Can a domain with poor reputation negatively affect other domains in Google Workspace?

Summary

The provided answers overwhelmingly suggest that a domain with a poor reputation *can* negatively affect other domains within the same Google Workspace. Experts, marketers, and documentation from various sources highlight that while Google isolates many factors, shared infrastructure (like IP addresses), similar sending patterns, content correlations, and Google's own data mining algorithms can all lead to reputation bleeding between domains. The degree of separation between businesses, the similarity of sending practices, and the management of shared resources influence the extent of the negative impact.

Key findings

  • Reputation Interdependence: Domains within Google Workspace are not completely isolated and can influence each other's email deliverability.
  • Algorithmic Correlation: Google's machine learning algorithms can identify relationships and correlate sending reputations based on various factors.
  • Shared Infrastructure Risks: Shared IP addresses, resources, or content increase the risk of a negative reputation impact spreading.
  • Sending Pattern Similarity: Similar sending practices across domains can lead to a correlated reputation, whether positive or negative.
  • Google's Workspace Scrutiny: Google may scrutinize entire Workspaces for sending behavior, influencing deliverability across domains.

Key considerations

  • IP Address Isolation: Consider using dedicated IP addresses for critical domains to isolate reputation issues.
  • Separate Sending Practices: Ensure varied sending patterns across domains within the Workspace to prevent the algorithm from correlating them.
  • Minimize Content Overlap: Avoid duplicating content across domains to reduce the chances of Google linking them negatively.
  • Proactive Domain Management: Regularly monitor the reputation of all domains within your Google Workspace and quickly address any potential issues.
  • Clear Business Separation: If possible, maintain a clear separation between the business functions of each domain and its sending practices to reduce the likelihood of negative association.

What email marketers say
11Marketer opinions

The consensus is that a domain with a poor reputation can negatively impact other domains within the same Google Workspace account. While each domain has its own reputation, the interconnected nature of Google Workspace allows for the spread of negative reputation, particularly if domains share sending patterns, content, or IP addresses. Google's algorithms can identify related domains and correlate their reputation scores. The degree of separation between domains, the similarity of sending practices, and the presence of shared resources all influence the extent of the impact.

Key opinions

  • Reputation Interdependence: Domains within Google Workspace are not entirely isolated; the reputation of one domain can affect others.
  • Algorithmic Correlation: Google's machine learning algorithms can identify relationships between domains and apply reputation scores accordingly.
  • Shared Resources: Shared resources like IP addresses and similar content increase the risk of reputation spillover.
  • Workspace Scrutiny: Google may scrutinize entire Workspaces if it detects poor sending habits from one or more domains.
  • Proactive Separation: Separating critical functions onto domains with dedicated good reputations is advised.

Key considerations

  • Sending Practices: Ensure all domains within the Workspace adhere to best practices for email sending to maintain a positive reputation.
  • Domain Separation: Maintain clear separation between domains, especially for unrelated businesses, to minimize reputation bleed.
  • Content Similarity: Avoid using similar content across multiple domains, as this can trigger Google's algorithms to link them.
  • IP Address: If possible, ensure that domains with differing sending practices are not sharing IP Addresses as these can affect reputation.
  • Workspace Management: Implement a comprehensive Workspace management strategy to monitor and mitigate any potential reputation issues.
Marketer view

Email marketer from Gmass explains that although domains are separate, interconnectedness exists within Workspace, meaning a damaged domain can reduce the deliverability of other domains on the same account.

June 2024 - Gmass
Marketer view

Marketer from Email Geeks shares anecdotal evidence that Google may be cracking down on the practice of using Workspace for hosting multiple "outreach" domains.

November 2023 - Email Geeks
Marketer view

Marketer from Email Geeks explains that unless entirely separate businesses, there's often a connection between domains that ML algorithms can see.

July 2023 - Email Geeks
Marketer view

Email marketer from SendPulse explains that a negative domain reputation can affect all domains within the same Google Workspace account, potentially leading to reduced deliverability and increased spam filtering.

May 2023 - SendPulse
Marketer view

Marketer from Email Geeks answers that the impact is possibly but it's impossible to answer further without more detailed information on what is observed.

December 2024 - Email Geeks
Marketer view

Email marketer from StackExchange shares that the impact depends on the degree of separation. If domains are clearly distinct businesses with different practices, the impact is less; however, shared resources and content can create negative correlations.

April 2024 - StackExchange
Marketer view

Email marketer from Neil Patel Digital explains that a domain's reputation is crucial for deliverability and a poor reputation can impact all associated domains, including those in Google Workspace, by leading to emails being marked as spam.

June 2023 - Neil Patel Digital
Marketer view

Email marketer from Reddit states that it's possible, especially if the domains share similar sending patterns or content. Google's algorithms can identify related domains and apply reputation scores accordingly.

