Setting Up AWS SES for Transactional Emails

Domain verification, SMTP or API integration, and what to watch out for with Amazon SES.

Prerequisites

• AWS account with SES permissions
• Verified domain or email

Step 1: Verify Domain

In SES console:

1. Navigate to Domains > Verify a New Domain.
2. Add DNS TXT record for verification.
3. Enable DKIM by adding CNAME records.

Step 2: Configure Sending Limits

Request production access to raise sending limits.

Step 3: Sending via SMTP

Create SMTP credentials:

aws ses create-smtp-credentials --user-name ses-smtp-user

Use nodemailer in Node.js:

npm install nodemailer aws-sdk

import nodemailer from 'nodemailer';
import AWS from 'aws-sdk';

AWS.config.update({ region: 'us-east-1' });

// Create SES transporter
const transporter = nodemailer.createTransport({
  SES: new AWS.SES({ apiVersion: '2010-12-01' }),
});

export async function sendEmail(to, subject, html) {
  const params = {
    Destination: { ToAddresses: [to] },
    Message: {
      Body: { Html: { Charset: 'UTF-8', Data: html } },
      Subject: { Charset: 'UTF-8', Data: subject },
    },
    Source: 'no-reply@yourdomain.com',
  };

  return transporter.sendMail({
    from: params.Source,
    to,
    subject,
    html,
  });
}

Step 4: Sending via API

npm install @aws-sdk/client-ses

import { SESClient, SendEmailCommand } from '@aws-sdk/client-ses';

const client = new SESClient({ region: 'us-east-1' });

export async function sendEmailAPI(to: string, subject: string, html: string) {
  const command = new SendEmailCommand({
    Destination: { ToAddresses: [to] },
    Message: {
      Body: { Html: { Charset: 'UTF-8', Data: html } },
      Subject: { Charset: 'UTF-8', Data: subject },
    },
    Source: 'no-reply@yourdomain.com',
  });

  return client.send(command);
}

Step 5: Best Practices

• Use verified domains
• Monitor bounce and complaint rates via SNS
• Implement DKIM and SPF

SMTP via nodemailer for quick setup, the SDK API for more control. Either way, verify domains first and monitor bounces via SNS.