Google Postmaster Tools Setup

What Is Google Postmaster Tools?

In order to send campaigns to Gmail adresses, you need to follow strict deliverability rules. Google Postmaster Tools helps you track outgoing emails that you send to Gmail accounts. It also monitors your domain, IP address, sender reputation, and other deliverability metrics. This guide will show you how to track your domain through Google Postmaster Tools.

If you send more than 5000 emails (newsletters) in bulk, you need to follow strict rules to avoid ending up in spam folder, like having a DMARC policy, SPF, and DKIM. To set up SPF, DMARC, and DKIM, follow this link.

One of the most important prerequisites is to have a spam rate at least below 0.3%, but ideally below 0.1%. If not, your newsletters may be flagged as spam automatically. To properly manage your sending to Gmail.com addresses, you need to monitor your performance on Google Postmaster Tools, which is free to use.

Warming up new domains is also key to optimal Sender Reputation. Click this link to learn more. For general tips on maintaining Sender Reputation, click this link.

How to Link Your Domain to Google Postmaster Tools

This simple guide leads you through the process of monitoring your emailing on Google Postmaster Tools.

To get you started, click this link.

Click the plus icon in the lower right corner. In the blank space, write the domain you use.

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Then, you will be asked to verify the ownership of your domain. You will receive a TXT record that you add to your DNS settings (of your own domain provider).

To illustrate, the TXT should look similar to this:

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If done correctly, the main overview now shows the green text “verified.” Congratulations, you have successfully linked your domain to Google Postmaster Tools. Now, you can access a dashboard where you can track

  • the amount of user reported spam
  • your domain reputation, which is key to making your emails trustworthy
  • metrics like IP reputation and others

The most important metric will be Spam Rate.

How to Track Your Spam Rate

When signed in Google Postmaster Tools, click on the domain you want to overview.

Choose the “Spam Rate” metric and a timespan (as shown in the picture). In the graph, you will see the progression of your spam rate in a custom time interval.

The spam rate should be preferably below 0.1%, but at least below 0.3% to meet Gmail.com prerequisites.

Final Note

If you have DKIM, SPF, and DMARC set up and maintain a spam rate below 0.1%, your emails should not be flagged as spam on Gmail.com.