How to solve return-path issues when sending from multiple domains in Google Workspace?
Summary
What email marketers say12Marketer opinions
Email marketer from Email Geeks explains that in the context of DMARC, if DKIM is aligned and passing, then an SPF misalignment will not cause issues.
Email marketer from Quora shares that implementing a DMARC policy can help manage situations where SPF fails due to the return-path mismatch. A DMARC policy allows you to specify how receiving mail servers should handle emails that fail SPF and DKIM checks.
Email marketer from Reddit shares that Google Workspace does not allow customization of the return-path. It will always be the primary email address associated with the Google account.
Email marketer from StackOverflow recommends setting up DKIM signing for all sending domains within Google Workspace. This helps authenticate emails and improves deliverability, even if the return-path is the primary domain.
Email marketer from LinkedIn suggests that larger organizations with high email volumes may consider using dedicated IP addresses for each domain. This provides more control over sender reputation and deliverability.
Email marketer from DeliverabilityPro Blog advises gradually warming up new sending domains to establish a positive sender reputation. This involves sending a small volume of emails initially and gradually increasing it over time.
Email marketer from MailNinja Website explains the importance of monitoring email deliverability using tools like Google Postmaster Tools. This helps identify and address any issues related to SPF, DKIM, and DMARC.
Email marketer from Email Marketing Forum suggests using an SMTP relay service to gain more control over the return-path. By configuring Gmail to send through the SMTP relay, the return-path can be customized.
Email marketer from Email Marketing Blog shares that for different sending purposes, using subdomains can help manage reputation. Each subdomain can have its own SPF and DKIM records.
Email marketer from Email Geeks explains that Google will always use the primary address as the return-path and there is no way to customize it, AFAIK.
Email marketer from Email Geeks shares that if the second domain has its own non-google email server you can configure Gmail in workspace to send using the smtp of the other domain rather than simply alias the outgoing messages.
Email marketer from Reddit recommends setting up DMARC reporting to monitor SPF and DKIM alignment results. This helps identify any unauthorized use of your domains and improve email security.
What the experts say3Expert opinions
Expert from Word to the Wise shares that SPF alignment is critical when the Return-Path domain differs from the From domain. They suggest making sure that your SPF record includes any servers that might send on behalf of your domain, including Google's servers if you use Google Workspace.
Expert from SpamResource explains that the Return-Path (also known as Envelope From) is the address where bounce messages are sent. Google Workspace's behavior of using the primary address can lead to issues if not properly aligned with SPF records. They recommend ensuring SPF records authorize the sending source for each domain.
Expert from Email Geeks responds that the mentioned sending setup is perfectly legit.
What the documentation says5Technical articles
Documentation from Google Workspace Admin Help explains how to add an alternate "From" address in Gmail. This allows users to send emails from different email addresses associated with their account. You need to verify ownership of the other email address.
Documentation from Google Workspace Admin Help recommends ensuring that SPF records for all sending domains include Google's SPF record (`include:_spf.google.com`) to authorize Google Workspace to send emails on behalf of those domains.
Documentation from RFC 5321 defines the Return-Path header, clarifying its purpose and use in email delivery. It is the address to which delivery failure reports (bounces) should be sent.
Documentation from MXToolbox explains how to use MXToolbox's SPF record checker to verify that your SPF record is correctly configured and includes all necessary sending sources, including Google Workspace.
Documentation from Google Postmaster Tools explains that it allows senders to monitor their sending reputation with Gmail users. This can help identify issues that may be affecting deliverability, such as SPF or DKIM failures.