for several reasons:

– Many hosting providers limit or disable PHP mail functions due to security concerns or spam prevention.

– PHP mail lacks essential features, such as email authentication, which often results in emails being flagged as spam or not delivered at all.

– WordPress’ reliance on PHP mail makes it difficult to troubleshoot email delivery issues, as there is limited visibility into the email sending process.

– These limitations can lead to missing important communications, such as customer inquiries, order confirmations, and password reset requests.

Heer WP Maintain and SendGrid

To address these SMTP-related issues, Heer WP Maintain has integrated SendGrid as their default SMTP provider for contact form emails. SendGrid is a reliable, scalable, and secure email delivery service that ensures messages are always received. Key benefits of using SendGrid include:

– High email deliverability: SendGrid uses proper email authentication methods, such as SPF, DKIM, and DMARC, which significantly improve thelikelihood of emails being delivered to the intended recipient’s inbox.

– Scalability: SendGrid can handle a large volume of emails without any hiccups, making it suitable for both small and large businesses.

– Detailed analytics: SendGrid provides insightful email analytics, such as open rates, bounce rates, and click-through rates, allowing users to monitor their email performance and make data-driven decisions.

– Easy integration: Heer WP Maintain makes integrates SendGrid with your WordPress website as part of the service. The setup process is taken care of by us to ensure contact form emails are sent reliably without the need for any complex configurations.

Clean Talk for Contact Form Spam Protection

In addition to ensuring reliable email delivery, it’s crucial to protect your contact forms from spam. Heer WP Maintain recommends using Clean Talk, one of the highest-rated contact form spam protection solutions in the WordPress plugin repository.

Key features of Clean Talk include:

– Real-time spam filtering: Clean Talk checks contact form submissions against its continuously updated database of known spammers, blocking any suspicious activity in real-time.

– Invisible protection: Unlike many other spam protection solutions, Clean Talk operates without the need for CAPTCHAs or other visible challenges that can be inconvenient for users.

– Compatibility: Clean Talk works seamlessly with popular WordPress contact form plugins, such as Contact Form 7, Gravity Forms, and WPForms.

– Detailed reports: Clean Talk provides spam activity reports, allowing you to see the effectiveness of the spam filtering and make any necessary adjustments.

SMTP issues in many WordPress hosting options can be a significant challenge, leading to unreliable email delivery and missed communications. By leveraging Heer WP Maintain’s integration with SendGrid for contact form emails and using Clean Talk for spam protection, website owners can ensure their messages are delivered reliably while keeping their contact forms secure from spam. These solutions not only help improve customer satisfaction and user experience but also allow businesses to operate more efficiently by avoiding the pitfalls associated with missed or undelivered emails.

By implementing these recommendations, you can focus on growing your online presence and engaging with your audience, knowing that your contact form emails are being handled efficiently and securely. With a combination of Heer WP Maintain, SendGrid, and Clean Talk, you can overcome the SMTP issues prevalent in many WordPress hosting options and provide a reliable and secure communication channel for your website visitors