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Connecting & configuring Dotdigital

Sync checkout consents to Dotdigital automatically using an API user.

Overview

This guide explains how to connect your Dotdigital account to Dataships using an API user. Once connected, Dataships automatically syncs consented email subscribers from your checkout into Dotdigital, so your marketing lists stay current without manual exports or imports.

Dotdigital does not use an OAuth flow. Instead, you create an API user inside Dotdigital and paste those credentials into the Dataships Control Panel.

Finding the Integration

In the Dataships Control Panel, go to Integrations › Marketing Platforms in the left panel. Locate the Dotdigital card and click Install to begin setup.

If Dotdigital is already installed, click Configure and choose Authentication from the sidebar to update your credentials.

Step 1: Create an API User in Dotdigital

Create a dedicated API user within your Dotdigital account so Dataships can sync contacts on your behalf.

  1. Sign in to Dotdigital and navigate to Account › Settings › Access › API Users
  2. Click Add new API user
  3. Give it a description such as Dataships
  4. Set a password of at least 8 characters, including a number or symbol. Note this password down, as you will need it in the next step
  5. Keep the Rate limiting selected to Tiered and Status set to Enabled
  6. Click Save. Dotdigital then generates the API username, which looks like an email address
  7. Copy the generated username

Tip: Keep the API user dedicated to Dataships rather than reusing an existing one. This makes it easier to audit activity and to rotate credentials later without affecting your other integrations.

Step 2: Save Your Credentials in Dataships

Return to the Dataships Control Panel.

  1. Go to Integrations › Marketing Platforms › Dotdigital › Install
  2. Paste the generated username into the API Username field
  3. Enter the password you set into the API Password field
  4. Click Save

Dataships treats these API details like a password and stores them securely. They are masked after saving, and a confirmation message appears once the integration is authenticated.

Step 3: Configure Your Email Lists

Once authentication succeeds, Dataships automatically creates two lists in your Dotdigital account, one for single opt-in contacts and one for double opt-in contacts:

  • Dataships Email Marketing (Single Opt-in)
  • Dataships Email Marketing (Double Opt-in)

These two lists are pre-selected by default. Follow the steps below to confirm them, or to point Dataships at different lists you already use.

  1. In the Dataships Control Panel, go to Integrations › Dotdigital › Configure
  2. Under Email Configuration, select the appropriate list from the Email Single Opt-in dropdown
  3. Select the appropriate list from the Email Double Opt-in dropdown
  4. Click Save

Why two lists? Dotdigital supports both single opt-in and double opt-in consent types. Keeping them in separate lists means the consent type captured at checkout is preserved in Dotdigital, so you can build campaigns and programmes that respect how each contact opted in.

Viewing Your Lists in Dotdigital

To check that your lists have been created and that contacts are arriving:

  1. Sign in to Dotdigital
  2. Click Audience › Lists
  3. Look for the two Dataships lists, or for whichever lists you selected in the Email Configuration step

New contacts appear in these lists as they consent at checkout, so it is normal for the lists to be empty immediately after setup and to fill up as orders come through.

Uninstalling the Integration

To remove Dotdigital, go to Integrations › Marketing Platforms, click the trash icon on the Dotdigital card, and confirm in the modal.

Uninstalling stops Dataships from syncing any new contacts to Dotdigital. It does not remove or alter existing contacts in your Dotdigital account, and it does not delete the lists that were created.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why do I need a username and password instead of just clicking connect?

Dotdigital uses API key authentication rather than OAuth, so there is no one-click authorisation screen. Creating an API user in Dotdigital and pasting those credentials into Dataships achieves the same result.

Where do I find my API username?

Dotdigital generates it for you when you save the new API user. It looks like an email address. You can find it again under Account › Settings › Access › API Users in Dotdigital.

I set the password but cannot remember it. What now?

You can reset the password for the API user in Dotdigital under Account › Settings › Access › API Users, then re-enter the username and new password in the Dataships Control Panel under Integrations › Marketing Platforms › Dotdigital › Configure › Authentication.

Can I use my own existing Dotdigital lists instead of the ones Dataships creates?

Yes. In the Email Configuration step, select your own lists from the Email Single Opt-in and Email Double Opt-in dropdowns and click Save.

What happens to my contacts if I uninstall?

Uninstalling only stops future syncing. Dataships will not remove or change any contacts already in your Dotdigital account.

Can I update my API credentials later?

Yes. Go to Integrations › Marketing Platforms › Dotdigital › Configure › Authentication, enter the new username and password, and click Save.

If contacts are not appearing in Dotdigital, or you see an authentication error after saving your credentials, double check that the username was copied in full and that the password matches the one you set on the API user.