How to Install MailWizz Email Marketing System (Ultimate Step-by-Step Guide)

Email marketing is a powerful tool for reaching and engaging with your customers and building your brand. MailWizz is a popular email marketing platform that offers many features and tools for creating and managing email campaigns. In this guide, I will show you how to install MailWizz Email Marketing System in easy, step-by-step instructions. Whether you are a beginner or an experienced user, this guide will help you get started with MailWizz and build successful email campaigns in no time.

Before we get started with the installation process, it's essential to make sure that your system meets the requirements for running MailWizz. This will ensure that the installation process goes smoothly and that MailWizz functions properly on your server. In this section below, I will outline the minimum system requirements for installing MailWizz Email Marketing System.

What are the system requirements for installing MailWizz?

The system requirements for installing MailWizz Email Marketing System are as follows:

Web server:

MailWizz requires a good web server with PHP 5.6 or higher and a MySQL database. It is compatible with the most popular web servers, such as Apache and Nginx.

Apache is an open-source web server that is widely used for email marketing platforms. It is known for its stability, flexibility, and scalability, and is available for multiple operating systems including Linux, Windows, and macOS.

Nginx is a high-performance web server that is known for its speed and ability to handle large volumes of traffic. It is a popular choice for email marketing platforms due to its lightweight design and low resource requirements.

Microsoft IIS is a web server that is included with the Windows operating system. It is a stable and reliable option for email marketing platforms and is well-suited for use with Windows servers.

Ultimately, the best web server for your email marketing platform will depend on your specific needs and requirements. You should consider factors such as your operating system, the size of your email list, and the complexity of your email campaigns when choosing a web server.

Based on my experience as a full-time affiliate marketer, I recommend you begin with the Apache server since it is arguably the most popular server, and most applications are tailored to function well on the most popular web servers so you can't go wrong with the apache web server.

PHP:

MailWizz requires PHP 5.6 or higher with the following extensions: cURL, GD, mbstring, and OpenSSL.

cURL is a library that allows you to connect to and communicate with other servers over a network. It is often used to transfer data from one server to another, such as downloading a file from a web server or making an API request to another server.

cURL can be used to perform a variety of tasks, such as:

Retrieving data from a remote server: cURL can be used to send HTTP requests to a remote server and receive a response. This is often used to retrieve data from web APIs or other servers.

Sending data to a remote server: cURL can be used to send data to a remote server, such as when uploading a file or making a POST request to an API.

Authenticating with a remote server: cURL supports various authentication methods, such as basic authentication and OAuth, which can be used to access protected resources on a remote server.

Debugging network issues: cURL includes a number of debugging options that can be used to troubleshoot issues with network communication.

Overall, cURL is a powerful tool that allows web servers to interact with other servers and transfer data over a network.

Aside from cURL, another very important PHP library needed by Mailwizz is GD.

GD is a library for creating and manipulating images in PHP. It can be used to create, edit, and output images in various formats, such as JPEG, PNG, and GIF.

GD can be used to perform a variety of tasks, such as:

Generating images on the fly: GD can be used to create images dynamically, such as generating a chart or graph based on data.

Resizing and cropping images: GD can be used to resize and crop images to specific dimensions, which can be useful for displaying images on a website or in an email.

Adding text and watermarks to images: GD can be used to add text or watermarks to images, which can be useful for branding or copyright purposes.

Manipulating image colors and effects: GD can be used to adjust the colors and effects of an image, such as changing the brightness or adding a blur effect.

GD is a very useful tool for creating and manipulating images in PHP, which can be useful for a variety of tasks on a web server, and without these functionalities, MailWizz cannot function properly.

Aside from GD, another very important library needed by MailWizz to function properly is mbstring.

mbstring is a PHP library that provides functions for working with multibyte strings. Multibyte strings are character strings that contain characters from multiple character sets, such as Chinese or Japanese characters.

In the context of email marketing, mbstring can be used to perform a variety of tasks, such as:

1. Encoding and decoding multibyte strings: mbstring provides functions for converting multibyte strings to and from different character encodings, such as UTF-8 and ISO-8859-1. This can be useful for ensuring that email messages are correctly displayed to different email clients.
2. Validating and sanitizing multibyte strings: mbstring provides functions for checking the validity of multibyte strings and removing any invalid characters. This can be useful for preventing issues with email messages caused by invalid characters.
3. Manipulating multibyte strings: mbstring provides functions for manipulating multibyte strings, such as finding the length of a string or extracting a substring.

