Quick Setup¶
Follow these steps to get your SendGrid API key and configure email sending for your site.
1. Create a SendGrid Account¶
Go to signup.sendgrid.com and create a free account (up to 100 emails/day).
2. Verify Your Sender Identity¶
Navigate to: Settings → Sender Authentication
Choose either:
Single Sender Verification - Quick setup, verify one email address
Domain Authentication - Better deliverability, requires DNS configuration
3. Create API Key¶
Navigate to: Settings → API Keys
Click Create API Key
Give it a name (e.g., "Production Site") and select:
• Full Access (or Mail Send if you only need email sending)
Copy the API key immediately - you won't be able to see it again!
4. Add to Environment Variables¶
Provide this API key to your developer to add to the site's environment variables:
# In your .env.local file or Vercel environment variables
SENDGRID_API_KEY=SG.xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxTesting Email Delivery¶
Send a Test Email¶
After configuration, test your form submissions to ensure emails are being sent correctly.
Check Activity → Email Activity in SendGrid to see delivery status.
Common Issues¶
Emails Going to Spam¶
If emails are landing in spam folders:
• Set up Domain Authentication (not just Single Sender)
• Add SPF and DKIM records to your DNS
• Use a professional "from" email address (not @gmail.com)
API Key Not Working¶
Double-check:
• API key was copied correctly (no extra spaces)
• Sender email is verified in SendGrid
• Environment variable is set in Vercel and redeployed