Overview
Digital PR now supports a wide range of email providers, so you can send outreach campaigns from the inbox you already use. Connect Gmail, Microsoft 365 / Outlook, Zoho, iCloud, Yahoo, Fastmail, GoDaddy, Bluehost, Namecheap, or any custom domain using SMTP.
There are two ways to connect, depending on your provider:
- OAuth — a one-click secure login (Gmail and Microsoft 365). Recommended whenever available.
- SMTP / IMAP — username and password (or app password) for all other providers.
Before you start
- Make sure you have admin access to the email account you want to connect.
- If your provider uses two-factor authentication, you'll likely need an app password instead of your normal password.
- Use a dedicated sending inbox for outreach to protect your primary domain's deliverability.
How to open the Connect Email modal
- Go to Digital PR in Search Atlas.
- Open Settings > Email Accounts.
- Click Connect Email.
- Select your provider from the catalogue.
Connecting via OAuth (Gmail & Microsoft 365)
- Select Gmail or Microsoft 365 in the modal.
- Click Continue with Google or Continue with Microsoft.
- Sign in with the account you want to connect.
- Approve the requested permissions: send (so Search Atlas can deliver your outreach emails on your behalf) and read / manage outreach replies (so we can detect inbound replies, thread them to the correct campaign, and pause sequences automatically when a prospect responds). Search Atlas only reads messages tied to your outreach campaigns.
- You'll be redirected back to Search Atlas with your inbox connected.
Tip: If you use Google Workspace or Microsoft 365 with strict admin policies, your IT admin may need to whitelist Search Atlas first. Google Workspace admins can approve Search Atlas under Admin Console > Security > Access and data control > API controls > App access control. Microsoft 365 admins can approve it under Entra ID > Enterprise applications. If your admin needs the exact OAuth client ID or app identifier, contact Search Atlas support and we'll provide it.
Connecting via SMTP / IMAP
Use this method for Zoho, iCloud, Yahoo, Fastmail, GoDaddy, Bluehost, Namecheap, or any custom domain.
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Select your provider (or choose Custom / Other).
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Enter your email address and password (or app password — see below).
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For known providers, SMTP and IMAP server settings are filled in automatically. For custom domains, enter:
- SMTP host and port (usually 465 SSL or 587 TLS)
- IMAP host and port (usually 993 SSL)
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Click Test & Connect. We'll verify both sending and receiving before saving.
Threading mode
When you connect an email account, the Connect Email modal includes a Threading mode dropdown. This setting controls how Search Atlas reads and groups inbound replies into conversation threads for the provider you're connecting, and it applies to every email account linked under that provider — not just the inbox you're currently adding.
If you're unsure which option to choose, leave the default selected; you can revisit this setting later from Settings > Email Accounts. If replies aren't threading correctly after connecting, try switching the mode and reconnecting. (Reach out to support if you'd like guidance on which mode best matches your provider's IMAP/threading behavior.)
Where to find an app password
- iCloud: appleid.apple.com > Sign-In & Security > App-Specific Passwords
- Yahoo: Account Security > Generate app password
- Zoho: Account > Security > App Passwords
- Fastmail: Settings > Privacy & Security > App Passwords
- GoDaddy / Bluehost / Namecheap: use your standard mailbox password from your hosting control panel
Common pitfalls
- "Authentication failed" — You're using your regular password on an account that requires an app password. Generate one and try again.
- OAuth blocked by admin — Ask your Workspace or Microsoft 365 admin to approve Search Atlas as a trusted app.
- Wrong SMTP port — Try 587 (TLS) if 465 (SSL) fails, or vice versa.
- Custom domain not connecting — Confirm your hosting provider has IMAP enabled; some shared hosts disable it by default.
- Two-factor authentication errors — SMTP cannot bypass 2FA. You must use an app password.
Next steps
- Verify the connection: After saving, the inbox should appear with a green "Connected" status under Settings > Email Accounts. Click the inbox and use Send test email to confirm sending works end-to-end; the test message should arrive in the destination inbox within a minute.
- Set your sender name and signature in Email Account settings.
- Warm up new inboxes before launching large campaigns to protect deliverability.
- Connect multiple inboxes to rotate sending and increase daily volume.
- Head to Campaigns to start your first outreach sequence using the connected inbox as the sender.
Need to disconnect or re-authenticate? Open Settings > Email Accounts, click the inbox, and choose Reconnect or Remove.