1. Verify Individual Email Addresses:
- Access the Amazon SES console and navigate to “Email Addresses.”
- Click “Verify a New Email Address.”
- Enter the email address you want to verify.
- SES will send a verification email to that address. Click the link in the email to confirm ownership.
- Use this verified address as the “From” address in your emails.
2. Use Custom Verification Email Templates (Limited Option):
- Create a custom email template in SES that includes a verification link.
- When a recipient clicks the link, it confirms their willingness to receive emails from you, even without domain verification.
- This method has limitations:
- Recipients might not click the link.
- Some email providers might treat these emails with more scrutiny.
3. Switch to Sandbox Mode (Temporary Testing):
- Sandbox mode allows testing SES without verifying domains or email addresses.
- However, it has strict restrictions:
- Can only send emails to verified addresses within your AWS account.
- Cannot send emails to external recipients.
- Limited daily sending quota.
Key Considerations and Best Practices:
- Reputation and Deliverability: Verified domains and email addresses significantly enhance email deliverability and sender reputation. Using SES without domain verification might lead to lower inbox placement rates and potential spam filtering.
- Compliance: If operating in regulated industries (e.g., healthcare, finance), domain verification might be a compliance requirement.
- Long-Term Strategy: For optimal deliverability and compliance, consider acquiring domain ownership for full SES functionality.
If you must use SES without domain access, prioritize verifying individual email addresses and be mindful of potential deliverability and compliance implications.
