Summary
The general consensus is that the physical location of your Google Workspace account has little to no direct impact on email deliverability. Experts, marketers, and official Google documentation emphasize the importance of sender reputation, proper authentication (SPF, DKIM, DMARC), and recipient engagement. While some sources mention potential issues with using VPNs to purchase Workspace from a different country or the importance of IP address reputation (particularly avoiding IPs associated with spam), the overriding theme is that these factors are far more influential than geographic location. Microsoft 365 location can have influence though, but this is not Google Workspace. Monitoring tools and adherence to best practices are consistently recommended for maintaining optimal deliverability.
Key findings
- Location Irrelevant: The physical location of a Google Workspace account does *not* directly affect email deliverability.
- Sender Reputation is King: A strong sender reputation is the most important factor in ensuring emails reach the inbox.
- Authentication is Key: Proper email authentication (SPF, DKIM, DMARC) is critical for establishing trust and improving deliverability.
- Recipient Engagement Matters: Positive recipient engagement (opens, clicks) signals to spam filters that your emails are wanted.
- IP Reputation Important: While account location isn't key, sending from IPs with a bad reputation *can* negatively impact deliverability.
- VPNs Can Cause Issues: Using a VPN to purchase Google Workspace from a different country *may* raise red flags and hurt deliverability.
- MSFT Location relevant: Location is relevant in MSFT but not in Google.
Key considerations
- Build Reputation: Focus on building and maintaining a positive sender reputation through responsible email practices (consent, relevant content).
- Implement Authentication: Ensure correct configuration and regular maintenance of SPF, DKIM, and DMARC records.
- Engage Your Audience: Prioritize sending emails that recipients want to receive to encourage positive engagement and improve deliverability.
- Monitor Performance: Utilize Google Postmaster Tools and other monitoring services to track your sender reputation and identify potential issues.
- Avoid Shady Practices: Avoid using VPNs to purchase Workspace and ensure your sending practices are transparent and compliant with email regulations.
- Warm up your IP: Warm up your IP when starting.
What email marketers say
9 marketer opinions
The impact of Google Workspace location on email deliverability is complex and debated. While some believe the geographic location of your Google Workspace account has minimal direct impact, focusing instead on sender reputation, IP address reputation, and proper email authentication (SPF, DKIM, DMARC), others suggest that IP address location, especially sending from locations known for spam, or discrepancies between the account location and actual business location (e.g., using a VPN) can negatively affect deliverability. Maintaining good sending practices, list hygiene, and a healthy sender score are consistently highlighted as crucial factors.
Key opinions
- Sender Reputation: Sender reputation is the most critical factor. A strong sender reputation can outweigh location concerns.
- IP Reputation: IP address reputation is significant. Sending from IPs associated with spam can harm deliverability, regardless of Google Workspace account location.
- Authentication: Proper email authentication (SPF, DKIM, DMARC) is essential for establishing trust and improving deliverability, regardless of location.
- VPN Usage: Using a VPN to purchase Google Workspace from a different country may raise red flags and negatively impact deliverability.
- Google's IP Range: Google uses a wide range of IPs, and the specific IP address assigned to your account may not directly impact deliverability.
Key considerations
- Monitor Reputation: Regularly monitor your sender and IP reputation using tools like Google Postmaster Tools.
- Ensure Authentication: Implement and maintain proper email authentication (SPF, DKIM, DMARC).
- Practice Good Sending: Focus on obtaining consent, sending relevant content, and maintaining a clean email list.
- Avoid VPN: Avoid using VPNs to purchase Google Workspace from different countries to prevent potential issues with spam filters.
- Warm-Up IP: Properly warm up your IP address and domain when starting to send emails or significantly increasing volume.
Marketer view
Email marketer from Email Marketing Forum explains that they had deliverability issues when using a VPN to purchase Google Workspace from a different country. Once they stopped using the VPN, their deliverability improved.
