If you’re having trouble sending emails from your WordPress site, one solution is to use Amazon Simple Email Service (Amazon SES). This guide will show you how to set it up.
Why Use Amazon SES for WordPress Emails
Many WordPress users struggle with sending emails. This is a problem because emails are essential for password resets, user notifications, and contact form submissions. WordPress uses the PHP mail function by default, but it often fails because hosting companies block it to prevent spam. Additionally, these emails often get flagged as spam and may not even reach the spam folder.
Using SMTP (Simple Mail Transfer Protocol) is a better option because it uses proper authentication, improving email delivery success. Amazon SES is a reliable SMTP service for sending both notifications and newsletters. It’s free for the first year, and after that, you pay based on usage. For beginners, other services like SMTP.com, SendLayer, or Brevo are recommended as they integrate easily with the WP Mail SMTP plugin.
This tutorial will guide you on how to use Amazon SES to send emails from your WordPress site using the WP Mail SMTP plugin.
Step 1: Configure Your Amazon AWS Account
- Sign Up for AWS: Visit the Amazon Web Services website and sign up for a free account. Enter your credit card details during setup. Provide contact information and other details.
- Create a User: Go to the Amazon Web Services Users page and click ‘Create user.’ Name the user in a recognizable format, like yourdomain_wpmailsmtp.
- Set Permissions: On the ‘Set permissions’ screen, select ‘Attach policies directly’ and search for ‘AmazonSESFullAccess.’ Check the box next to this policy.
- Review and Create: Review your settings and click ‘Create user.’ Save the access keys provided.
Step 2: Switch to Production Mode
Amazon SES starts in Sandbox Mode, which limits email sending to verified addresses. To send emails to anyone, request a switch to Production Mode:
- Create a New Case: Visit the AWS Support page and create a new case.
- Fill in Details: Answer questions to show you won’t send spam. Select ‘SES Service Limits’ and ‘Transactional’ as the mail type. Provide your website URL and explain your email process.
- Describe Bounce Handling: Detail how you handle bounce and complaint notifications, and confirm compliance with AWS terms.
- Set Quotas: Choose the region you used for your AWS account and estimate your daily email volume.
- Submit: Submit your application and wait for approval, which usually takes one business day.
Step 3: Install WP Mail SMTP on Your WordPress Site
- Install the Plugin: Purchase the Pro plan or higher of WP Mail SMTP to use Amazon SES. Install and activate the plugin.
- Setup Wizard: Start the setup wizard and select Amazon SES as your mailer.
- Configure Mailer Settings: Enter the Access Key ID, Secret Access Key, and Region from your AWS account.
- Verify Domain or Email: Choose to verify your domain or email address. Verifying a domain is better as it covers all emails from that domain.
- For domain verification, enter your domain name and add a TXT record to your DNS settings.
- For email verification, enter your email address and verify it through the confirmation email sent by Amazon.
Final Setup
- From Name and Email: Set the ‘From’ name and email address. Use a business email address with your domain and check ‘Force From Email’ to standardize the outgoing email address.
- Enable Features: Enable email features like improved deliverability and error tracking.
- Email Logging: Enable detailed email logs and tracking.
Troubleshooting and Testing
- Check Configuration: Ensure your configuration is correct. If there’s an error, start troubleshooting as prompted.
- Send Test Email: Go to WP Mail SMTP » Tools » Email Test, and send a test email. If everything is set up correctly, you will see a success message.
Conclusion
Following these steps will set up Amazon SES for sending WordPress emails, ensuring better reliability and deliverability.
