Google Postmaster Tools (GPT) is primarily designed to provide insights into email performance and deliverability for messages sent to Gmail.com users. While Google Workspace (formerly G Suite) domains are part of the broader Google ecosystem, the consensus among deliverability experts and common experience suggests that the email volume explicitly displayed in GPT dashboards typically pertains to traffic directed at gmail.com addresses. This means that if your primary sending volume is to corporate G Suite accounts (e.g., @yourcompany.com), you may see limited or no data reflected in GPT, even if your overall sending volume is high.
Key findings
Primary focus: Google Postmaster Tools mainly tracks email volume and metrics related to recipients at gmail.com domains.
Limited G Suite data: Direct email volume to Google Workspace (G Suite) domains is often not explicitly displayed or counted within the GPT dashboards.
B2B implications: For B2B senders, whose recipients are predominantly G Suite users, this can lead to a perception of missing or incomplete data in GPT.
Minimum volume: Data in GPT requires a significant daily sending volume to gmail.com addresses, regardless of any G Suite traffic.
Key considerations
Data scope: Understand that GPT's focus is primarily on consumer Gmail.com users, which impacts what volume you see.
Complementary tools: If your audience is heavily G Suite, you may need to rely on other deliverability monitoring tools or ESP analytics for comprehensive insights.
Reputation impact: Even if G Suite volume isn't shown directly, negative sending practices to these domains can still indirectly affect your sender reputation with Google's systems.
Overall deliverability: Maintain strong authentication (SPF, DKIM, DMARC) and good sending practices across all recipients, regardless of whether the volume appears in GPT. Learn more about how to set up and use Google Postmaster tools from NotifyVisitors.
What email marketers say
Email marketers often find the data displayed in Google Postmaster Tools to be limited when their primary audience consists of Google Workspace (G Suite) users rather than consumer Gmail.com accounts. Many report that even with significant sending volume to G Suite domains, their GPT dashboards remain empty or show minimal data. This can make it challenging for B2B marketers to assess their deliverability performance with Google effectively, leading them to seek alternative monitoring solutions or adjust their understanding of GPT's scope.
Key opinions
Volume requirement: Many marketers acknowledge that a high volume of emails is required to see any data in Google Postmaster Tools.
B2B data gap: There's a common observation that B2B senders targeting G Suite addresses frequently don't see their volume reflected in GPT.
Anecdotal exceptions: Some marketers have reported instances where B2B clients with minimal Gmail.com sends but high G Suite sends still saw data.
Uncertain threshold: The exact volume threshold for data visibility, particularly concerning G Suite traffic, remains unclear to many.
Key considerations
Target audience: Marketers sending primarily to G Suite domains should manage expectations regarding comprehensive data in GPT.
Monitoring alternatives: Consider supplementing GPT with other deliverability platforms that offer broader insight, especially for B2B traffic.
Authentication basics: Even without full volume data, ensure your email authentication records (SPF, DKIM, DMARC) are correctly configured for all domains.
Marketer view
An Email Geeks marketer noted their client sends around 1000 emails daily to Gmail, with DKIM whitelisted. They also had a client who received reports on a subdomain sending only about 300 emails, suggesting some data might appear even at lower volumes.
17 Oct 2018 - Email Geeks
Marketer view
A Marketer from Beehiiv Blog suggests that Google Postmaster Tools is a free suite of email technologies provided by Google to help email marketers optimize their Gmail emails and improve deliverability. It serves as a crucial resource for understanding email performance specific to Gmail recipients.
07 Jan 2023 - beehiiv Blog
What the experts say
Deliverability experts generally agree that Google Postmaster Tools primarily focuses on providing data for email traffic directed to Gmail.com users. They often clarify that email volume sent specifically to G Suite (Google Workspace) recipient domains is typically not counted or displayed in the GPT interface. This distinction is crucial for understanding the scope of the data you can expect to see, particularly for B2B senders whose primary recipients are G Suite users.
Key opinions
G Suite exclusion: Experts commonly state that G Suite email volume (to G Suite recipients) is not counted or shown in Google Postmaster Tools.
Recipient focus: GPT's metrics and data primarily relate to the sending domain's performance with Gmail.com recipients.
B2B implications: For domains sending primarily B2B emails to G Suite users, the lack of data in GPT is expected, as these are not gmail.com addresses.
General purpose: GPT is a key tool for monitoring deliverability to Google's consumer email service, offering insights into reputation and spam rates.
Key considerations
Audience segmentation: If your sending includes both Gmail.com and G Suite recipients, only the Gmail.com portion will likely populate GPT.
Troubleshooting missing data: If GPT shows no data for a domain, investigate the proportion of emails sent to Gmail.com addresses specifically. You can also explore why GPT may not show data.
Comprehensive monitoring: For full deliverability visibility across all recipient types, utilize a range of tools beyond just GPT.
An Expert from Email Geeks clarified that if recipients are G Suite users, that volume is generally not calculated with regards to Google Postmaster Tools. GPT primarily focuses on gmail.com accounts.
17 Oct 2018 - Email Geeks
Expert view
An Expert from SpamResource advises that maintaining good sending practices is crucial, even if Postmaster Tools doesn't show all your G Suite specific volume. Consistent, wanted mail builds trust across all recipient types.
22 Mar 2024 - SpamResource
What the documentation says
Official documentation and common understanding of Google Postmaster Tools emphasize its role in helping senders monitor deliverability to Gmail.com users. While G Suite (Google Workspace) is part of Google's email ecosystem, the data displayed in GPT primarily pertains to the general public's Gmail.com accounts. This means that direct volume to corporate G Suite domains might not be explicitly reflected in the dashboards, though overall sending behavior can still impact your domain's reputation within Google's broader network.
Key findings
Gmail focus: Documentation specifies that GPT provides data for email sent to Gmail.com recipients.
Volume threshold: Data is only shown when a significant volume of emails is sent to Gmail users, with the exact threshold being dynamic and unstated.
Reputation tracking: GPT helps track domain and IP reputation, spam rate, feedback loop, and authentication status for Gmail-bound traffic.
Unified system: While GPT may not show distinct G Suite volume, Google's filtering systems apply reputation metrics across all incoming mail, including that for Google Workspace.
Key considerations
Interpret data carefully: Do not assume a lack of data for G Suite recipients in GPT means you have no deliverability issues with those domains.
High volume sending: Senders targeting Google users, including those on Google Workspace, should ensure high volume to unlock insights. Read more about how to use Google Postmaster tools.
Domain verification: Verifying your sending domain in GPT is crucial to access any available data, whether for Gmail.com or indirectly for G Suite traffic.
Comprehensive approach: Adhering to Google's general sending guidelines, including authentication and content best practices, is essential for all emails sent into their ecosystem.
Technical article
Documentation from Google states that Postmaster Tools is designed to help senders analyze email performance specific to Gmail. It provides key metrics to help improve deliverability rates to Gmail inboxes, indicating a specific focus.
15 Jan 2024 - Google Support
Technical article
Google's guidelines confirm that data in Postmaster Tools is generated only for domains sending a significant daily volume of email to Gmail users. Lower volumes may result in no data appearing in the dashboards, regardless of G Suite traffic.