Quick Start Guide
Get up and running with CloudCusp Mailer in 5 minutes.
Prerequisites
- CloudCusp Mailer installed and activated
- WordPress 6.4 or higher
- PHP 8.0 or higher
5-Minute Setup
1. Configure Email Provider (2 minutes)
- Go to CloudCusp Mailer → Settings
- Click Email Provider tab
- Select provider (WordPress Mail is default)
- For SendGrid/Mailgun/SES, enter API credentials
- Click Test Connection
- Save
2. Create Subscriber List (1 minute)
- Go to CloudCusp Mailer → Lists
- Click Create New List
- Enter list name (e.g., "Newsletter")
- Save
3. Add First Subscribers (1 minute)
Option A: Manual Addition
- Go to CloudCusp Mailer → Subscribers
- Click Add New
- Enter email and name
- Save
Option B: Import CSV
- Go to CloudCusp Mailer → Subscribers
- Click Import
- Select CSV file
- Map columns
- Start import
4. Create & Send Campaign (1 minute)
- Go to CloudCusp Mailer → Campaigns
- Click Create Campaign
- Enter subject line
- Add email content
- Select recipient list
- Click Send Now or schedule
- Done!
Understanding Core Concepts
Subscribers
Individual email addresses in your system. Each subscriber has:
- Email address (unique)
- Name and contact information
- Status (pending, subscribed, unsubscribed, bounced)
- List memberships
- Tags for segmentation
Lists
Groups of subscribers organized by category. Use lists to:
- Organize subscribers by topic
- Send targeted campaigns
- Manage different mailing lists
Tags
Labels applied to subscribers for flexible segmentation. Use tags to:
- Mark subscriber interests
- Track campaign engagement
- Create dynamic segments
Campaigns
Email messages sent to subscribers. Types include:
- Regular - One-time send to list
- Recurring - Scheduled repeats (daily, weekly, monthly)
- Sequence - Multiple emails with delays
Analytics
Track campaign performance:
- Open rates
- Click rates
- Bounce rates
- Subscriber engagement
Common Tasks
Send Your First Campaign
Campaigns → Create Campaign → Write Content → Select List → SendImport Subscriber List
Subscribers → Import → Select CSV → Map Columns → Start ImportAdd Signup Form to Website
Use shortcode in any page/post:
[ccsp_subscription_form
title="Subscribe"
button_text="Subscribe Now"
lists="1"
]View Campaign Performance
Campaigns → Click Campaign Name → View AnalyticsEmail Provider Setup
WordPress Mail (Default)
Uses WordPress's native wp_mail() function. No additional setup needed.
Pros: Simple, no external accounts Cons: Limited sending volume, lower deliverability
SendGrid
Best for high-volume sending with good deliverability.
- Create SendGrid account at sendgrid.com
- Generate API key
- Go to CloudCusp Mailer → Settings → Email Provider
- Select SendGrid
- Enter API key
- Save
Mailgun
Good alternative with detailed logging.
- Create Mailgun account at mailgun.com
- Verify domain
- Get API key and domain
- Enter in plugin settings
- Save
Amazon SES
Cost-effective for high-volume sending.
- Set up AWS account with SES enabled
- Verify domain/email
- Get Access Key and Secret
- Enter in plugin settings
- Save
Adding Subscriber Forms
Shortcode Method
Add to any page/post:
[ccsp_subscription_form
title="Join Our Newsletter"
button_text="Subscribe"
show_name_fields="true"
lists="1,2"
]Widget Method
- Go to Appearance → Widgets
- Add "CloudCusp Mailer Subscription" widget to sidebar
- Configure settings
- Save
Next Steps
After completing quick setup:
- Manage Subscribers - Build and organize lists
- Create Campaigns - Start sending
- Track Analytics - Monitor performance
- Setup Automation - Automate campaigns
- Configure Webhooks - Integrate external systems
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: How do I prevent duplicate emails? A: Imports automatically detect duplicates. Choose to skip or update existing.
Q: Can I schedule campaigns? A: Yes, when creating campaign, select "Schedule" and choose date/time.
Q: How long does it take to send 10,000 emails? A: Depends on email provider rate limits and batch size (typically 1-3 hours).
Q: Where can I find more help? A: Check Troubleshooting Guide for common issues.
Q: Is there API documentation? A: Yes, see API Overview for webhook and integration details.