Overall, mbstring is a useful tool for working with multibyte strings in email marketing, which can be useful for handling characters from different character sets and ensuring that email messages are displayed correctly.

Last but not least PHP library needed by Mailwizz to function optimally is Open SSL.

OpenSSL is a library that provides secure communication over networks. It is often used to secure data transmitted over the internet, such as when making an SSL/TLS connection to a web server or sending an email over SMTP.

In the context of MailWizz, OpenSSL can be used to perform a variety of tasks, such as:

1. Encrypting data: OpenSSL can be used to encrypt data transmitted between servers, such as when sending an email over SMTP or making an API request.
2. Verifying the identity of a server: OpenSSL can be used to verify the identity of a server, such as when making an SSL/TLS connection to a web server. This helps to prevent man-in-the-middle attacks and ensure that data is transmitted securely.
3. Generating and managing SSL/TLS certificates: OpenSSL can be used to generate and manage SSL/TLS certificates, which are used to secure communication over the internet.

In a nutshell, OpenSSL is a powerful tool for securing communication over networks and is an important component of email marketing platforms like MailWizz. Without it most of your emails will end up bounced or in the spam box of your recipients.

MySQL:

MailWizz requires a MySQL database version 5.1 or higher to function optimally.

MySQL is used to store and manage data related to email campaigns, subscribers, and other information needed to run the email marketing platform.

MySQL is a popular choice for use with Mailwizz and other email marketing software because it is fast, reliable, and easy to use. It allows Mailwizz to store and retrieve large amounts of data quickly and efficiently, making it possible to run email campaigns at scale and handle large numbers of subscribers and email messages.

Overall, the function of MySQL in Mailwizz is to provide a robust and scalable database solution that allows email marketing software to manage and store the data it needs to run effectively.

Operating system:

MailWizz can be installed on any operating system that supports the above requirements, including Linux, Windows, and macOS.

There are several operating systems that can be used to host email marketing software like Mailwizz, and the most popular one can vary depending on the specific needs and requirements of the user. Some of the most commonly used operating systems for hosting email marketing software like Mailwizz include:

1. Linux: Linux is a popular choice for hosting email marketing software due to its stability, security, and performance. It is widely used in production environments and is known for being reliable and easy to manage.
2. Windows: Windows is another popular operating system for hosting email marketing software. It is widely used and is known for its ease of use and wide range of available software and tools.
3. macOS: macOS is the operating system used on Apple's Mac computers and is also sometimes used for hosting email marketing software. It is known for its user-friendly interface and wide range of available software and tools.

Ultimately, the most popular operating system for hosting Mailwizz will depend on your specific needs and requirements. It is important to carefully consider the features and capabilities of different operating systems and choose the one that best meets the needs of the email marketing software and the users.

Memory:

MailWizz recommends a minimum of 256MB of PHP memory limit. But you can also increase the limits if the need arises.

There are a few different ways to increase the PHP memory limit on different web servers, depending on the specific server you are using and the configuration of your system. Here are a few common methods for increasing the PHP memory limit:

1. Edit the php.ini file: On most systems, the PHP memory limit is set in the php.ini configuration file. To increase the limit, you can edit this file and set the memory_limit value to a higher number. For example, to set the limit to 500MB, you would add the following line to the php.ini file: memory_limit = 500M.
2. Use the ini_set function: You can also use the ini_set function in your PHP code to increase the memory limit for a specific script. For example, to set the limit to 500MB, you can use the following code: ini_set('memory_limit', '500M');.
3. Use an .htaccess file: If you are using an Apache web server and have access to the .htaccess file, you can use this file to set the PHP memory limit. To do this, add the following line to the .htaccess file: php_value memory_limit 500M.
4. Contact your hosting provider: If you are unable to increase the PHP memory limit using the methods above, you may need to contact your hosting provider for assistance. They should be able to help you increase the limit or provide guidance on how to do so.

It is important to note that increasing the PHP memory limit can have an impact on the performance of your server, so you should only increase it if you really need to. It is also a good idea to test your scripts and applications after increasing the limit to ensure that they are functioning properly and to identify any potential issues.

Execution time:

MailWizz recommends a minimum of 30 seconds for the PHP max execution time. You can also increase the execution time based on your individual needs by following the short guide below:

How to increase the maximum execution time of your PHP server

The PHP max execution time is the maximum amount of time that a PHP script is allowed to run before it is terminated by the server. This setting is useful for preventing long-running scripts from consuming too many resources and potentially causing issues on the server.

