If you’ve got a contact form on your website, it should be working for you 24/7. Collecting leads, questions, and inquiries from your visitors. But here’s a problem we’ve been seeing more and more lately:
- People are filling out your form.
- The entries are stored in your site’s backend.
- 🚨But the notification email never hits your inbox.
That means missed leads and missed opportunities.
👉 First step for everyone: Go to YOUR website right now, fill out your form, and make sure the email comes through. If it doesn’t, here’s why (and how to fix it).
Why This Happens
By default, WordPress uses something called PHP mail to send notifications. The problem? Email providers like Gmail, Outlook, and Yahoo don’t always trust these emails. Many get filtered into spam or blocked entirely.
That’s where SMTP (Simple Mail Transfer Protocol) comes in. SMTP acts like a secure “middleman” between your website and your inbox, making sure your form notifications are delivered reliably.
What Changed with SendGrid
For a long time, SendGrid was a popular option for handling WordPress email delivery.
- They offered a low-tier free plan.
- Many sites (ours included) used it to make sure notifications got delivered.
But here’s the update: SendGrid now only offers a 60-day free trial. After that, you’ll need to upgrade to a paid account.
So if you’ve had a free SendGrid account for a while, you may already be seeing issues with form emails not arriving.
If you’re happy to pay for SendGrid—stick with them! They’re still a strong solution. If not, there’s another option…
Why We Recommend Mailgun
Mailgun has become our go-to recommendation for WordPress sites:
- Free forever tier: up to 100 emails/day. Suitable for most small-businesses.
- Reliable delivery, works well with Gravity Forms.
- Easy to set up and manage.
- Same basic functionality as SendGrid, without the time limit.
What You Should Do Right Now
Step 1: Test your form.
Go to your site, fill it out, and see if the notification lands in your inbox.
Step 2: Check your email delivery setup.
- Using SendGrid? You may need to upgrade.
- Want to stick with a free option? Mailgun is the way to go.
Step 3: If you’re still not sure—let us help.
Submit a ticket at artillerymedia.com/support. We’ll check your setup, recommend the best path, and make sure you’re not missing important leads.
Don’t Lose Leads to a Broken Notification System
Your contact form is one of the most valuable tools on your site. Don’t let an email delivery hiccup keep you from connecting with your visitors.
- Test your form today.
- Upgrade or switch providers if needed.
- Reach out to ARTILLERY if you’d like us to handle it for you.
Because a lead that never hits your inbox is a lead that never becomes a customer!
Contact us today with any questions: artillerymedia.com/contact/
