What Google Postmaster shows
| Metric | What it tells you |
|---|---|
| Domain reputation | Gmail’s trust score (High, Medium, Low, Bad) |
| IP reputation | Trust score for sending IP addresses |
| Spam rate | Percentage of emails Gmail users reported as spam |
| Authentication | Pass rates for SPF, DKIM, and DMARC |
| Encryption | Percentage of emails sent over TLS |
| Delivery errors | Error codes and reasons for rejected messages |
Setting up Google Postmaster Tools
Verify ownership
Google provides a TXT or CNAME DNS record to verify domain ownership. Add it to your domain’s DNS.
Google Postmaster only shows data for email sent to Gmail and Google Workspace addresses. For Outlook, use Microsoft SNDS.
Interpreting the dashboard
Domain reputation
| Rating | Meaning | Action |
|---|---|---|
| High | Gmail trusts your domain | Maintain current practices |
| Medium | Some trust issues | Review recent campaigns for content or list quality issues |
| Low | Significant trust issues | Clean your list, fix authentication, reduce volume |
| Bad | Domain is flagged | Stop sending, clean list thoroughly, contact support |
Spam rate
| Rate | Status | Action |
|---|---|---|
| Below 0.05% | Excellent | No action needed |
| 0.05%-0.10% | Acceptable | Monitor closely |
| 0.10%-0.30% | Warning | Investigate content and list quality |
| Above 0.30% | Critical | Pause campaigns and clean list immediately |
Action items by metric
Domain reputation dropped
Domain reputation dropped
Review your last 7-14 days of campaigns. High bounce rates, spam complaints, or sending to unengaged contacts are common causes. Clean your list, reduce volume, and focus on engaged contacts.
Spam rate is rising
Spam rate is rising
Ensure every email has a working unsubscribe link. Stop sending to contacts who have not engaged in 90+ days. Consider a re-engagement campaign.
SPF or DKIM failing
SPF or DKIM failing
Check your DNS records. SPF failures mean the sending IP is not in your SPF record. DKIM failures mean the signature is missing or invalid. See Email & SMTP setup.
Delivery errors spiking
Delivery errors spiking
Check the delivery errors tab for specific error codes. Common issues include rate limiting, authentication failures, and recipient address problems.
Connecting insights to HoopAI
- Low domain reputation — reduce campaign frequency, clean contact lists, verify addresses before sending
- High spam rate — review unsubscribe flow settings in Marketing > Emails > Campaigns (gear icon)
- Authentication failures — check DNS records for your dedicated sending domain in Settings > Email Services
- Rising delivery errors — slow down sending pace, check list quality, review bounce reports