How to configure a Google Workspace account

Setting up Google Workspace for your company? Here’s the ultra-simplified, step-by-step guide to get you up and running fast. Each step links to the official Google support page for more details. Read more on the Blog. You can also visit the main blog page.

1. Add Your Domain

1. Sign in to Google Admin Console as an admin.
2. Go to Account > Domains > Manage domains.
3. Click Add a domain.
4. Enter your domain name and follow the steps to verify ownership in your domain host’s DNS settings.
5. Activate Gmail for your new domain.

If you need more details, check the full instructions by Google.

2. Add New Users

1. In the Admin Console, go to Directory > Users.
2. Click Add new user.
3. Fill in their name and email address (choose the right domain if you have more than one). If you are creating several email accounts for the same person, use variations of the email address (e.g. [email protected], [email protected], [email protected]).
4. Click Add New User.

If you need more details, check the full instructions by Google.

3. Set Up DKIM

DKIM (DomainKeys Identified Mail) helps protect your email from being tampered with in transit. It adds a digital signature to your emails so recipients know they really came from your domain.

1. In Admin Console, go to Apps > Google Workspace > Gmail > Authenticate email.
2. Click Generate new record and follow the steps to add the DKIM record to your domain’s DNS.
3. Click Start authentication.

If you need more details, check the full instructions by Google.

4. Set Up SPF

SPF (Sender Policy Framework) is a simple way to prevent spammers from sending emails that look like they come from your domain. It tells other email servers which servers are allowed to send email for your domain.

1. Go to your domain host’s DNS settings.
2. Add or update the TXT record for SPF: v=spf1 include:_spf.google.com ~all
3. Save your changes.

If you need more details, check the full instructions by Google.

5. Set Up DMARC

DMARC (Domain-based Message Authentication, Reporting, and Conformance) helps you protect your domain from email spoofing and phishing. It lets you tell receiving servers what to do with emails that fail DKIM or SPF checks, and gives you reports on suspicious activity.

1. In your domain’s DNS, add a TXT record for DMARC:
   • Name: _dmarc
   • Value: v=DMARC1; p=none; rua=mailto:[email protected]
2. Save your changes.

If you need more details, check the full instructions by Google.

6. Filter Warmup Emails (optional)

Want to keep warmup or automated emails out of your main inbox? Create a Gmail filter:

1. In Gmail, click the search options icon in the search bar.
2. Enter criteria (e.g., sender or subject for warmup emails). The majority of email sequencers introduce a key found in the body of the email, which you can introduce in Has the words field.
3. Click Continue.
4. Always tick these:
   • Skip the Inbox (Archive it)
   • Mark as read
   • Never send it to Spam
   • Mark as important
5. Click Create filter to save.

If you need more details, check the full instructions by Google.

7. Forward Emails to Your Main Account (optional)

To forward all emails to another account:

1. In Gmail, go to Settings > See all settings > Forwarding and POP/IMAP.
2. Click Add a forwarding address and enter your main email.
3. Confirm via the link sent to that address.
4. Select Forward a copy of incoming mail to and choose what happens to Gmail’s copy.
5. Click Save Changes.

If you need more details, check the full instructions by Google.

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That’s it! You’ve added your domain, users, and secured your email. For more details, check the official Google links above. You can also Contact us for help.

FAQs

Why do I need to verify my domain? Verifying your domain proves to Google that you own it. This prevents unauthorized people from using your domain to send emails or sign up for services, ensuring security for your organization.

What happens if I don’t set up DKIM, SPF, and DMARC? Without these authentication protocols, your emails are much more likely to be flagged as spam by recipients’ email servers. It also makes your domain vulnerable to spoofing, where attackers send malicious emails pretending to be you.

Can I have multiple domains in one Google Workspace account? Yes, you can add multiple domains to a single Google Workspace account. You can set them up as separate domains with their own users or as domain aliases for your primary domain.

How long does it take for DNS changes to work? DNS changes (like adding MX or TXT records) can take anywhere from a few minutes to 48 hours to propagate across the internet. If things don’t work immediately, wait a bit and try again.

Do I need a technical expert to set this up? While it involves some technical steps, Google’s setup wizard is designed to be user-friendly. Most small business owners can handle the basic setup themselves following guides like this one.

FAQs

Why do I need to verify my domain? Verifying your domain proves to Google that you own it. This prevents unauthorized people from using your domain to send emails or sign up for services, ensuring security for your organization.

What happens if I don’t set up DKIM, SPF, and DMARC? Without these authentication protocols, your emails are much more likely to be flagged as spam by recipients’ email servers. It also makes your domain vulnerable to spoofing, where attackers send malicious emails pretending to be you.

Can I have multiple domains in one Google Workspace account? Yes, you can add multiple domains to a single Google Workspace account. You can set them up as separate domains with their own users or as domain aliases for your primary domain.

How long does it take for DNS changes to work? DNS changes (like adding MX or TXT records) can take anywhere from a few minutes to 48 hours to propagate across the internet. If things don’t work immediately, wait a bit and try again.

Do I need a technical expert to set this up? While it involves some technical steps, Google’s setup wizard is designed to be user-friendly. Most small business owners can handle the basic setup themselves following guides like this one.