What is Lead Fuel CRM?

Lead Fuel CRM is an all-in-one business platform that combines CRM, marketing automation, phone/SMS, email, websites, contracts, invoicing, and AI automation in one place for $97/month. It replaces 10+ separate software subscriptions.

How much does Lead Fuel CRM cost?

Lead Fuel CRM costs $97 per month with full access to all features. There are no hidden fees, setup costs, or long-term contracts. You can cancel anytime.

Who is Lead Fuel CRM for?

Lead Fuel CRM is designed for service-based small and medium businesses including photo booth companies, wedding professionals, chiropractors, event planners, RV parks, and contractors who want to simplify their tech stack and automate their business.

Does Lead Fuel CRM have AI features?

Yes, Lead Fuel CRM includes AI-powered features like GenieAI chatbots for 24/7 lead response, voice AI for phone calls, and smart automation that qualifies leads and books appointments automatically.

What tools does Lead Fuel CRM replace?

Lead Fuel CRM can replace separate subscriptions for email marketing (like Mailchimp), CRM systems (like HubSpot), scheduling (like Calendly), phone/SMS, funnel builders (like ClickFunnels), contracts (like Dubsado), invoicing, and automation tools (like Zapier).

What integrations does Lead Fuel CRM support?

Lead Fuel CRM integrates with Stripe for payments, Google (Calendar, Analytics, Ads), Facebook and Instagram for lead ads, Calendly, Zoom, QuickBooks, Shopify, and Zapier for connecting to 1000+ other apps.

Connecting SMTP Providers

Email System

SMTP Provider Integration Overview

SMTP (Simple Mail Transfer Protocol) providers handle the actual delivery of your emails. Lead Fuel CRM supports multiple SMTP providers including Mailgun, SendGrid, and Amazon SES. Choosing the right provider depends on your email volume, budget, and required features.

Comparing SMTP Providers

Setting Up Mailgun

Mailgun is a popular choice for lead-focused businesses. It offers excellent deliverability, detailed APIs, and transparent pricing.

Step 1:Visit mailgun.com and create a free account

Step 2:Verify your email address and domain

Step 3:In your Mailgun dashboard, go to Sending > Domain Settings

Step 4:Note your domain name (e.g., mg.yourdomain.com)

Step 5:Copy your API Key from Settings > API Security > Private API Key

Step 6:In Lead Fuel CRM, go to Settings > Email Configuration > Provider Setup

Step 7:Select "Mailgun" from the provider dropdown

Step 8:Paste your domain and API key

Step 9:Click "Test Connection" to verify

Step 10:Set Mailgun as your default provider

Tip: Mailgun offers a sandbox domain for testing before using your real domain. Use this to test your integration without affecting your sender reputation.

Setting Up SendGrid

SendGrid is ideal if you need advanced email marketing features and detailed analytics built into the platform.

Step 1:Visit sendgrid.com and sign up for a free or paid account

Step 2:Complete email verification and domain setup

Step 3:Go to Settings > API Keys in your SendGrid dashboard

Step 4:Click "Create API Key" and give it a descriptive name

Step 5:Choose "Restricted Access" and select "Mail Send" permissions

Step 6:Copy the generated API key

Step 7:In Lead Fuel CRM, go to Settings > Email Configuration > Provider Setup

Step 8:Select "SendGrid" and paste your API key

Step 9:Test the connection and set as default

Important: SendGrid's free plan is limited to 100 emails per day. For production use, you'll need a paid plan. Free tier API keys cannot send batch campaigns.

Setting Up Amazon SES

Amazon SES (Simple Email Service) is the most cost-effective option for very high volumes, though setup is more technical.

Step 1:Create an AWS account at aws.amazon.com

Step 2:Navigate to the SES console

Step 3:Verify your sending domain by adding DNS records

Step 4:Request a sending limit increase (needed for production use)

Step 5:Create an IAM user with SES-specific permissions

Step 6:Generate SMTP credentials for the IAM user

Step 7:In Lead Fuel CRM, select "Amazon SES" from Provider Setup

Step 8:Enter your SMTP username and password

Step 9:Test and save the connection

Tip: Amazon SES requires you to request a sending limit increase out of the sandbox before you can send to any external email addresses. This usually takes 24 hours.

Setting Up Native SMTP

Use native SMTP if you have an existing email hosting provider (like GoDaddy, Bluehost, or Office 365) that supports SMTP access.

Step 1:Contact your email hosting provider to confirm SMTP support

Step 2:Obtain your SMTP server address (e.g., smtp.gmail.com)

Step 3:Get your SMTP port number (usually 465 for SSL or 587 for TLS)

Step 4:Request application-specific credentials if required

Step 5:In Lead Fuel CRM, select "Custom SMTP" from Provider Setup

Step 6:Enter your SMTP server, port, username, and password

Step 7:Choose SSL or TLS encryption (SSL is more common)

Step 8:Test the connection

Important: Native SMTP providers typically have strict sending limits (often 300 emails per day). If you need to send high volumes, use a dedicated SMTP provider like Mailgun or SendGrid.

Using Multiple SMTP Providers

For redundancy and load distribution, Lead Fuel CRM supports configuring multiple providers:

Step 1:Set up your primary provider following the steps above

Step 2:Go to Settings > Email Configuration > Backup Provider

Step 3:Select a secondary provider and configure it

Step 4:Lead Fuel CRM will automatically use the backup if the primary fails

Step 5:Monitor provider status in your email dashboard

Tip: Having a backup provider ensures your emails keep sending even if one provider experiences downtime. This is critical for time-sensitive campaigns.

Troubleshooting Provider Connections

Authentication Error: Double-check your API key or credentials. Many providers have a copy button - use it to avoid typos.
Connection Timeout: Verify your firewall allows outbound SMTP connections. Contact your IT admin if needed.
Test Email Not Received: Check spam folders. Verify your domain DNS records are properly configured.
Quota Exceeded: You may have hit your daily sending limit. Upgrade your provider plan or wait until the next day.

Need more help? Contact Lead Fuel CRM support for personalized assistance.