How to Create an Amazon SES API Key?

Amazon Simple Email Service (SES) is a powerful tool for sending and receiving emails. One of its standout features is the ability to create an API key. This key not only allows you to send and receive emails but also provides comprehensive tracking of your email deliverability, bounces, and more. In this guide, we’ll walk you through the steps to create an Amazon SES API key.

Why Use an API Key? #

• Detailed Tracking: With an API key, you can keep track of bounces, feedback, and other metrics from Amazon SES. This level of detail isn’t available if you only connect through SMTP credentials.
• Automation: The API key facilitates the automation of your email marketing campaigns, enhancing your business growth.

Creating the API Key #

1. Access the IAM Dashboard:
   • Log in to your AWS account.
   • In the search bar, type “IAM” and select it.
2. Navigate to Users:
   • Once inside the IAM dashboard, click on ‘Users’.
   • Click on the ‘Create User’ button.
   • Name your user (for this example, we’ll use “sendmails SES API”). The name isn’t strict; you can choose any name you prefer.
3. Attach Policies:
   • Click on ‘Attach Policies Directly’.
   • Add the following three policies:
     • Amazon SES Full Access
     • Amazon SNS Full Access
     • IAM Read Only Access
   • Proceed by clicking ‘Next’ and then ‘Create User’.
4. Generate Security Credentials:
   • Once the user is created, navigate to ‘Security Credentials’.
   • Click on ‘Create Access’.
   • Select ‘Application Running Outside AWS’.
   • Click ‘Next’ and then ‘Create Access Key’.
   • You’ll now have your ‘Access Key’ and ‘Secret Access Key’. Make sure to save these credentials securely.
5. Choose Your Region:
   • Ensure you know the region where your SES account is approved. This can be found at the top right corner of the SES dashboard.
   • For instance, if your SES is approved in Ohio, select that as your region.
6. Connect to SendMails.io:
   • Navigate to SendMails.io.
   • Under the Amazon Web Service API option, paste the ‘Access Key’ and ‘Secret Access Key’ you generated earlier.
   • Select the appropriate region.
   • Click ‘Save’.
7. SMTP Connection (Optional):
   • If you wish to connect your Amazon SES account with both API key and SMTP, you’ll need additional credentials.
   • Navigate to SES and click on ‘SMTP Settings’.
   • Click ‘Create SMTP Credentials’.
   • Save the generated SMTP username and password.
   • In SendMails.io, input the SMTP username, password, port (usually 587), and encryption method (SSL).
   • Click ‘Save’.

That’s it! You’ve now successfully connected your Amazon SES account through an API key. This connection will provide you with detailed insights into your email campaigns, ensuring you’re always in the know about your email performance.

If you have any questions or face any issues, don’t hesitate to reach out. Happy emailing!