Getting Started with CN Blog Mailer

Quick Start Guide

Get CN Blog Mailer up and running in just 5 minutes! Follow these simple steps to start building your subscriber list and sending automated newsletters.

1 Installation

Option A: Install from WordPress.org (Free Version)

1. Log into your WordPress admin dashboard
2. Navigate to Plugins → Add New
3. Search for CN Blog Mailer
4. Click Install Now on the CN Blog Mailer plugin
5. Click Activate once installation is complete

Option B: Manual Installation

1. Download the plugin ZIP file
2. Go to Plugins → Add New → Upload Plugin
3. Choose the ZIP file and click Install Now
4. Click Activate Plugin

2 Initial Configuration

1. Access Settings: Go to CN Blog Mailer → Settings in your WordPress admin
2. Configure Email Settings:
   • From Name: Your blog name or company name
   • From Email: The email address newsletters will be sent from
   • Reply-To Email: Where subscribers can reply
3. SMTP Configuration (Recommended): For reliable email delivery, configure SMTP:
   • Gmail, Outlook, SendGrid, Mailgun, etc.
   • Enter your SMTP host, port, username, and password
   • Send a test email to verify it works

3 Add Your First Subscribers

There are several ways to build your subscriber list:

A. Manual Addition

1. Go to CN Blog Mailer → Subscribers
2. Click Add New Subscriber
3. Enter email address and name
4. Click Save

B. Subscription Widget

1. Go to Appearance → Widgets
2. Add the CN Blog Mailer Subscribe widget to your sidebar
3. Customize the title and button text
4. Visitors can now subscribe from your sidebar

C. Subscription Form Shortcode

Add this shortcode anywhere on your site:

[wpbm_subscribe_form]

Place it in posts, pages, or even your footer to collect subscribers.

D. Import Existing Subscribers (Starter+)

1. Go to CN Blog Mailer → Import/Export
2. Upload a CSV file with email addresses
3. Map columns (Email, Name, etc.)
4. Click Import

4 Customize Your Email Template

1. Navigate to CN Blog Mailer → Templates
2. Choose from pre-designed templates or create your own
3. Customize:
   • Header: Add your logo and brand colors
   • Layout: Single or multi-column post display
   • Footer: Add social links and contact info
4. Use the Preview button to see how it looks
5. Click Save Template

5 Send Your First Newsletter

Option A: Automatic Digest (Recommended)

1. Go to CN Blog Mailer → Settings → Automation
2. Enable Automatic Newsletters
3. Choose frequency:
   • Daily: Send every day at specified time
   • Weekly: Send once per week
   • Monthly: Send once per month
4. Set the time to send (e.g., 9:00 AM)
5. Configure how many recent posts to include
6. Click Save Changes

Essential Features You Should Know

✅ Included in FREE Version

⭐ Starter & Pro Features

Best Practices for Success

1. Email Deliverability

• Always use SMTP: Configure a reliable SMTP service (SendGrid, Mailgun, Gmail)
• Authenticate your domain: Set up SPF and DKIM records
• Avoid spam triggers: Don't use all caps, excessive punctuation, or spam words
• Keep a clean list: Remove inactive or bounced subscribers regularly

2. Content Strategy

• Compelling subject lines: Keep them under 50 characters and create curiosity
• Valuable content: Focus on quality over quantity
• Clear call-to-action: Tell readers exactly what you want them to do
• Mobile-friendly: 60% of emails are opened on mobile devices

3. Sending Frequency

• Start conservative: Weekly digests are often ideal
• Be consistent: Send on the same day and time
• Don't overwhelm: Too many emails lead to unsubscribes
• Test and adjust: Monitor engagement metrics and optimize

4. Compliance & Privacy

• Include unsubscribe link: Required by law and builds trust
• Add physical address: CAN-SPAM Act requirement
• Get explicit consent: Use double opt-in when possible
• Honor opt-outs immediately: Process unsubscribes within 24 hours

Common Issues & Solutions

📧 Emails Not Sending On Time?

Quick Fix: ALTERNATE_WP_CRON

If cron is stuck, some hosts block WordPress from calling wp-cron.php. Add this to your wp-config.php:

define('ALTERNATE_WP_CRON', true);

✅ Recommended: Install a Cron Manager Plugin

Install one of these free plugins to monitor and fix WordPress scheduling:

• WP Crontrol - Most popular, trusted by 300,000+ sites. View and manage all cron schedules.
• Advanced Cron Manager - Another great option for managing WordPress cron jobs.

⚙️ Advanced: Set Up System Cron (For Developers)

If you have server access, you can disable WP-Cron and use a real system cron:

1. Add to wp-config.php: define('DISABLE_WP_CRON', true);
2. Add this to your server crontab:

*/5 * * * * curl https://yoursite.com/wp-cron.php >/dev/null 2>&1

This runs every 5 minutes. Ask your hosting provider for help if needed.

📧 Emails Going to Spam?

1. Configure SMTP: Don't use WordPress default mail() - use an SMTP plugin
2. Set up SPF/DKIM: Authenticate your sending domain (ask your SMTP provider)
3. Warm up your domain: Start with small batches if using a new domain
4. Avoid spam triggers: Don't use ALL CAPS, excessive punctuation, or spam words in subject lines
5. Check blacklists: Use tools like MXToolbox to verify your domain

📊 Low Open Rates?

1. Improve subject lines: Make them compelling, personal, and under 50 characters
2. Clean your list: Remove inactive subscribers (Pro feature)
3. Optimize send time: Test different days and times (9-11 AM Tue-Thu works well)
4. Segment your audience: Send targeted content (Pro feature)

🔧 Built-in Debug Tools (Starter & Pro)

Starter and Pro users have access to powerful debugging tools in the plugin:

• Cron Status Page: Go to CN Blog Mailer → Cron Status to see cron health, execution logs, and run tasks manually
• Schedule Debug: Enable 48-hour schedule debugging to log all scheduling decisions
• Open Tracking Debug: Enable tracking debug to troubleshoot analytics issues
• Email Queue Monitor: Real-time view of pending, sent, and failed emails
• Force Reschedule: Reset all cron schedules with one click
• Run Queue Now: Manually process pending emails immediately

Choose the Right Plan for You

Compare features across all three plans to find the perfect fit for your needs

Feature	Free	Starter	Pro
Subscribers	Unlimited	Unlimited	Unlimited
Custom Email Campaigns	✗	✓	✓
Automated Digests	Basic	Basic	Advanced
Subscription Forms	✓	✓	✓
Double Opt-In	✗	✓	✓
Email Templates	1 template	3 templates	5 templates + Custom Design
Import/Export (CSV)	✗	✓	✓
Custom Email Templates	✗	✓	✓
Smart Background Sending	✗	✓	✓
Basic Analytics	✗	✓	✓
Advanced Analytics	✗	✗	✓
Subscriber Tags & Segments	✗	✗	✓
Weekly Automated Reports	✗	✗	✓
Priority Support	✗	✓ Email	✓ Email

Additional Resources

Documentation

• Main Product Page
• Feature Comparison
• Pricing Plans
• Frequently Asked Questions

Support

• Community Support Forum
• Contact Support (Starter & Pro customers)
• Frequently Asked Questions

Stay Updated

• Follow development on GitHub
• Subscribe to our newsletter for tips and updates