There are a few different ways to increase the PHP max execution time, depending on the specific server you are using and the configuration of your system. Here are a few common methods for increasing the PHP max execution time:

1. Edit the php.ini file: On most systems, the PHP max execution time is set in the php.ini configuration file. To increase the limit, you can edit this file and set the max_execution_time value to a higher number. For example, to set the limit to 300 seconds (5 minutes), you would add the following line to the php.ini file: max_execution_time = 300.
2. Use the set_time_limit function: You can also use the set_time_limit function in your PHP code to increase the max execution time for a specific script. For example, to set the limit to 300 seconds (5 minutes), you can use the following code: set_time_limit(300);.
3. Use an .htaccess file: If you are using an Apache web server and have access to the .htaccess file, you can use this file to set the PHP max execution time. To do this, add the following line to the .htaccess file: php_value max_execution_time 300.
4. Contact your hosting provider: If you are unable to increase the PHP max execution time using the methods above, you may need to contact your hosting provider for assistance. They should be able to help you increase the limit or provide guidance on how to do so.

Please kindly note that increasing the PHP max execution time can have an impact on the performance of your server, so you should only increase it if you really need to. It is also a good idea to test your scripts and applications after increasing the limit to ensure that they are functioning properly and to identify any potential issues.

It's important to note that these are the minimum requirements for installing MailWizz. Depending on the size and complexity of your email campaigns, you may need to meet higher system requirements to ensure optimal performance.

Now that we now clearly know the requirements for running MailWizz, let's jump right into the installation process.

How to Install MailWizz Email Marketing System

Here is a detailed step-by-step guide on how to install the MailWizz email marketing system:

Just in case you skipped everything up until this point below are the prerequisites, even though I have already written extensively on them in the paragraphs above.

1. Prerequisites: Before you start the installation process, make sure that you have the following prerequisites in place:

• A web server (such as Apache or Nginx) with PHP and MySQL installed
• A domain name and hosting account configured for your MailWizz installation
• The MailWizz installation package, which you can download from the official website (HERE)

2. Extract the installation package: Extract the contents of the MailWizz installation package to a folder on your computer. This will create a new folder with the name of the package and all the necessary files and folders inside it.
   
3. Upload the files to your server: Using an FTP client or the file manager provided by your hosting provider, upload the contents of the MailWizz folder to your server. Make sure to upload the files to the correct location on your server, as specified by your hosting provider.
   
4. Create a MySQL database: Next, you will need to create a MySQL database and user for your MailWizz installation. You can do this using the MySQL command line interface or using a tool such as phpMyAdmin. Make sure to remember the database name, username, and password, as you will need them during the installation process.
   
5. Run the installation script: Once you have uploaded the files to your server and created the MySQL database, you can start the installation process by accessing the installation script in your web browser. To do this, enter the URL of your MailWizz installation in the address bar of your web browser (for example, http://yourdomain.com/mailwizz/install). This will open the MailWizz installation wizard.
   
6. Follow the installation wizard: Follow the instructions provided by the installation wizard to complete the installation process. You will be asked to enter information such as your MySQL database details, your email address, and your preferred language. Make sure to carefully read each step and enter the required information accurately.
   
7. Configure your MailWizz account: Once the installation process is complete, you will be asked to configure your MailWizz account. This includes setting up your account information, such as your name, email address, and password, as well as configuring any additional settings or options you want to use.
   
8. Finish the installation: After configuring your MailWizz account, you can finish the installation process by clicking the “Finish installation” button. This will complete the installation and you will be redirected to the MailWizz login page.
   
9. Log in to your MailWizz account: To log in to your MailWizz account, enter your email address and password in the login form and click the “Log in” button. This will take you to the MailWizz dashboard, where you can start creating and managing your email campaigns.

I hope this guide helps you install the MailWizz email marketing system successfully. For the benefit of those that might still have other questions about setting up Mailwizz, I have taken time to answer the most commonly asked questions about Mailwizz installation and setup.

How to create a database for MailWizz

To create a database for MailWizz, you will need to have access to a MySQL database server and a tool for managing the database, such as the MySQL command line interface or a web-based tool like phpMyAdmin.

