Ghost CMS: Configure to send emails with Mailgun

Dave Swift

Sep 20, 2022 — 3 min read

In this tutorial, Dave guides us through the process of setting up a self-hosted Ghost instance to send both transactional and bulk emails. He breaks down the steps in a clear, easy-to-understand manner, ensuring you can follow along and set up your Ghost instance effectively.

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Introduction

Dave introduces the topic of configuring a self-hosted Ghost instance for email functionality.
Explains the difference between transactional and bulk emails.

Understanding Ghost's Email Capabilities

Demonstrates the issues faced when transactional emails are not configured in Ghost.
Explains the importance of setting up transactional emails for functionalities like password resets and member logins.

Setting Up Transactional Emails

Discusses the different email providers compatible with Ghost, including Amazon SES, Mailgun, SendGrid, and Gmail.
Details the process of setting up transactional emails using Mailgun.
Walks through the steps of configuring DNS settings on Mailgun and the user's DNS provider.

Configuring Bulk Emails

Explains the concept of bulk emails in Ghost, used primarily for sending newsletters.
Shows how to publish a post in Ghost and the options to send it as an email or publish on the website.
Provides a detailed guide on setting up bulk email sending in Ghost using Mailgun, including API configuration and tracking settings.

Mailgun Pricing

Clarifies the pricing structure of Mailgun, debunking common misconceptions about its cost.
Highlights the free tier available in Mailgun and the pay-as-you-go pricing above the free quota.

Detailed Setup Guide

Provides a step-by-step guide to add a new domain in Mailgun and configure DNS settings.
Demonstrates how to configure SMTP credentials in Mailgun for transactional emails.
Shows how to edit the Ghost configuration file to add email settings.
Verifies the email functionality in Ghost by testing both transactional and bulk email sending.

Conclusion

Summarizes the tutorial, ensuring the viewer understands how to configure both transactional and bulk emails in Ghost.
Encourages viewers to ask questions if they have any.

Important Moments

The detailed walkthrough of setting up DNS settings in Mailgun and the user's DNS provider.
The explanation and demonstration of configuring bulk email settings in Ghost.
The verification process for both transactional and bulk email functionality in Ghost, ensuring everything is set up correctly.

Dave successfully shows how to configure a self-hosted Ghost instance to send emails, providing a comprehensive guide for viewers to follow. Whether you're looking to send out newsletters or ensure your users can reset their passwords, this video offers the insights you need to get started.