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How to transfer Google Postmaster Tools domain ownership and manage delegated access?

Summary

Transferring Google Postmaster Tools domain ownership and managing delegated access are straightforward processes, primarily conducted within the 'Manage Users' section of a verified domain. To facilitate an ownership change, the current owner adds the new owner's email address and grants 'Owner' permission. Crucially, the new owner must then independently verify the domain in their own Google Postmaster Tools account, often necessitating a new DNS record. Once verified by the new owner, the original owner can remove their own access to complete the transfer. For delegated access, existing owners can invite individual users by email, assigning them either 'Owner' or 'User' permissions. 'Owners' maintain full control, including user management, while 'Users' typically have view-only access to data. A key consideration for delegated access is that users may need to manually add the domains to their interface, as they do not always appear automatically, and prior user logins could sometimes affect visibility.

Key findings

  • Primary Management Point: Both ownership transfer and delegated access in Google Postmaster Tools are primarily managed through the 'Manage Users' section within a verified domain's settings.
  • Permission Levels: Google Postmaster Tools offers two distinct permission levels for users: 'Owner' and 'User'. An 'Owner' has comprehensive control over the domain's settings and user management, while a 'User' typically has view-only access to reports and data.
  • Ownership Transfer Process: The effective transfer of domain ownership involves the current owner adding the new party as an 'Owner' in 'Manage Users'. The new owner must then verify the domain independently in their own account, after which the original owner can remove their access.
  • Delegated Access Mechanics: Delegated access is granted by inviting individuals via their email address and assigning them either 'Owner' or 'User' permission. This allows teams or consultants to monitor data without needing full account credentials.
  • Multiple Verified Owners: Google Postmaster Tools supports multiple verified domain owners, each requiring their own unique DNS verification record, which is essential for seamless team collaboration or ownership transitions.

Key considerations

  • New Owner Verification: For a complete ownership transfer, the new owner must independently verify the domain in their Google Postmaster Tools account after being granted 'Owner' access. This often requires setting up a new DNS record specific to their account.
  • Original Owner Removal: To finalize an ownership transfer, the original owner should remove their own access from the domain in Google Postmaster Tools once the new owner has successfully verified and taken control.
  • Delegated User Visibility: Delegated users who have been granted access may need to manually add each domain to their Google Postmaster Tools account, as domains are not automatically displayed even after access is granted by an owner. Prior logins or registrations by the delegated user might also impact immediate visibility.
  • Role Permissions: Clearly understand the difference between 'Owner' and 'User' permissions. 'Owners' have full control, including adding and removing users and verifying domains, while 'Users' typically have view-only access to data.

What email marketers say

11 marketer opinions

Transferring Google Postmaster Tools domain ownership and managing delegated access is a straightforward process managed within the platform. To change ownership, the existing owner must add the new owner’s email address, granting them 'Owner' permission. A critical step is for the new owner to then independently verify the domain within their own Google Postmaster Tools account, which often requires creating a new DNS record. Once this is complete, the original owner can remove their access, finalizing the transfer. For delegated access, existing owners can invite individual users via their email address, assigning them either 'Owner' or 'User' permissions. 'Owners' retain full control, including the ability to manage other users, while 'Users' generally have view-only access to data. A common user experience point for delegated users is the need to manually add domains to their interface, as they might not appear automatically, and a user's prior Postmaster Tools logins or registrations could influence immediate visibility.

Key opinions

  • Centralized Management: The 'Manage Users' section within a verified domain in Google Postmaster Tools serves as the primary hub for both transferring ownership and granting delegated access.
  • Two Permission Levels: Google Postmaster Tools provides two main permission levels: 'Owner' for comprehensive control, including user management and domain verification, and 'User' for view-only access to data and reports.
  • Ownership Transfer Steps: The transfer of domain ownership typically involves the current owner adding the new party as an 'Owner.' The new owner then verifies the domain independently in their own Postmaster Tools account, often with a new DNS record. Finally, the original owner removes their access.
  • Delegated Access Approach: Delegated access is granted by inviting individuals via their email address and assigning them either 'Owner' or 'User' permissions, allowing various team members or consultants to monitor specific domain data.
  • Independent Domain Verification: For an ownership transfer to be complete, the new owner must perform their own independent domain verification, which establishes their control and access to the Postmaster Tools data.

