If you send a lot of emails through a CRM, you already know: getting into the inbox is half the battle. Tools like Inboxally promise to help keep your messages out of the spam folder. But integrating it with your CRM? That’s where things can get messy—or, if you do it right, surprisingly smooth.
This guide is for anyone who wants to connect Inboxally to their CRM, automate some of the grunt work, and actually see an improvement in deliverability. We’ll skip the fluff, talk about what works, and point out what’s just noise. Let’s get your emails seen.
Why Integrate Inboxally with Your CRM?
Let’s get this out of the way: CRM email deliverability is an uphill slog. Your CRM is great at sending, but it’s not built to diagnose or fix inbox issues. Inboxally specializes in deliverability—think of it as a gym for your sender reputation, giving your emails “workouts” so they land where they should.
Integrating the two means:
- Less manual jumping between tools
- Real-time data on how your campaigns are actually doing
- The ability to act fast when your deliverability tanks
But don’t expect magic. This setup won’t fix a dirty list or bad content. It just helps you spot, diagnose, and respond to issues faster.
Step 1: Get Your Basics Right
Before you even look at integrations, check these off:
- Your CRM supports sending via SMTP or has API access: Not all CRMs play nice with external tools.
- You have Inboxally access: You’ll need admin access to both tools.
- You’ve set up DKIM, SPF, and DMARC: If not, do this first. No tool will help if your authentication is broken.
- Your email list is cleaned and up to date: No integration will save you from bad data.
If you’re missing any of these, fix them first. Seriously—no point building a house on a swamp.
Step 2: Decide on Your Integration Method
Inboxally isn’t a one-click CRM plugin. Integration depends on what your CRM allows. You’ve got three main options:
1. SMTP Routing (Most Common)
- How it works: You route your CRM’s outgoing mail through Inboxally’s SMTP details.
- Good for: CRMs like HubSpot, Salesforce, Zoho, Pipedrive (if they support custom SMTP).
- How to set it up: You enter Inboxally’s SMTP settings in your CRM’s “Email Sending” config.
- Downsides: All your CRM mail goes through Inboxally. Sometimes that’s overkill.
2. API/Webhooks (For Automation Nerds)
- How it works: Use Inboxally’s API to push data from your CRM (or vice versa).
- Good for: CRMs with robust automation, like Salesforce or HubSpot.
- How to set it up: You’ll need to write scripts or use middleware like Zapier/Make.
- Downsides: More complex. If you don’t like code, this isn’t for you.
3. Manual CSV Uploads (If All Else Fails)
- How it works: Export contacts or activity from your CRM, upload to Inboxally to monitor or “train” emails.
- Good for: When direct integration isn’t possible.
- How to set it up: You’ll need to export and upload data regularly.
- Downsides: Tedious, not real-time.
Pro tip: Start with SMTP if your CRM supports it. API is powerful but only worth it if you want deep automation.
Step 3: Connecting the Dots—A Practical Walkthrough
Let’s walk through the SMTP approach, since it’s the most common and requires the least code.
1. Get Your Inboxally SMTP Credentials
- Log in to Inboxally.
- Find the SMTP section in your dashboard (usually under “Settings” or “Integrations”).
- Copy down the server address, port, username, and password.
2. Update Your CRM’s Email Settings
- In your CRM, go to email or outgoing mail settings.
- Look for an option to “Add custom SMTP server.”
- Paste in the details from Inboxally.
- Save and test—most CRMs have a “Send test email” feature.
3. Confirm It’s Working
- Send a test campaign or email from your CRM.
- Check Inboxally’s dashboard to see if the email is being processed.
- Look for reports on inbox placement, opens, and spam.
Heads up: Some CRMs cache old settings or take a while to update. If it doesn’t work right away, give it a few minutes, then try again.
Step 4: Automate Monitoring and Feedback Loops
Once your CRM is routing mail through Inboxally, it’s time to close the loop. Here’s where most people stop—but don’t.
Set Up Alerts
- Use Inboxally’s notification tools (email, Slack, etc.) to get pinged if deliverability drops.
- If your CRM supports webhooks, you can trigger automations based on Inboxally’s feedback.
Feed Data Back into Your CRM
- For advanced users: Use Inboxally’s API to push deliverability stats directly to CRM records.
- Example: If a contact’s mailbox keeps bouncing your emails, tag them in your CRM for review or suppression.
- Not a coder? Use Zapier or Make to bridge the gap. It’s not perfect, but it’ll save time.
Review, Don’t Ignore
- Check stats weekly. Don’t assume “all good” just because you set it up once.
- Focus on trends: sudden drops, new spam flags, changes in open rates.
Step 5: Avoid Common Traps
There are a few traps nearly everyone hits. Save yourself the headache:
- Don’t overdo automation. Automating everything sounds cool, but if you can’t explain what’s happening, you’ll miss problems.
- Don’t ignore content. Inboxally helps with placement, but bad subject lines and spammy copy will still get you filtered.
- Don’t trust “set and forget.” Deliverability changes constantly. Keep an eye on your dashboards.
- Don’t use Inboxally to “fix” a totally broken domain. If you’ve been blacklisted, or your sender reputation is in the toilet, you need a bigger fix.
What Actually Makes a Difference
Let’s be honest: integrations are only as good as the operational habits behind them. Here’s where you’ll see the most bang for your buck:
- Regularly clean your lists: Inboxally can’t “warm up” a list of zombies.
- Authenticate your domain: SPF, DKIM, DMARC are non-negotiable.
- Monitor, then act: Use Inboxally’s data to adjust campaigns, not just to admire charts.
- Experiment: Try A/B testing subject lines and content; see what shifts your inbox rates.
Ignore the hype about “secret deliverability hacks.” The basics still matter more than any tool or integration.
Wrapping Up: Keep It Simple, Iterate Often
Getting Inboxally and your CRM working together isn’t rocket science, but it does take a little planning. Don’t get sucked into overengineering—start with SMTP, set up simple monitoring, and build from there. The real secret? Keep tweaking, keep checking, and don’t believe anyone who says deliverability is “solved” forever.
Good luck—and remember, the best workflow is the one you actually use.