Email Notifications Setup
2 min read
Smart Cycle Discounts includes a comprehensive email notification system that keeps you informed about your campaign performance, potential issues, and opportunities for optimization. This guide covers the complete notification setup process.
Notification System Overview #
Available Notification Types #
| Notification Type | Availability | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Campaign Expiration | Free | Alerts before campaigns expire |
| Campaign Start | Free | Confirms when campaigns activate |
| Performance Alerts | Pro | Notifies about underperforming campaigns |
| Low Stock Alerts | Pro | Warns when discounted products run low |
| Conflict Warnings | Pro | Alerts about overlapping campaigns |
| Analytics Reports | Pro | Scheduled performance summaries |
Accessing Notification Settings #
Navigation Path #
- Go to SC Discounts → Notifications in the WordPress admin menu
- The Notifications page has multiple tabs for different settings
Available Tabs #
| Tab | Purpose |
|---|---|
| Settings | Configure notification preferences and recipients |
| Queue Status | View pending and sent notifications |
| Scheduled Reports | Set up automated analytics emails (Pro) |
Basic Configuration #
Enable/Disable Notifications #
- Navigate to SC Discounts → Notifications → Settings
- Find the “Enable Email Notifications” toggle
- Turn on to activate the notification system
- Click “Save Settings”
Recipient Configuration #
Specify who receives notification emails:
| Setting | Description |
|---|---|
| Admin Email | Uses WordPress admin email by default |
| Custom Recipients | Add additional email addresses |
| Multiple Recipients | Separate multiple emails with commas |
Adding Recipients #
- Find the “Notification Recipients” field
- Enter email addresses separated by commas
- Example:
[email protected], [email protected], [email protected] - Click “Save Settings”
Notification Preferences #
Per-Notification Settings #
Each notification type can be individually configured:
- Enabled/Disabled: Turn specific notifications on or off
- Timing: Configure when alerts are sent (e.g., days before expiration)
- Threshold: Set sensitivity levels for alerts
Campaign Expiration Alerts #
| Setting | Options | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Enable | On/Off | Send expiration warnings |
| Days Before | 1-14 days | When to send the warning |
| Include Metrics | Yes/No | Show campaign performance in email |
Campaign Start Notifications #
| Setting | Options | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Enable | On/Off | Send activation confirmations |
| Include Details | Yes/No | Show campaign configuration in email |
Testing Notifications #
Send Test Email #
- Configure your notification settings
- Click the “Send Test Email” button
- A test notification is sent to all configured recipients
- Check your inbox (and spam folder) to confirm delivery
Troubleshooting Test Emails #
If test emails don’t arrive:
- Check WordPress can send emails (try password reset)
- Verify recipient email addresses are correct
- Check spam/junk folders
- Consider using an SMTP plugin for reliable delivery
Queue Management #
Viewing the Queue #
The Queue Status tab shows:
- Pending: Notifications waiting to be sent
- Sent: Successfully delivered notifications
- Failed: Notifications that couldn’t be delivered
Queue Actions #
| Action | Description |
|---|---|
| Retry Failed | Attempt to resend failed notifications |
| Clear Queue | Remove pending notifications |
| View Details | See full notification content and status |
Email Appearance #
Email Format #
Notification emails are sent as:
- HTML format: Professional styling and layout
- Plain text fallback: For email clients that don’t support HTML
- Mobile responsive: Readable on all devices
Branding #
Emails include:
- Your site name in the header
- Clear Smart Cycle Discounts branding
- Direct links to relevant admin pages
Notification Timing #
How Notifications Are Processed #
Notifications are processed via WordPress cron:
- Events trigger notification creation
- Notifications are queued for delivery
- Cron job processes the queue (typically within minutes)
- Emails are sent via WordPress mail system
Delivery Timing Factors #
- WP-Cron reliability: Depends on site traffic
- Email provider: May add slight delays
- Queue size: Large queues process in batches
Best Practices #
Recommended Configuration #
- Enable key notifications: At minimum, enable expiration and start alerts
- Set reasonable timing: 3-7 days warning for expirations is typically ideal
- Limit recipients: Only add people who need to know
- Test regularly: Send periodic test emails to verify delivery
Avoiding Notification Fatigue #
- Don’t enable every notification type
- Focus on actionable alerts
- Adjust thresholds to reduce false positives
- Consider daily digests over individual alerts (Pro)
Disabling Notifications #
Temporarily #
Turn off the master “Enable Email Notifications” toggle. All settings are preserved for when you re-enable.
For Specific Types #
Disable individual notification types while keeping others active.
For Specific Recipients #
Remove email addresses from the recipient list while keeping notifications active for others.