29 Jan 2025 - Email Marketing Forum
Marketer view
Email marketer from Reddit explains that using a VPN to purchase Google Workspace from a different country might save money, but it can raise red flags with Google's anti-spam systems if it doesn't match your business's actual location, potentially impacting deliverability.
14 May 2025 - Reddit
What the experts say
4 expert opinions
The consensus from experts indicates that the physical location of your Google Workspace account has minimal direct impact on email deliverability. Instead, factors like sender reputation, recipient engagement, and proper email authentication (SPF, DKIM, DMARC) are far more crucial. The IPs used by Google Workspace are Google IPs, minimizing location-based concerns. VPNs used for purchasing Workspace do not affect mail delivery from the recipient's perspective.
Key opinions
- Sender Reputation: A strong sender reputation is the primary driver of deliverability, outweighing location concerns.
- Recipient Engagement: Recipient interaction (e.g., opening and clicking emails) signals positive engagement to spam filters, boosting deliverability.
- Authentication is Key: Proper email authentication (SPF, DKIM, DMARC) is essential for establishing trust and improving deliverability.
- Google IPs: Google Workspace emails are sent via Google IPs, mitigating some location-based deliverability concerns.
- VPN Irrelevant: The use of a VPN during Google Workspace purchase does not affect how emails are sent or received.
Key considerations
- Build Reputation: Focus on building and maintaining a positive sender reputation through consistent, responsible email practices.
- Authenticate: Ensure proper setup and maintenance of SPF, DKIM, and DMARC records.
- Engage Recipients: Prioritize sending wanted and relevant emails to encourage positive recipient interaction.
- Monitor Delivery: Use Google Postmaster Tools to monitor your sender reputation and identify potential deliverability issues.
Expert view
Expert from Email Geeks explains that Google Workspace mail goes out via Google IPs, which may be geolocated, but they are all Google IPs. The VPN used to purchase the workspace has no impact on how mail is sent from the recipient's perspective.
4 Aug 2021 - Email Geeks
Expert view
Expert from Email Geeks explains that the address in Google Workspace doesn't matter for deliverability. What matters is whether recipients have asked for the mail and interact with it in a way that makes spam filters think users want it.
23 Feb 2024 - Email Geeks
What the documentation says
5 technical articles
Official documentation from Google and related organizations suggests that the physical location of your Google Workspace account has no direct impact on email deliverability. Google utilizes geographically diverse servers and prioritizes factors such as authentication, sender reputation, and spam filtering. RFCs discuss the broader context of geographic information in email headers and best practices for message submission, but the core message is that location is secondary to other deliverability factors. For Microsoft 365 the location of your business address may have an effect. Monitoring tools are recommended for insights into delivery issues.
Key findings
- Google Location Irrelevant: Google Workspace account location does not directly affect email deliverability.
- Authentication Matters: Email authentication (SPF, DKIM, DMARC) is a critical factor for deliverability.
- Sender Reputation Paramount: Maintaining a good sender reputation is crucial for ensuring emails reach the inbox.
- Spam Filtering is Key: Google's spam filtering mechanisms play a significant role in deliverability.
- MSFT Location Relevant: For Microsoft 365, business location *can* influence server location and thus deliverability, but this does not apply to Google Workspace.
Key considerations
- Authentication: Implement and maintain proper email authentication protocols.
- Monitor Reputation: Monitor sender reputation regularly using tools like Google Postmaster Tools.
- Good Practices: Adhere to email marketing best practices, including obtaining consent and avoiding spam triggers.
- Use Tools: Leverage Google Postmaster Tools to understand and address deliverability issues.
Technical article
Documentation from Google Postmaster Tools responds with the advice that best practices is to use the tools. These provide insights into your sending reputation and identify any deliverability issues and that by monitoring these insights can ensure that your emails are delivered to the inbox.
1 Sep 2023 - Google
Technical article
Documentation from IETF responds that RFC 4657 outlines best current practices for message submission. While it doesn't directly address geographic location, it covers aspects like authentication and message formatting which impact deliverability regardless of location.
2 Jan 2023 - IETF
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