Dealer guide
Set up your website email
Your website sends you every lead and sends shoppers a "We got your request" email. Connect it to your email account so these arrive and don't land in spam. About 10 minutes.
You need:WordPress admin login · the email address that should send the emails · your phone (for Google's 2-Step Verification code)
Step 1 – Turn on FluentSMTP (free)
FluentSMTP comes with your website. You just switch it on.
- Log in to WordPress so you see the Dashboard.
- In the left menu, click Plugins.
- Find FluentSMTP in the list. (Car Lots should already show Deactivate – that means it's on.)
- Click Activate under FluentSMTP.
Step 2 – Turn on Google 2-Step Verification
Using Gmail or Google Workspace? Google needs this before it lets your website send email.
- Go to myaccount.google.com/security (in the menu it's called Security & sign-in).
- Click 2-Step Verification and turn it On. A text code or the Google prompt on your phone works. (A passkey alone doesn't count.)
- Done right? "Recent security activity" shows Signing in with 2-Step Verification was turned on.
Step 3 – Create an app password
3a. Go to myaccount.google.com/apppasswords (or on the Security & sign-in page, search "App passwords" at the top). Type Car Lots as the App name and click Create.
3b. Google shows a 16-character code. Copy it – Google shows it only once.
3c. Click Done. "Car Lots" is now in your list of app passwords.
Use this code, not your normal Gmail password. If "App passwords" says it's not available, your Google admin turned it off – ask them, or use FluentSMTP's "Google Workspace / Gmail" sign-in option instead.
Step 4 – Connect FluentSMTP
In WordPress: Settings › FluentSMTP › Add Connection › Other SMTP. Fill in:
| Field | What to enter |
|---|---|
| From Email | Your Gmail / business email address |
| From Name | Your dealership name |
| SMTP Host | smtp.gmail.com |
| SMTP Port | 587 |
| Encryption | TLS |
| Use authentication | Yes |
| SMTP Username | The same email address |
| SMTP Password | The 16-character app password |
Click Save Connection Settings.
Step 5 – Send a test email
- In FluentSMTP click Send Test Email (top right) to open Email Test. Leave From empty.
- ① In Send To, type the inbox where you want leads → ② click Send Test Email.
- Check that inbox (and spam). It should be there in a minute.
Done right? The test email arrives in that inbox: "Congrats, test email was sent successfully!" If it's in Spam, mark it "Not spam".
Step 6 – Tell the website who gets leads
- Go to Car Lots › Forms & leads. Under Lead alert emails:
- ① Type each address that should get lead alerts (one per row). ② Tick All forms, or only the forms that person handles. Empty = the site admin email gets everything.
- ③ Scroll down to Shopper confirmation and leave Send the shopper a "We got your request" email ticked. You can change its subject and message right there.
- ④ Click Save changes. ("Save and send a test lead" also sends you a sample lead.)
Step 7 – Try a real lead
- On your website, send the Contact form using your phone's email as the shopper.
- You get the lead alert. Your phone gets the "We got your request" email.
- In FluentSMTP › Email Logs both say Successful.
Done right? Within a minute every lead recipient gets a "New lead from your website" email like this:
Not using Gmail?
- Microsoft 365 / Outlook: FluentSMTP › Add Connection › Outlook / Office 365 and follow the on-screen steps (your IT person may need to help).
- Other email (web host, GoDaddy…): ask your provider for SMTP host, port, encryption, username and password, then use Other SMTP.
Tips
- Emails in spam? Send from an address on your own domain and ask your email provider to add SPF, DKIM and DMARC records.
- Changed your Google password? Create a new app password and paste it into FluentSMTP.
- Stuck? Send a screenshot of FluentSMTP › Email Logs to your website support.
Other ways to connect
The steps above use Gmail. Using a different email? Find yours below.
| Your email | What to do |
|---|---|
| Gmail (…@gmail.com) | 1. Turn on 2-Step Verification. 2. Create an app password named Car Lots and copy the 16-letter code (shown once). 3. Settings › FluentSMTP › Add Connection › Other SMTP: host smtp.gmail.com, port 587, TLS, username = your Gmail, password = the code. Save.Full steps (pick "Gmail or Google Workspace") › |
| Google Workspace (…@yourdealer.com) | Same as Gmail with your business address. No "App passwords"? Use Add Connection › Google Workspace / Gmail and follow the on-screen steps. Full steps (pick "Gmail or Google Workspace") › |
| Microsoft 365 / Outlook | Add Connection › Outlook / Office 365 and follow the on-screen steps. Your IT person may need to help. Full steps (pick "Outlook or Office 365") › |
| Email sending service (SendGrid, Brevo, Mailgun, Amazon SES, Postmark, SMTP2GO…) | 1. Sign up with the service and verify your domain (it gives you a few DNS records to add – your web person or domain host can do this). 2. Create an API key in the service. 3. Settings › FluentSMTP › Add Connection › pick the service by name › paste the API key › From Email = an address on your verified domain. Save. Full steps for SendGrid › Full steps for Brevo, Mailgun, Amazon SES, Postmark, SMTP2GO › |
| Other (web host, GoDaddy…) | Ask your provider for SMTP host, port, encryption, username and password. Enter them under Other SMTP. Full steps (pick "Any Hosting Email Service") › |
Which should I pick?
- Gmail / Workspace / Outlook: quickest if you already use them. Fine for most dealers. These have daily sending limits and are meant for normal mail, not bulk.
- Email sending service: best delivery (fewer emails in spam), detailed logs, and room to grow (newsletters, follow-up emails later). Needs your own domain (…@yourdealer.com) and a few DNS records. Most have a free or low-cost starter plan – check the service's pricing page.
- Your website doesn't care which you use: every lead alert, CRM (ADF) email and shopper confirmation goes through the connection you set up here.