Keep Your Emails Out of the Spam Folder with SendGrid

SendGrid is one of the most effective ways to improve your email marketing performance. By sending emails from your own authenticated domain, you build a positive reputation with services like Google and Outlook, which helps your messages avoid the spam filter and reach your leads.

Table of Contents

1. Why This Integration Matters

2. Step-by-Step Instructions

3. Best Practices for a Smooth Rollout

4. Troubleshooting and FAQs

Why This Integration Matters

In a competitive market, your email campaigns are a direct line to your leads and clients. However, if your messages are flagged as spam, your efforts are wasted. This often happens when sending a high volume of emails from a shared service, where the actions of one user can affect the reputation of all users. Integrating SendGrid solves this problem directly.

By connecting SendGrid, you send emails from your own authenticated domain. This tells email providers that your messages are legitimate and trustworthy, drastically improving your deliverability. For your business, this means higher open rates, better engagement with your marketing campaigns, and a stronger brand reputation.

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Step-by-Step Instructions

Setting up SendGrid involves three main parts: authenticating your domain in SendGrid, connecting SendGrid to Sierra, and choosing the right SendGrid plan for your business.

Before You Begin

To make this process as smooth as possible, have the following ready:

• The domain you want to send emails from (e.g., youragentdomain.com).
• An email address associated with that domain.
• Your SendGrid account is fully set up with two-factor authentication (2FA) and billing information added.

1. Authenticate Your Domain in SendGrid

This first step tells email providers that SendGrid has your permission to send emails on your behalf.

1. Log in to your SendGrid account and navigate to Settings > Sender Authentication.
2. Under Domain Authentication, click Authenticate Your Domain.
3. Choose Cloudflare as your DNS host and select Yes when asked if you want to brand links for this domain. Click Next.
4. Enter your domain without any prefixes (e.g., yourdomain.com) and click Next.
5. On the next screen, instead of adding the DNS records yourself, click the Send to a Coworker button and send the instructions to support@sierrainteractive.com.
6. Our support team will notify you once they have added the records. This can take a business day.
7. Once you get confirmation, return to the Sender Authentication page in SendGrid and click on your domain, which should have a "pending" status.
8. Click the Verify button in the top-right corner. It can sometimes take up to 24 hours for verification to complete.
9. Finally, scroll down to the Link Branding section, select the same domain, and click Verify.

2. Connect SendGrid to Your Sierra Account

Now you'll create a secure connection that allows Sierra to use your newly authenticated domain.

1. In SendGrid, navigate to Settings > API Keys and click Create API Key.
2. Give your API key a memorable name (e.g., "Sierra Integration") and select Full Access for permissions.
3. Click Create & View, then copy the API key to a safe place. You will not be able to see it again after this step. 
4. Now, log in to your Sierra account. Navigate to the Settings gear icon > Integrations > SendGrid.
5. Paste your new API key into the field provided and click Validate API Key.
6. Enter the email address prefix you want to use (it must be on the domain you just verified).
7. Configure your settings:
   • Turn ON "Utilize for All Marketing Emails."
   • Turn OFF "Utilize for All Listing Alerts." We recommend leaving this off for the first 30 days to warm up your domain.
8. Click Save to complete the integration.

3. Choose Your SendGrid Plan

The final step is to activate a plan that matches your sending volume.

1. In SendGrid, click your name in the top-left corner and go to Account Details > Your Products.
2. Click Change Plan under the "Email API" section.
3. Select a plan that fits your needs. We typically recommend the Pro 100k plan for most teams.
4. Complete the purchase to finalize the setup. If the "Select" buttons are grayed out, double-check that your billing information is complete.

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Best Practices for a Smooth Rollout

• Secure Your API Key: Store your API key in a password manager or another secure location. If you lose it, you will have to generate a new one.
• Monitor Your Performance: After 30 days of solid performance with marketing emails, you can consider enabling SendGrid for your listing alerts to further improve deliverability.

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Troubleshooting and FAQs

Common Issues

• Issue: The "Select" button is grayed out when I try to choose a SendGrid plan.
  • Fix: This usually means the account setup is incomplete. Ensure your billing information is entered and you have enabled two-factor authentication in your SendGrid account.
• Issue: Links are broken in my test emails.
  • Fix: In your SendGrid settings, make sure Click Tracking and Subscription Tracking are disabled. These settings can sometimes interfere with the links in your Sierra emails.

Frequently Asked Questions

• Can I use a domain that is different from my main Sierra website domain?
  • Yes, you can. The setup process is the same, just be sure to follow SendGrid's instructions for authenticating the domain you wish to use.
• What happens if I lose my API key?
  • For security reasons, SendGrid only shows you the key once. If you lose it, you will need to create a new API key and update it in your Sierra integration settings.
• Why should I wait to enable listing alerts?
  • Listing alerts are sent in much higher volumes than marketing emails. Waiting 30 days allows you to build a positive reputation with email providers, which prevents your messages from being flagged as spam.

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