How PressGuard restored reliable website enquiry delivery.
Learning Pad’s website forms appeared to work normally, but enquiry emails were not reaching the right inbox reliably. PressGuard investigated the issue, tested several sending methods and implemented a dependable Brevo setup through WP Mail SMTP.
Case study summary
The situation.
Learning Pad is an education provider based in Yorkshire, offering tutoring, SEN support, alternative provision, online tutoring, workshops and exam preparation. Their website is an important contact point for parents, carers, schools and organisations looking for support.
On the surface, the website forms appeared to be doing their job. Visitors could complete the form, submit their details and move through the enquiry process without seeing an obvious error. That made the problem harder to spot, because nothing looked broken from the front end.
The concern was what happened after the form was submitted. Email notifications were not arriving reliably, which meant genuine enquiries could have been missed without anyone knowing. For a business built around trust, care and timely support, that is more than a small technical inconvenience.
The form was submitting, but delivery could not be trusted.
This was not a visible design issue. It was a hidden delivery issue between WordPress, the sending method and the receiving inbox.
The real issue.
A WordPress form can submit successfully without the email being delivered properly. That is the annoying bit, because the website looks fine while enquiries quietly vanish into the void. Very helpful, WordPress.
The issue was not simply whether WordPress could generate an email. It was whether that email could be authenticated, accepted and delivered by modern mail systems. Many providers are much stricter now, especially when a website tries to send mail from a domain without the right supporting setup.
Submissions Looked Successful
The front end gave the impression that enquiries were being processed correctly.
Emails Were Not Reliable
Notifications were being generated, but they were not consistently reaching the inbox.
Authentication Needed Work
The sending route needed proper verification so mail providers could trust it.
Enquiries Could Be Missed
Lost form notifications can mean lost conversations, missed referrals and delayed responses.
The investigation.
We started by reviewing the existing WordPress mail setup and checking how the website was trying to send form notifications. The aim was not to guess at the problem. The aim was to follow the delivery route and work out where trust was breaking down.
Standard PHP mail was reviewed first because many WordPress sites still rely on it by default. PHP mail can work in some cases, but it is often weak for business critical forms because it lacks the authentication and control expected by modern email providers.
We then looked at Microsoft 365 as a possible route. That made sense because the business already used professional email, but connecting WordPress to Microsoft mail can become awkward. SMTP authentication, security rules and provider restrictions can all get involved, usually at the exact moment you least want them to.
The issue needed proper testing, not another quick plugin swap.
Several sending methods were checked before the final setup was chosen. Each method had to be tested against actual delivery, not just a green tick inside WordPress.
The back and forth.
This was not one of those fixes where the first change solves everything neatly. PHP mail was not dependable enough. Microsoft 365 looked like a logical option, but it did not give us the simple, stable website sending route required. SMTP settings were then tested, checked and adjusted.
The main challenge was that some tests could appear successful while the wider setup still lacked confidence. Sending one test email is not the same as building a reliable enquiry delivery process. For Learning Pad, the fix had to work beyond the first test.
We worked through the problem in stages, checking each failure point before moving on. That included WordPress settings, sender email details, authentication records, plugin configuration and the server’s outgoing behaviour.
Default Sending Reviewed
PHP mail was checked, but it did not provide the confidence needed for enquiry delivery.
Existing Email Route Tested
Microsoft 365 was explored, but the setup was not the cleanest route for this website.
Authentication Checked
SMTP settings were tested while reviewing security and sender verification requirements.
Errors Followed Through
Each error message was reviewed rather than ignored, including blocked sending attempts.
The Brevo setup.
After testing the available options, Brevo was selected as the transactional email provider. This meant Learning Pad’s website would no longer rely on the hosting server’s basic mail function to deliver enquiries.
WP Mail SMTP was configured to send through Brevo using an authenticated connection. The sender email was set to a domain based address, the Brevo API connection was added and the sending route was tested from WordPress.
During testing, Brevo blocked one sending attempt because the server IP had not yet been authorised. That error was useful because it confirmed the website was reaching Brevo, but Brevo’s security rules were stopping the send. Once the server IP was authorised, the connection could complete properly.
The final fix was not just Brevo. It was Brevo configured correctly.
The setup had to include the correct sender, the right WP Mail SMTP mailer, the Brevo API key and the authorised server IP.
What we put in place.
The final setup gave Learning Pad a clearer and more dependable way to send website notifications. Instead of relying on a fragile server based mail route, contact form emails now pass through a recognised transactional email provider.
This improves trust because the website is not just trying to send mail on its own. It is using a dedicated sending platform with proper authentication, logging and visibility. That makes future troubleshooting much easier if an issue appears again.
WP Mail SMTP Configured
The website was connected to Brevo through the WordPress mail plugin.
Domain Sender Set
The sender email was aligned with the Learning Pad domain for better trust.
IP Authorisation Fixed
The blocked server IP issue was found and corrected inside Brevo.
Delivery Validated
Repeated test emails were sent to confirm the setup worked reliably.
The outcome.
Learning Pad’s website now has a more reliable enquiry delivery process. Contact form notifications are sent through Brevo instead of depending on basic PHP mail or a difficult Microsoft 365 SMTP route.
The business now has greater confidence that website enquiries are reaching the intended inbox. That matters because these enquiries may come from parents, carers, schools or organisations who need a timely response.
The work also created clearer oversight. If delivery problems appear again, there is now a defined sending platform, a known configuration and a clearer place to check logs and authentication.
The website now has a proper email delivery route.
This moved the site away from guesswork and into a more controlled setup.
Why this case matters.
Many businesses assume their website forms work because the form submission message appears on screen. That is not enough. A form can submit correctly while the email notification fails behind the scenes.
For education providers, this is especially important. Enquiries are not always casual sales leads. They may involve parents looking for support, schools seeking provision or learners needing specialist help.
The lesson is simple. Website maintenance is not only about updates and uptime. It is also about checking whether business critical functions still do what they are meant to do.
Forms Can Look Fine
A successful form submission does not prove the email reached the inbox.
Missed Enquiries Matter
Lost messages can mean delayed support, lost trust and missed opportunities.
One Test Is Not Enough
The setup needed repeated checks before it could be considered reliable.
Functionality Needs Oversight
Critical website features should be checked, monitored and fixed when needed.
Placeholder testimonial from Beth to be added. This section will be updated once the final review has been provided by Learning Pad.
Beth, Learning PadAre your website enquiries actually reaching you?
A contact form that submits is not always a contact form that delivers. PressGuard can review your WordPress email setup, test delivery properly and fix issues before enquiries are missed.