How can I gain access to Google Postmaster Tools when my ESP controls the subdomain?
Summary
What email marketers say13Marketer opinions
Email marketer from EmailGeeks Forum shares that the ESP should be able to grant you access via the 'Manage Users' option within Google Postmaster Tools, even if they control the subdomain. They can add your Google account as a user with read-only access.
Email marketer from Customer.io highlights the importance of using Google Postmaster Tools to track email deliverability. They recommend being proactive in gaining access to tools to assist with email deliverability.
Email marketer from StackExchange notes that sometimes subdomain delegation for Postmaster Tools can be tricky. They recommend exploring if the ESP can verify the parent domain and then grant access to the subdomains, although this requires the parent domain to be verified.
Email marketer from Email Vendor Selection mentions that you can request sub-domain access and delegate access through Google Postmaster Tools, and the ESP should be able to help with that.
Email marketer from Email Geeks explains that you sign up to GPT yourself and get the necessary TXT or CNAME RR, then they add it to the DNS of the sub-domain which they control to get access.
Email marketer from Email Geeks shares that they generally ask customers to provide Read-Access to a specific email address in Manage Users during troubleshooting, highlighting its ease and revocability.
Email marketer from Mailjet recommends that contacting their support team can assist in navigating the situation and help grant access.
Email marketer from Litmus recommends requesting access to Google Postmaster Tools and helping the ESP by offering assistance with the process.
Email marketer from Email Deliverability Blog, recommends that you could request your ESP to monitor the GPT data on your behalf and provide you with regular updates and insights. This ensures you stay informed about your email performance even without direct access.
Email marketer from Reddit suggests asking your ESP to provide regular reports or screenshots from their Google Postmaster Tools dashboard if they are unwilling to grant direct access. This provides you with the data without requiring access.
Email marketer from Email Geeks suggests asking the ESP to add you via the Manage Users option if adding domains is difficult.
Email marketer from Email Geeks explains that if the ESP has your subdomain, you can add the parent domain to your GPT account and then add the subdomain without needing additional DNS work.
Email marketer from Email Marketing Tips Blog recommends directly communicating with your ESP and clearly stating your need for read-only access to Google Postmaster Tools data. Emphasize the importance of this data for monitoring and improving your email deliverability.
What the experts say4Expert opinions
Expert from Email Geeks mentions that many of their clients authorize them to see their GPT data shared with their gmail account.
Expert from Word to the Wise explains that you should ensure your ESP uses a separate account for each client to prevent data commingling. They also highlight the importance of having direct access to your data in Google Postmaster Tools to monitor your reputation and identify potential issues quickly.
Expert from Email Geeks shares that there is a 'grant access' button in GPT that can be used to share access with other accounts.
Expert from Spamresource.com shares that you should request the ESP to add you as a user within their Google Postmaster Tools account. Specifically, they should add you as a 'read-only' user to protect your privacy and ensure you can view but not modify the data.
What the documentation says4Technical articles
Documentation from Sendgrid highlights how beneficial Google Postmaster Tools data is when tracking issues with email sending. As a sender it is a great way to debug your email sends for any issues that might arise.
Documentation from Google Support explains that to access data, you need to prove ownership of the sending domain. If your ESP manages the subdomain, they need to delegate access to you or verify the domain themselves and grant you access.
Documentation from SparkPost details how to set up Google Postmaster Tools when using their services, including situations where they manage the subdomains. It explains that SparkPost can add users to the GPT with proper access.
Documentation from Google Workspace Admin Help details how to add users with different permission levels (read-only, etc.) to a Google Postmaster Tools account. This is the method the ESP should use to grant you access.