Learning Objective
By the end of this tutorial, you'll know how to set up email aliases (both Gmail and external SMTP providers), configure them in lemlist, and launch campaigns from multiple email identities while maintaining proper deliverability and reply tracking.
Why This Matters
Email aliases enable you to manage multiple professional identities from a single inbox, whether for different roles, brands, or campaign purposes. This flexibility allows you to personalize your outreach strategy, segment your campaigns by sender identity, and maintain separate professional personas without managing multiple email accounts. Users typically see 15-20% better response rates when using role-specific aliases that match their outreach context.
Prerequisites
Before starting this tutorial, make sure you have:
Connected your primary email account to lemlist (see Connect my email provider to lemlist)
Admin access to your email settings (Gmail, Outlook, or other provider)
Basic understanding of creating campaigns in lemlist (see Getting Started guides)
Verified your primary email's domain authentication (SPF, DKIM, DMARC recommended)
Core Lesson: Step-by-Step Workflow
Phase 1: Set Up Your Email Alias
Option A: Gmail Aliases Setup
Step 1: Access Gmail Settings
Go to Gmail → Click the ⚙️ gear icon → "See all settings"
This opens your full Gmail configuration panel, where you can manage sending addresses.
Step 2: Add Your Alias Address
Navigate to the "Accounts" tab
Under "Send mail as," click "Add another email address"
Enter the alias email address
✅ Important: Check the box "Treat as an alias"
Click "Next step"
This tells Gmail to handle this address as an extension of your main account, maintaining unified inbox management.
Step 3: Verify Your Alias Gmail will send a verification email to the alias address. You must have access to this mailbox to confirm.
Check the alias inbox for Gmail's verification email
Click the verification link or enter the confirmation code
Return to Gmail settings to confirm the alias appears under "Send mail as"
💡 Tip: If verification fails, ensure you have proper access to the alias mailbox and that forwarding rules aren't blocking Gmail's verification email.
Option B: External SMTP Provider Setup (Outlook, Custom Domain, etc.)
Step 1: Enable SMTP/IMAP on Your Provider Before connecting to Gmail, ensure your email provider supports:
SMTP for sending (usually ports 465 or 587)
IMAP for receiving (usually port 993)
SSL/TLS encryption
Check your provider's documentation for specific server addresses and ports.
Step 2: Add External Email to Gmail
In Gmail Settings → "Accounts" tab → "Send mail as"
Click "Add another email address."
Enter your external email address
Uncheck "Treat as an alias" (for external providers)
Click "Next step."
Step 3: Configure SMTP Settings
Enter your provider's SMTP details:
SMTP Server: mail.yourdomain.com (or provider-specific)
Port: 465 (SSL) or 587 (TLS)
Username: Your full email address
Password: Your email password (or app-specific password)
Secured connection: SSL or TLS (match your port)
Step 4: Complete Verification
Similar to Gmail aliases, you'll receive a verification email. Complete the verification to activate the alias.
⚠️ Google Workspace Users: If you see the error "You must send through outlook.com SMTP servers," your admin needs to enable "Allow per-user outbound gateways" in Google Workspace Admin → Apps → Google Workspace → Settings for Gmail → End User Access.
Phase 2: Configure Aliases in lemlist
Step 1: Access lemlist Email Settings
Click your profile icon (bottom left corner) → Settings
Navigate to "Sending Settings"
Find your connected email account
Click the ⚙️ Settings button next to your email
Step 2: Load and Verify Your Aliases
Open the "Email address aliases" section
Your verified aliases should appear automatically
If aliases don't show:
Click "Refresh" to sync with Gmail
Wait 2-3 minutes for propagation
If still missing, disconnect and reconnect your Gmail account
Step 3: Enable IMAP for Reply Tracking
For proper reply detection with aliases:
Ensure IMAP is enabled in your email provider
Set up forwarding rules so replies to aliases reach your main inbox
In lemlist, verify IMAP connection status shows as active
This ensures lemlist can track opens, clicks, and replies across all your aliases.
Phase 3: Launch Campaigns with Aliases
Step 1: Create or Open Your Campaign
Navigate to your campaign and go to the "Sequence" section where you design your outreach flow.
Step 2: Select Your Sending Alias
In the Sequence editor, find the sender options (⚙️ icon)
Click the dropdown to see all available aliases
Select the appropriate alias for this campaign
The selected alias will show as "Sending from: [[email protected]]"
Step 3: Personalize Based on Alias Identity Match your messaging to the selected alias persona:
Adjust the signature to match the alias role
Update sender name if needed
Ensure reply-to address matches the alias
Consider role-specific messaging angles
💡 Example: If using [email protected], focus on value propositions. If using [email protected], emphasize collaboration opportunities.
Step 4: Test Before Launch
Send a test email to yourself
Verify the "From" field shows your alias
Check that the replies route correctly
Confirm tracking pixels work
Practical Application / Real-Life Example
Example: Multi-Department Outreach Strategy
Scenario: B2B software company using aliases for targeted outreach
Aliases Setup:
[email protected] (main account)
[email protected] (sales outreach)
[email protected] (partner recruitment)
[email protected] (webinar invitations)
Campaign Performance:
Sales alias: 18% reply rate for product demos
Partnership alias: 24% reply rate for collaboration proposals
Events alias: 31% open rate for webinar invitations
Try It Yourself Checklist:
Create role-specific aliases (sales, support, partnerships)
Design unique signatures for each alias (manually)
Segment your prospects by the most relevant sender
Troubleshooting & Pitfalls
Issue: Aliases not appearing in lemlist
Root cause: Gmail sync delay or verification incomplete
Fix:
Verify the alias shows as confirmed in Gmail settings
Disconnect and reconnect Gmail in lemlist
Clear browser cache and refresh lemlist
Issue: Replies not tracked for alias emails
Root cause: IMAP not configured or forwarding rules missing
Fix:
Enable IMAP in your email provider settings
Set up forwarding from the alias to the main inbox
Verify IMAP credentials in lemlist settings
Check that forwarding preserves email headers
Issue: "Must send through provider's SMTP servers" error
Root cause: Google Workspace security restriction
Fix:
Contact your Google Workspace admin
Enable "Allow per-user outbound gateways."
Location: Admin console → Apps → Google Workspace → Gmail settings
Alternative: Use auto-forwarding instead of SMTP
Issue: Daily sending limits unchanged with aliases
Root cause: Misunderstanding of alias functionality
Fix:
Remember: All aliases share your main account's sending quota
Gmail limit remains 100 emails/day total across all aliases
To increase volume, add separate email accounts, not aliases
Issue: Emails sent from the wrong alias
Root cause: Default sender not updated in campaign
Fix:
Always verify sender selection before launching
Check each sequence step if using multiple senders
Set campaign-level default sender in settings
Knowledge Check
Before launching your first campaign with aliases, confirm:
Can you explain why aliases don't increase your daily sending limit?
Did you verify that replies to your alias will be tracked properly?
Have you tested sending from each alias before going live?
Which personalization approach matches each alias's role?
Do you understand the difference between a Gmail alias and an external SMTP setup?