Here’s a comprehensive guide to using every feature of the Custom Email Mailing List Manager plugin:

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1. Installation & Setup

1. Install the Plugin
   • Upload the plugin ZIP file to your WordPress site under Plugins > Add New > Upload Plugin.
   • Activate it.
2. Database Setup
   • Upon activation, the plugin creates 4 tables:
     • wp_custom_mailing_lists (stores mailing lists)
     • wp_custom_subscribers (subscriber data with first/last names)
     • wp_custom_emails (email sequences)
     • wp_custom_sent_emails (tracks sent emails to avoid duplicates)

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2. Creating Mailing Lists

• Navigate: Email Manager > Mailing Lists
• Add a New List:
  1. Enter a name (e.g., “Free Course Subscribers”).
  2. Click Add Mailing List.
• Delete a List:
  • Click the Delete button next to a list.
  • Warning: This also deletes all associated subscribers.

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3. Managing Subscribers

Add Subscribers Manually

• Go to Email Manager > Subscribers.
• Fill in:
  • Email
  • First Name
  • Last Name
  • Select a mailing list.
• Click Add Subscriber.

Automatically via WooCommerce

1. Set Up SKU Rules (see Section 6 below).
2. When a customer purchases a product with a linked SKU, they’re added to the specified list automatically.

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4. Creating Automated Email Sequences

Use Case: Send a series of emails with delays (e.g., Day 0: Welcome, Day 3: Tips, Day 7: Offer).

1. Go to Email Manager > Create Email.
2. Configure:
   • Subject: Email title (e.g., “Welcome to Our Course!”).
   • Content:
     • Use {firstname} and {lastname} for personalization.
     • For HTML emails, use the Insert Link button for hyperlinks.
   • Email Type: Choose HTML (styled) or Plain Text.
   • Delay Days: Days after the user joins the list to send this email (e.g., 0 = immediately).
   • Mailing List: Assign to a list.
3. Click Create Email.

How Automation Works:

• The plugin checks daily via WordPress cron for emails due to be sent (based on delay_days).
• Emails are sent only once per subscriber (tracked in wp_custom_sent_emails).

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5. Sending One-Off Emails

Use Case: Broadcast a newsletter or announcement to a list.

1. Go to Email Manager > Send One-Off Email.
2. Configure:
   • Subject: Email title.
   • Content: Use {firstname}/{lastname} placeholders.
   • Mailing List: Select the target list.
3. Click Send Email.
   • Note: One-off emails bypass the delay system and are sent immediately to all subscribers.

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6. WooCommerce SKU-to-List Rules

Use Case: Add customers to specific lists when they buy products (e.g., purchasers of SKU “BOOK123” join the “Book Buyers” list).

1. Go to Email Manager > Settings.
2. Add a Rule:
   • Product SKU: Enter the product’s SKU (must match exactly).
   • Mailing List: Choose the list to assign.
3. Click Add New Rule and Save Rules.

How It Works:

• After a WooCommerce order is marked “completed,” the plugin checks the purchased items’ SKUs.
• If a match is found, the customer’s email and name are added to the linked list.

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7. Managing Emails

• Edit/Delete Emails:
  • Go to Email Manager > Manage Emails.
  • Click Edit to update content, delay, or list.
  • Click Delete to remove an email sequence.

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8. Advanced Settings

Cron Job Configuration

• By default, emails are sent daily at 12:00 PM via WordPress cron.
• To Improve Accuracy:
  • Use a real cron job on your server (ask your host) or install a plugin like WP Crontrol.
  • Set the interval to hourly for faster processing.

Data Export/Backup

• Use phpMyAdmin or a plugin like WP All Export to backup:
  • Subscribers: wp_custom_subscribers
  • Lists: wp_custom_mailing_lists
  • Emails: wp_custom_emails

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9. Troubleshooting

Emails Not Sending?

1. Check Cron Jobs:
   • Install WP Crontrol to verify custom_send_due_emails_cron is scheduled.
2. Test Email Deliverability:
   • Install WP Mail SMTP to configure SMTP (Gmail, SendGrid, etc.).
3. Debug Logs:
   • Check wp-content/debug.log for errors.

Placeholders Not Working

• Ensure {firstname} and {lastname} are spelled correctly and added to email content.

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10. Best Practices

• Test Sequences: Add yourself to a list to confirm emails send on schedule.
• Clean Lists: Regularly remove inactive subscribers.
• Backup Data: Export subscriber lists periodically.
• Use HTML Sparingly: Plain text emails often have higher deliverability.

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This plugin puts full control of email marketing in your hands—no monthly fees or data sharing. For support, refer to your site’s error logs or consult a developer for custom tweaks.