Here is a step-by-step guide on how to create a database for MailWizz using phpMyAdmin:

1. Open phpMyAdmin: In your web browser, enter the URL for your phpMyAdmin installation (usually something like http://yourdomain.com/phpmyadmin). This will open the phpMyAdmin login page.
2. Log in to phpMyAdmin: Enter your MySQL username and password in the login form and click the “Go” button to log in to phpMyAdmin.
3. Create a new database: Once you are logged in to phpMyAdmin, click on the “Databases” tab at the top of the page. In the “Create database” field, enter a name for your MailWizz database and click the “Create” button. This will create a new empty database with the specified name.
4. Create a new user: To create a new user for your MailWizz database, click on the “Users” tab and then click on the “Add user” button. Enter a username and password for the new user, and make sure to select the “Grant all privileges on database [database name]” option. This will give the new user full access to the MailWizz database.
5. Save the database and user details: Make sure to remember the database name, username, and password, as you will need to enter them during the MailWizz installation process. You can also write them down or save them in a safe place for later reference.

That's it! You have successfully created a database and user for your MailWizz installation. You can now proceed with the MailWizz installation process and enter the database and user details when prompted.

How to configure the SMTP settings for MailWizz

To configure the SMTP (Simple Mail Transfer Protocol) settings for MailWizz, you will need to have access to an SMTP server and the necessary login credentials. You will also need to have a MailWizz account and be logged in to the MailWizz dashboard.

Here is a step-by-step guide on how to configure the SMTP settings for MailWizz:

1. Log in to the MailWizz dashboard: In your web browser, enter the URL for your MailWizz installation (usually something like http://yourdomain.com/mailwizz) and log in to your MailWizz account using your email address and password.
2. Go to the SMTP settings page: Once you are logged in to the MailWizz dashboard, click on the “Configuration” tab in the top menu and then click on the “SMTP servers” option. This will open the SMTP servers page, where you can manage your SMTP settings.
3. Add a new SMTP server: To add a new SMTP server, click on the “Add new” button. This will open a form where you can enter the details of your SMTP server.
4. Enter the SMTP server details: In the form, enter the following information:

• Name: Give your SMTP server a descriptive name (e.g. “Gmail SMTP”)
• Hostname: Enter the hostname of your SMTP server (e.g. “smtp.gmail.com”)
• Port: Enter the port number for your SMTP server (e.g. 465 for SSL, 587 for TLS)
• Security: Select the appropriate security option for your SMTP server (e.g. “SSL”, “TLS”, etc.)
• User name: Enter the username for your SMTP server (e.g. your Gmail email address)
• Password: Enter the password for your SMTP server

5. Test the SMTP connection: After entering the SMTP server details, click on the “Test connection” button to test the connection to the SMTP server. If the connection is successful, you will see a message indicating that the test was successful.
6. Save the SMTP server: If the connection test is successful, click on the “Save” button to save the SMTP server. This will add the SMTP server to your list of available servers and you can select it when sending email campaigns in MailWizz.

I hope this guide helps you configure the SMTP settings for MailWizz. If you encounter any issues or have any questions, you can refer to the MailWizz documentation or contact their support team for assistance.

How to import an email list into MailWizz

To import an email list into MailWizz is easy, just follow these steps below:

1. Log in to your MailWizz account and go to the “Lists” tab.
2. Click on the “Import list” button.
3. Select the file that contains your email list. You can import a list from a CSV or TXT file.
4. Choose the encoding of your file.
5. Select the fields that you want to import. You can choose to import the email address, first name, and last name of each subscriber.
6. Click on the “Start import” button to begin importing your email list.

Alternatively, you can also use the MailWizz API to import your email list programmatically. You can find more information about the MailWizz API in the documentation provided by the MailWizz developers.

How to create and send an email campaign with MailWizz

To create and send an email campaign with MailWizz, follow these steps:

1. Log in to your MailWizz account and go to the “Campaigns” tab.
2. Click on the “Create new” button.
3. Select the list of subscribers you want to send the campaign to.
4. Choose the sender details for the campaign. You can select an existing sender from the list or create a new one.
5. Select the type of campaign that you want to create. You can choose between a regular campaign, an autoresponder campaign, or an RSS-to-email campaign.
6. Enter the subject and the content of the campaign. You can use the visual editor to design the email or you can use HTML code to create a more customized email.
7. Preview the campaign to make sure it looks the way you want it to.
8. Set the delivery options for the campaign. You can choose to send the campaign immediately or schedule it for a later date and time.
9. Click on the “Save and send” button to send the campaign to your subscribers.