Key considerations

  • New Owner Verification: Any new party taking over as owner must independently verify the domain in their own Google Postmaster Tools account after being granted 'Owner' access. This often involves setting up a unique DNS record specifically for their account.
  • Original Owner Removal: For a complete ownership transition, the original owner should remove their access from the domain in Google Postmaster Tools once the new owner has successfully verified the domain and confirmed their control.
  • Delegated User Visibility: Users granted delegated access may not automatically see the domains in their Google Postmaster Tools interface. They often need to manually add each domain to their account. Prior logins or existing Postmaster Tools registrations by the delegated user can also sometimes affect immediate visibility.
  • Role Permissions Defined: It is crucial to understand the distinct permissions of the 'Owner' and 'User' roles. 'Owners' possess full control, including the ability to manage other users and verify domains, whereas 'Users' are typically limited to viewing data and reports.
  • Multiple Owner DNS: For situations requiring multiple verified domain owners, each individual owner will need to establish their own unique DNS verification record. This enables concurrent ownership and seamless team collaboration.

Marketer view

Email marketer from Email Geeks explains that to transfer Google Postmaster Tools domain ownership, you should remove existing access from the original account, then switch to the desired account and run the domain setup again, which will require a new DNS record. They clarify that multiple verified domain owners are possible by setting up unique DNS records for each user. LoriBeth also explains that for delegated access, each individual user must manually add each domain to their account, as Google does not automatically display them.

19 Feb 2023 - Email Geeks

Marketer view

Email marketer from Email Geeks confirms LoriBeth Blair's proposed solution for transferring Google Postmaster Tools domain ownership. He states that after deleting previously added users and attempting a new domain verification from his work address, the domain was shown as unverified and a new TXT file for DNS was provided.

1 Sep 2023 - Email Geeks

What the experts say

0 expert opinions

Managing domain ownership and delegated access within Google Postmaster Tools is efficiently handled through the platform's user management interface. When transferring ownership, the current owner initiates the process by inviting the new party and assigning them 'Owner' privileges. A crucial subsequent step is for the new owner to perform an independent domain verification in their own Google Postmaster Tools account, often requiring a new DNS record. Once verified, the original owner can then revoke their own access to complete the transition. For granting delegated access, current owners can invite specific individuals via their email, assigning either 'Owner' or 'User' permissions. While 'Owners' retain full administrative control, 'Users' typically gain view-only access to deliverability data. A point to note for delegated users is that domains may not auto-populate in their interface, often necessitating manual addition, and prior user logins could affect initial visibility.

Key opinions

  • Unified Management Location: All aspects of domain ownership transfer and delegated access are managed from a single, centralized 'Manage Users' section within a verified domain's settings in Google Postmaster Tools.
  • Granular Permission Options: Google Postmaster Tools offers distinct 'Owner' and 'User' roles. 'Owners' possess comprehensive control, including managing other users and domain verification, while 'Users' are generally restricted to viewing reports and data.
  • Structured Ownership Transition: The complete process for transferring domain ownership involves the existing owner granting 'Owner' permission to the new party, followed by the new owner's independent domain verification, and finally the original owner removing their access.
  • Enabling Collaborative Access: Delegated access facilitates team collaboration or external consultant engagement by allowing owners to invite individuals and assign specific 'Owner' or 'User' permissions based on their needs.
  • Independent Verification for Control: A new owner must perform an independent domain verification in their Google Postmaster Tools account to establish their control and access to the domain's data, even after being granted 'Owner' status by the previous owner.

