# Production checklist

Use this checklist before switching real traffic to Lettermint.

<Stepper>

1. **Verify your sending domain**

   Add the DNS records shown in the dashboard and wait until every required record is verified.

   <Frame>
     {/* Screenshot placeholder: /docs/images/domains/verification-success.png */}
     Verified domain DNS records and success state.
   </Frame>

2. **Create Project API tokens per integration**

   Create a separate Project API token for each app, worker, or environment. Store each token as `LETTERMINT_PROJECT_TOKEN`.

   <Frame>
     {/* Screenshot placeholder: /docs/images/project-api-tokens/token-list.png */}
     Project API token list showing token names, last changed, last used, and last IP.
   </Frame>

3. **Confirm the default outbound route**

   New projects can create transactional and broadcast routes. Confirm which transactional or broadcast route is the default before omitting `route` from send requests.

4. **Send test-address scenarios**

   Use Lettermint test addresses to simulate deliveries, soft bounces, hard bounces, and spam complaints without affecting sender reputation.

5. **Use idempotency for retried sends**

   Add an `Idempotency-Key` for important transactional sends. Keys are scoped per project and valid for 24 hours.

6. **Set suppression policy**

   Decide when to use team, project, and route-level suppressions. Make sure support and compliance teams know spam complaint suppressions cannot be removed through normal self-service.

7. **Configure webhooks and signature verification**

   Subscribe each route to the events your app needs, store the webhook signing secret, and verify signatures before processing payloads.

   <Frame>
     {/* Screenshot placeholder: /docs/images/webhooks/delivery-detail.png */}
     Webhook delivery detail showing attempts, response status, and retry action.
   </Frame>

8. **Review tracking and privacy choices**

   Enable open and click tracking only where appropriate. For critical security emails, consider leaving tracking disabled.

9. **Set billing and spend controls**

   Review your plan, monthly included email volume, and spend limit behavior before production volume ramps up.

10. **Monitor delivery**

    Use Email Activity, webhooks, and Team API message endpoints to watch delivery, bounces, complaints, and delivery insights.

</Stepper>

## Related docs

<CardGroup cols={2}>
  <Card title="Domain configuration" icon="globe" href="/platform/domains/introduction">
    Verify DNS and sender authentication.
  </Card>
  <Card title="Project API tokens" icon="key" href="/platform/projects-and-routes/api-tokens">
    Manage sending credentials.
  </Card>
  <Card title="Email activity" icon="activity" href="/platform/emails/activity">
    Troubleshoot sent messages.
  </Card>
  <Card title="Webhooks" icon="webhook" href="/platform/webhooks/introduction">
    Receive delivery events.
  </Card>
</CardGroup>