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Setting Up and Connecting SendGrid to ShortStack

Overview

Integrating your SendGrid account with ShortStack allows you to have full control over your sender reputation and simplifies the use of your own domain, particularly when enforcing a DMARC policy.

 

Note: These instructions are intended for advanced users working with enterprise-level entities. If you publish your campaigns using one of our built-in domains (shortstack.page, lndg.page or cmpgn.page), you can get great deliverability results by using one of our From email addresses: no-reply@shortstack.page, no-reply@lndg.page or no-reply@cmpgn.page (For consistency, choose the one that matches your chosen campaign URL domain).

 

SendGrid Account Setup

If you don't have a SendGrid account, follow these steps to create one and configure it for integration with ShortStack.

Step 1: Create a SendGrid Account

  1. Access SendGrid Pricing:

  2. Select the Pro Plan:

    • Click the Start for free button under the Pro plan.
    • The Pro plan is the most affordable option that includes a dedicated IP address, which is necessary for DMARC compliance.

  3. Complete Account Creation:

    • Follow the on-screen prompts to set up your SendGrid account.

Step 2: Set Up Reverse DNS

  1. Access Sender Authentication:

    • In the SendGrid dashboard sidebar, click Settings, then select Sender Authentication.

  2. Initiate Reverse DNS Setup:

    • Under the Reverse DNS section, click the Create a Reverse DNS button.

  3. Configure DNS Settings:

    • Choose your DNS host from the dropdown menu.
    • Select your IP Address. If you subscribed to the Pro plan, you should have one IP address listed.
    • Enter the domain you intend to use for sending emails. This is typically your root domain (e.g., yourcompany.com), but you can use a subdomain (e.g., contests.yourcompany.com or email.yourcompany.com) if your root domain is configured to send emails from another server.
    • Click Next.

  4. Add A Record to DNS:

    • SendGrid will provide an A record that you need to add to your DNS settings.
    • After adding the A record, check the box labeled I’ve added these records and click Verify.
    • If verification fails due to propagation delays, wait a few minutes and try again until successful.

  5. Step 3: Authenticate Your Domain

    1. Access Domain Authentication:

      • In the sidebar, click Settings, then select Sender Authentication.
      • Under the Domain Authentication section, click the Authenticate Your Domain button.

    2. Configure Domain Authentication:

      • Select your DNS host.
      • For the question Would you like to brand the links for this domain?, select Yes.
      • Click Next.
      • Enter the domain you will use to send emails in the From Domain field.
      • Expand Advanced Settings and ensure Use automated security is checked.
      • Click Next.

    3. Add DNS Records:

      • SendGrid will provide several DNS records to add to your domain's DNS settings.
      • After adding these records, check the box labeled I’ve added these records and click Verify.
      • If verification fails, wait a few minutes and retry until successful.

    Step 4: Create an API Key

    1. Access API Key Settings:

      • In the SendGrid dashboard, click Settings, then select API Keys.

    2. Generate a New API Key:

      • Click the Create API Key button in the upper-right corner.
      • Enter a name for your API key, such as "ShortStack".
      • Select Restricted Access.
      • Under Access Details, locate Mail Send and select Full Access by checking the rightmost circle.

    3. Save the API Key:

      • Scroll down and click the Create & View button.
      • Copy the API key and store it securely, such as in a password manager. You will need this key to configure your ShortStack Company Profile.

    Step 5: Update Your ShortStack Company Profile

    1. Access Emails Manager:
      • In ShortStack, navigate to the Emails Manager.
      • Click the New Email button.
      • Select an email type (e.g., Autoresponder). This process is to access the Company Profile Editor; you won't be saving this email. 
    2. Click the name of your company profile under Selected Company Profile to view the Company Profile Editor.
    3. In the Default From Email field, enter an email address using the domain you configured in SendGrid. For example, if you configured acme.com, you might enter no-reply@acme.com into the Default From Email field.
    4. Scroll to the bottom and paste your SendGrid API Key into the appropriate field under Advanced Settings. Click the Select button to save.
    5. Click anywhere outside the email wizard to close the wizard. Click the Don’t Save button, if prompted (your company profile changes were already saved).
        • Any new emails that use this company profile will now be sent using your SendGrid account. If you have any existing email campaigns that are still running, you might want to update the From email address accordingly, or just erase it and the Default From Email will be used from your company profile.

 

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