Key considerations

  • Essential New Owner Verification: The new owner's independent verification of the domain in their own Google Postmaster Tools account is a mandatory step for a successful ownership transfer, often requiring a new DNS record specific to their account.
  • Finalizing Ownership Transition: To ensure a clean transfer, the original owner should proactively remove their access from the domain in Google Postmaster Tools once the new owner has confirmed successful verification and control.
  • Ensuring Delegated User Visibility: Users who receive delegated access might not see the domains appear automatically in their Google Postmaster Tools interface; they often need to manually add each domain. Previous account activity by the delegated user can also influence immediate display.
  • Understanding Permission Nuances: It is vital to distinguish between the 'Owner' and 'User' roles, as 'Owners' have full administrative capabilities, including user management, whereas 'Users' are typically limited to viewing deliverability data.
  • DNS Requirements for Co-Owners: For scenarios where multiple individuals need to be verified owners of the same domain, each individual must establish their own unique DNS verification record.

What the documentation says

3 technical articles

To effectively transfer domain ownership or manage delegated access in Google Postmaster Tools, the 'Manage Users' section is the central point of control. The process for transferring ownership involves the current owner adding the new party's email with 'Owner' permission. A crucial next step is for the newly designated owner to verify the domain within their own Postmaster Tools account. Once this verification is complete, the original owner can then remove their access, finalizing the transition. For delegated access, existing owners can invite additional users, granting them either 'Owner' or 'User' permissions. An 'Owner' possesses full administrative capabilities, including the power to add or remove other users and verify domains, while a 'User' is limited to viewing data.

Key findings

  • Central Control Point: The 'Manage Users' section is the designated area within Google Postmaster Tools for administering both domain ownership transfers and delegated user access.
  • Defined User Roles: Google Postmaster Tools provides two distinct permission levels, 'Owner' and 'User,' each with specific capabilities; Owners have full administrative control, while Users are limited to viewing data.
  • Ownership Transfer Protocol: Domain ownership is transferred by first granting a new party 'Owner' permission, followed by the new owner's domain verification, and finally the original owner's removal of their own access.
  • Managing Delegated Access: Delegated access involves adding new users and explicitly assigning them either 'Owner' or 'User' permissions to control their level of interaction with Postmaster Tools data.
  • Owner Capabilities: An 'Owner' role in Google Postmaster Tools grants comprehensive capabilities, including the authority to add or remove other users and verify domains.

Key considerations

  • New Owner Verification: For a successful ownership transfer, the new owner must verify the domain in their own Google Postmaster Tools account after being granted 'Owner' permission.
  • Original Owner Removal: The original owner should actively remove their access once the new owner has successfully verified the domain to complete the ownership transfer.
  • Role-Based Permissions: It is essential to understand that 'Owner' permissions grant full management capabilities, including user control and domain verification, whereas 'User' permissions are strictly for viewing data.
  • Manage Users Centrality: All actions related to adding or removing users, and thereby managing ownership and delegated access, are performed within the 'Manage Users' section of Google Postmaster Tools.

Technical article

Documentation from Google Postmaster Tools Help explains that domain ownership can be transferred by adding a new owner with "Owner" permission. Existing owners can remove themselves or other users. Delegated access is managed by adding new users and assigning them either "Owner" or "User" permissions. An owner can add or remove other users, including owners, while a user can only view data.

14 Mar 2022 - Google Postmaster Tools Help

Technical article

Documentation from Postmark's guide explains that to manage users and ownership in Google Postmaster Tools, you access the "Manage Users" section. From there, you can add new users and assign them either "Owner" or "User" permissions. An "Owner" can add/remove users and verify domains, while a "User" has view-only access, facilitating delegated data analysis. Transferring ownership involves adding a new owner and then removing the original owner.

16 Oct 2023 - Postmark

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