> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://help.hoopai.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Google Postmaster Tools

> Use Google Postmaster Tools to monitor your email domain reputation, spam rate, and authentication status as seen by Gmail.

Google Postmaster Tools (GPT) provides free insight into how Gmail sees your sending domain. It shows your domain reputation, spam rate, authentication pass rates, and delivery errors — data essential for diagnosing Gmail deliverability issues.

***

## 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

<Steps>
  <Step title="Go to Google Postmaster Tools">
    Visit postmaster.google.com and sign in with a Google account.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Add your domain">
    Click the **+** button and enter your sending domain.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Verify ownership">
    Google provides a TXT or CNAME DNS record to verify domain ownership. Add it to your domain's DNS.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Wait for data">
    Data appears once your domain sends sufficient volume to Gmail addresses (typically 100+ messages per day). Data may take 24-48 hours to populate.
  </Step>
</Steps>

<Note>
  Google Postmaster only shows data for email sent to Gmail and Google Workspace addresses. For Outlook, use Microsoft SNDS.
</Note>

***

## 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 |

<Warning>
  Google requires bulk senders (5,000+ emails/day to Gmail) to maintain a spam rate below 0.10%. Exceeding this can result in permanent delivery degradation.
</Warning>

***

## Action items by metric

<AccordionGroup>
  <Accordion title="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.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="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.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="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](/marketing/email-smtp).
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Delivery errors spiking">
    Check the delivery errors tab for specific error codes. Common issues include rate limiting, authentication failures, and recipient address problems.
  </Accordion>
</AccordionGroup>

***

## Connecting insights to HoopAI

1. **Low domain reputation** — reduce campaign frequency, clean contact lists, verify addresses before sending
2. **High spam rate** — review unsubscribe flow settings in **Marketing > Emails > Campaigns** (gear icon)
3. **Authentication failures** — check DNS records for your dedicated sending domain in **Settings > Email Services**
4. **Rising delivery errors** — slow down sending pace, check list quality, review bounce reports