Listmonk Basics

Listmonk is a self-hosted platform designed for newsletter and mailing list management. It’s an ideal solution for individuals looking to curate a subscriber list and efficiently send out email campaigns.

Watch the video tutorial for a visual demonstration.

Explore the official Listmonk documentation for detailed information.

Setting Up SMTP

SMTP (Simple Mail Transfer Protocol) enables Listmonk to send out your email campaigns effectively. To set up SMTP for Listmonk, follow these steps:

  1. Navigate to SMTP: Access the “Settings” section from the left side menu. Then, on the top tabs, select the “SMTP” tab.
  2. Configure SMTP Host: Enter the SMTP server’s address. This could be your own domain’s server or a service like Gmail.
  3. Set SMTP Port: Common SMTP ports include 465 (for SSL), and 587 (for TLS). Check with your SMTP provider for the correct port to use.
  4. Choose Authentication Protocol: The authentication method to use. “Login” is a common method.
  5. Enter Username and Password: This is typically the login information for the SMTP server you’re using. If you’re using Gmail, this would be your Gmail credentials.
  6. Test Connection: Verify the connection by using Listmonk’s “Test Connection” feature.
  7. Save Changes: Once the connection is successful, click the “Save” button located at the top right corner of the page.

With your SMTP settings properly configured, Listmonk will be able to send out your email campaigns using the specified SMTP server. This step is crucial for ensuring that your emails reach your subscribers’ inboxes reliably.

Creating Your First Campaign

When you’re ready to reach out to your subscribers via email, it’s time to kick off a campaign. This step includes fine-tuning the essential email details to ensure effective communication.

Here are the steps:

  1. On the left side menu, click on ‘Campaigns’
  2. Click on ‘+ Create new’
  3. Add the name and subject line.
  4. Change the ‘from’ email address as needed.
  5. Select a ‘list’ of subscribers from the dropdown menu. If you don’t have any lists yet, create one first.
  6. Choose a template from the dropdown menu.
  7. Optionally, add tags.
  8. Click continue.
  9. Craft the email content, similar to composing a message.
  10. Click ‘preview’ in the upper right to see how your email will look.
  11. Click ‘save changes’ in the upper right.
  12. Click ‘start campaign’ to send the campaign to your subscribers.

Creating a New List

In your Listmonk account, you can maintain multiple subscriber lists, organizing them based on the campaigns you’re running.

Here are the steps:

  1. Click ‘Lists’ in the left side menu.
  2. Choose ‘all lists’.
  3. Click ‘+ New’ in the upper right corner.
  4. Assign a name to your list.
  5. Specify private or public status. Public lists are open for subscription and may appear on public pages.
  6. Select single opt-in or double opt-in.
  7. Optionally, add tags for categorization.
  8. Optionally, provide a description for the list.
  9. Click ‘save’.