How to customize the look and feel of the MailWizz interface

To customize the look and feel of the MailWizz interface, you can use the “Theme editor” feature. To access the Theme editor, follow these steps:

1. Log in to your MailWizz account and go to the “System” tab.
2. Under the “Configuration” section, click on the “Theme editor” link.
3. You will be taken to the Theme editor page, where you can customize various aspects of the MailWizz interface.

In the Theme editor, you can:

• Change the color scheme of the interface.
• Customize the logo and favicon.
• Edit the layout and design of the interface.

To make changes to the interface, simply click on the element that you want to customize and use the options provided to make your changes. You can preview your changes in the preview window on the right side of the page.

Once you are satisfied with your changes, click on the “Save” button to apply your changes to the MailWizz interface.

How to troubleshoot any issues that may arise during the installation of MailWizz

Here are some steps you can take to troubleshoot issues that may arise during the installation process of MailWizz:

1. Make sure that your server meets the minimum requirements for running MailWizz. You can find the minimum requirements in the MailWizz documentation or on the MailWizz website.
2. Check the error log files for any error messages that may indicate the cause of the issue. The error log files are typically located in the “logs” directory of your MailWizz installation.
3. Check the permissions of the directories and files on your server. Make sure that the directories and files have the correct permissions set, as specified in the MailWizz documentation.
4. If you are using a shared hosting account, make sure that your hosting provider allows you to install MailWizz. Some hosting providers may have restrictions on the applications that you can install on their servers.
5. If you are using a custom domain name, make sure that your DNS settings are correct and that your domain is pointed to the correct server.
6. If you are experiencing issues with sending emails, make sure that your email server is properly configured and that you are using the correct SMTP settings.
7. If you are still experiencing issues, you can try contacting the MailWizz support team for assistance. You can find the contact information for the MailWizz support team on the MailWizz website.

How to update or upgrade to the latest version of MailWizz

To update or upgrade to the latest version of MailWizz, follow these steps:

1. Make a backup of your MailWizz installation. This will ensure that you have a copy of your data and settings in case something goes wrong during the update process.
2. Download the latest version of MailWizz from the MailWizz website.
3. Extract the downloaded file and upload the contents to your server, replacing the existing MailWizz files. Make sure to preserve your “app/config” and “app/custom” directories, as these contain your custom configurations and themes.
4. Run the update script by visiting the “update.php” file in your browser. For example, if your MailWizz installation is located at “www.example.com/mailwizz“, you would visit “www.example.com/mailwizz/update.php” to run the update script.
5. Follow the instructions provided by the update script to complete the update process.

How to migrate MailWizz to a new server or hosting account

To migrate MailWizz to a new server or hosting account, follow these steps:

1. Make a backup of your MailWizz installation. This will ensure that you have a copy of your data and settings that you can use to restore your MailWizz installation on the new server.
2. Export your database and download it to your local computer. You can use a tool like PHPMyAdmin to export your database.
3. Upload the downloaded database to the new server. You can use a tool like PHPMyAdmin to import the database to the new server.
4. Upload the MailWizz files to the new server. Make sure to preserve your “app/config” and “app/custom” directories, as these contain your custom configurations and themes.
5. Update the database settings in the “app/config/main.php” file to match the new database on the new server.
6. Update the “base_url” setting in the “app/config/params.php” file to match the new URL of your MailWizz installation.
7. Run the update script by visiting the “update.php” file in your browser. For example, if your MailWizz installation is located at “www.example.com/mailwizz“, you would visit “www.example.com/mailwizz/update.php” to run the update script.
8. Follow the instructions provided by the update script to complete the migration process.

Final Thoughts and recommendations

Congratulations on taking the first step toward building a successful email marketing campaign with MailWizz! Installing MailWizz is a straightforward process that can be completed in just a few simple steps.

To install MailWizz, you will need a web hosting account and a domain name. We recommend using Bluehost as your web host for the best experience with MailWizz. Bluehost offers fast and reliable hosting with all the features you need to run MailWizz smoothly. With Bluehost, you can easily install MailWizz with just a few clicks using the Softaculous installer.

To install MailWizz on Bluehost:

1. Sign up for a Bluehost account and purchase a hosting plan.
2. Log in to your Bluehost account and go to the “cPanel” dashboard.
3. In the “Softaculous Apps Installer” section, click on the “MailWizz” icon.
4. Click on the “Install” button to start the installation process.
5. Follow the prompts to complete the installation process.

With Bluehost, you can be sure that your MailWizz installation will be fast, secure, and reliable. We hope this helps you get started with MailWizz and we wish you the best of luck with your email marketing campaigns!