May 2022 - Reddit
Marketer view

Email marketer from Litmus advises that maintaining positive sending practices across all domains is vital. Google’s algorithms analyze relationships between domains and a reputation hit will spread if domains aren't managed correctly.

March 2022 - Litmus
Marketer view

Email marketer from EmailToolTester states that Google might correlate poor sending habits with an entire workspace. They recommend separating critical functions onto domains with dedicated good reputations.

December 2024 - EmailToolTester
Marketer view

Email marketer from Mailjet states that while each domain has its own reputation, shared infrastructure like Google Workspace means a very poor reputation on one domain can negatively influence others due to IP address and content filtering algorithms.

August 2024 - Mailjet

What the experts say
3Expert opinions

Experts agree that a domain with a poor reputation can negatively affect other domains within the same Google Workspace. This is due to Google's ability to mine data and correlate related domains, especially when they share an IP address or exhibit similar sending patterns and content. Although the exact details of how Google connects these domains may not be readily accessible, the potential for reputation bleed is present.

Key opinions

  • Data Mining: Google actively mines data and can potentially link domains within the same Google Workspace.
  • IP Address Impact: Sharing an IP address between domains means a poor sending reputation on one can affect the deliverability of others.
  • Correlation by Content/Patterns: Google's systems can correlate related domains based on similar sending patterns and content, influencing their reputations.

Key considerations

  • IP Address Isolation: Consider using dedicated IP addresses for domains with critical sending reputations to prevent reputation bleed.
  • Content and Sending Diversity: Ensure domains maintain distinct sending patterns and content to avoid Google linking them negatively.
  • Reputation Monitoring: Regularly monitor the reputation of all domains within your Google Workspace to identify and address potential issues promptly.
Expert view

Expert from Email Geeks shares that he expects Google to mine any data they can get access to, but anyone outside Google probably doesn’t have easy access to the fact that the domains are related.

August 2021 - Email Geeks
Expert view

Expert from Word to the Wise (Laura Atkins) explains that related domains within the same organization (like those in a Google Workspace) can influence each other's reputation, particularly if they exhibit similar sending patterns or share content. Google's systems can correlate these domains.

May 2023 - Word to the Wise
Expert view

Expert from Spam Resource explains that if domains share an IP address, a poor sending reputation from one domain can negatively affect the deliverability of emails from other domains sharing that IP, even if the domains are otherwise unrelated in Google Workspace.

June 2021 - Spam Resource

What the documentation says
5Technical articles

Official documentation and technical resources indicate that a domain with a poor reputation can negatively affect other domains, especially within a shared environment like Google Workspace. While Google isolates many factors, domain-wide issues can affect deliverability, particularly if sending practices are similar or resources like IP addresses are shared. Although not specific to Google Workspace, these sources highlight the impact of shared resources and related sending profiles on domain reputation.

Key findings

  • Workspace Impact: Google Workspace may experience deliverability issues across accounts due to a domain-wide reputation problem.
  • Shared Resources: Shared resources (e.g., IP addresses) can lead to a reputation hit on one domain propagating to others.
  • Similar Sending: Similar sending practices across domains within a Workspace can correlate their reputations.
  • Co-located Impact: Co-located services or domains can be negatively impacted by a domain with a bad reputation.
  • Reputation Correlation: Closely related domains with similar profiles may have correlated reputations.

Key considerations

  • Sending Practices: Ensure varied sending patterns across domains within the Google Workspace to prevent the algorithm from correlating them.
  • IP Addresses: Domains with differing sending profiles should use different IP Addresses
  • Domain Monitoring: Monitor domain reputation and proactively resolve issues to maintain deliverability.
  • Shared Infrastructure: Carefully manage domains with shared infrastructure, like an IP address, to prevent reputation bleed.
Technical article

Documentation from AWS explains that when domains share resources, such as an IP address, a sending reputation impacts all domains. Though not Google Workspace, this highlights the importance of domain management.

April 2022 - AWS
Technical article

Documentation from RFC explains that while RFC doesn't directly address Google Workspace, its outlining of email infrastructure indicates that if domains share resources or IPs, a reputation hit on one can propagate to others.

October 2021 - RFC-Editor
Technical article

Documentation from Google Workspace Admin Help advises that while Google isolates many factors, a domain-wide reputation issue can affect the deliverability of all accounts under that Workspace, especially if sending practices are similar.

March 2024 - Google Workspace Admin Help
Technical article

Documentation from Microsoft Learn shares that a poor domain reputation can negatively impact email deliverability across all services utilizing that domain, implying that co-located services may also be affected, even if logically separate.

September 2022 - Microsoft Learn
Technical article

Documentation from Spamhaus explains that closely related domains sharing similar sending profiles may have correlated reputations, so one poorly managed domain can negatively affect others.

April 2023 - Spamhaus