Getting started
Installation
What Marker CRM needs, how to install and activate it, and what activation sets up on your site.
# Installation Marker CRM is a regular WordPress plugin. You install it once, and everything it keeps — contacts, emails, automations — is stored in your own site's database. ## Requirements - **WordPress 6.4** or newer. - **PHP 8.0** or newer. - **A mailer plugin** to deliver email. Marker CRM sends through whatever WordPress is set up to use, so a plugin that connects a real sending service (SendGrail, FluentSMTP, WP Mail SMTP, Post SMTP or Easy WP SMTP) is what gets your mail into inboxes. Mail sent by your web server on its own is usually blocked or marked as spam. - **A working scheduler.** Campaigns, automations and imports run in the background on WordPress cron, every minute. See [Background work](#background-work) below. ## Install and activate 1. In your WordPress admin, go to **Plugins → Add New Plugin**. 2. Choose **Upload Plugin**, select the Marker CRM `.zip` file and choose **Install Now**. 3. Choose **Activate Plugin**. On a multisite network you can activate it for one site, or **Network Activate** it. Each site gets its own CRM — its own tables and its own contacts. Sites added to the network later get their tables when they are created. ## What activation sets up Activating the plugin: - Creates Marker CRM's own database tables (contacts, lists and tags, emails, automations and so on). Nothing is written into your posts or users tables. - Schedules two background tasks: one that runs every minute to send email and work through automations and imports, and a daily one that tidies old logs and files. Deactivating the plugin stops those background tasks. Your data stays where it is. :::caution[Uninstalling] Deleting the plugin keeps your CRM data unless you have turned on **Delete all CRM data when the plugin is uninstalled** under **Settings → Privacy and data**. With that switch on, uninstalling removes every Marker CRM table for good. ::: ## Finding it in the admin After activation a **Marker CRM** item appears in the WordPress admin menu, with **Dashboard**, **Contacts**, **Emails**, **Automations**, **Reports**, **Logs** and **Settings** beneath it.  The CRM opens full screen, covering the WordPress admin bar and menu so it has room to work. Use the **Exit fullscreen** button in the CRM's header to bring the WordPress menu back; your choice is remembered in that browser. Administrators can use every part of the CRM. To let other WordPress users in — a sales colleague, an editor — give them access under **Settings → Users and permissions**. ## First run The CRM starts empty. A **Finish setting up** checklist sits in the CRM's sidebar until each item is done: - **Add your business details** — your business name and postal address, which go in the footer of every marketing email. - **Connect a mailer** — the from name and address your email is sent as. - **Import your contacts** - **Create a list** - **Send your first campaign** Each unfinished item links to the screen that completes it. The checklist disappears once all five are done. The [Quick start](/getting-started/quick-start/) walks through them in order.  ## Background work WordPress cron only runs when someone visits your site. On a quiet site that means scheduled campaigns, automation delays and imports can run late. If the scheduler falls behind, the **Dashboard** shows a warning. The fix is a real server cron job that calls WordPress every minute. The exact lines to paste into your host's cron settings are under **Settings → Tools**.Marker CRM is a regular WordPress plugin. You install it once, and everything it keeps — contacts, emails, automations — is stored in your own site’s database.
Requirements
Section titled “Requirements”- WordPress 6.4 or newer.
- PHP 8.0 or newer.
- A mailer plugin to deliver email. Marker CRM sends through whatever WordPress is set up to use, so a plugin that connects a real sending service (SendGrail, FluentSMTP, WP Mail SMTP, Post SMTP or Easy WP SMTP) is what gets your mail into inboxes. Mail sent by your web server on its own is usually blocked or marked as spam.
- A working scheduler. Campaigns, automations and imports run in the background on WordPress cron, every minute. See Background work below.
Install and activate
Section titled “Install and activate”- In your WordPress admin, go to Plugins → Add New Plugin.
- Choose Upload Plugin, select the Marker CRM
.zipfile and choose Install Now. - Choose Activate Plugin.
On a multisite network you can activate it for one site, or Network Activate it. Each site gets its own CRM — its own tables and its own contacts. Sites added to the network later get their tables when they are created.
What activation sets up
Section titled “What activation sets up”Activating the plugin:
- Creates Marker CRM’s own database tables (contacts, lists and tags, emails, automations and so on). Nothing is written into your posts or users tables.
- Schedules two background tasks: one that runs every minute to send email and work through automations and imports, and a daily one that tidies old logs and files.
Deactivating the plugin stops those background tasks. Your data stays where it is.
Finding it in the admin
Section titled “Finding it in the admin”After activation a Marker CRM item appears in the WordPress admin menu, with Dashboard, Contacts, Emails, Automations, Reports, Logs and Settings beneath it.
The CRM opens full screen, covering the WordPress admin bar and menu so it has room to work. Use the Exit fullscreen button in the CRM’s header to bring the WordPress menu back; your choice is remembered in that browser.
Administrators can use every part of the CRM. To let other WordPress users in — a sales colleague, an editor — give them access under Settings → Users and permissions.
First run
Section titled “First run”The CRM starts empty. A Finish setting up checklist sits in the CRM’s sidebar until each item is done:
- Add your business details — your business name and postal address, which go in the footer of every marketing email.
- Connect a mailer — the from name and address your email is sent as.
- Import your contacts
- Create a list
- Send your first campaign
Each unfinished item links to the screen that completes it. The checklist disappears once all five are done. The Quick start walks through them in order.
Background work
Section titled “Background work”WordPress cron only runs when someone visits your site. On a quiet site that means scheduled campaigns, automation delays and imports can run late. If the scheduler falls behind, the Dashboard shows a warning.
The fix is a real server cron job that calls WordPress every minute. The exact lines to paste into your host’s cron settings are under Settings → Tools.