This is a step-by-step guide on how to set up Google Workspace mailboxes for your cold email outreach.
Instantly now offers a Done-For-You setup where you can do all these steps in a few clicks.
However, if you've already bought backup domains elsewhere and want to use them, this guide is for you.
As an example, I’ll show you how to create one Workspace for one domain with one mailbox. If you have 3-4 mailboxes, you can add them later, but it’s going to be much easier; you wouldn’t need to set up any domain records because you'd already done this.
I have a domain bought on GoDaddy, olegtomenko.online.
Go to https://workspace.google.com/intl/en/
Add true data about your organization. Please note that you can’t change the business region and company data, like identification number, after the registration. You would need to create a new workspace.
Please note that you can also add multiple domains under one workspace, so it’s not really necessary to create 10-20 workspaces. But to reduce the risks of being blocked for spam (Google can block the entire workspace), I personally created 1-2 domains per workspace max.
However, I never got blocked for spam.
Then you add the admin email and press “ Create a new Google Workspace acc”
I already have the domain so I put it here.
Then, you’ll create an admin account for the workspace. You can add the next users later.
TIP: Create a separate spreadsheet for all your setup, where you will store the names and passwords. When you have 10, 30, 50 domains, it becomes hard to manage.
Now Google generates an offer for you (it will always be a business plan). I’m accepting it but remember, you’ll need to downgrade to starter later. You have a 14-day free trial.
If you want to change the currency due to your country (if you use your business card to pay), you can also change it on the screen.
Next, you need to input your organization's data (NIP, VAT, etc.). This cannot be changed later. And feel free to add the card for the payment, it will be processed with the test payment.
Welcome to your new account.
Now you’re in admin console.
So the first step is to confirm your domain. If your domain is on GoDaddy, Google, CloudFlare, or Namecheap, the verification should be done automatically. You just need to sign in.
If something is wrong with the verification, you can always verify the domain manually using the verification code. Just use generic instructions (link in picture below).
Then, you need to activate Gmail for the domain, following the same principles.
Now, it’s time to downgrade the subscription.
Find “Billing” on the left menu and select Billing -> Subscription.
Select “Google Workspace Business Standard” and in the next step, choose “Upgrade or downgrade”.
Find “Starter” and press “Downgrade”, then, proceed and pick the flexible plan.
Go to checkout and press “Place order”. You first payment will be in 14 days anyway.
Now, your backup domain is ready to use.
Let’s prepare the mailboxes and connect them to Instantly. I’ll show you how to connect one mailbox, you can generally create 3-4 mailboxes per domain.
Set up a profile picture.
To make your picture appear in all your cold emails when your recipient is also in Gsuite, you should upload it to Google profile and make it visible.
Go to “Manage your google account” or press the pen icon to change the picture.
If you see such message, you need to let users change their picture as a workspace administrator.
Go to Admin Console, Users -> Other Options -> Allow Users to edit profile.
Then enable all checkboxes and save.
Now, go back and change the picture.
Sometimes the visibility is set to “People you interact with”. You need to change it to “Visible to everyone”.
SPF, DMARC and DKIM
If your domain is connected and Gmail is activated, your domain should already have an SPF record.
Check it with your provider.
Now, let’s add the DKIM record.
The records should be added in the following order: SPF, DKIM, DMARC. In most cases, this is not really important since DNS records are updated immediately. However, sometimes you need to wait at least 24 hours; it all depends on the provider.
You will find the DKIM record in the Admin panel -> Apps -> Gmail -> Authenticate email.
DKIM stands for DomainKeys Identified Mail.
Make sure the right domain is selected, and press “Generate new record”.
The key bit length is 2048, and the selector is “google.”
You’ll see a long text, go to the domain provider -> DNS, and add a new record with the following data.
Here’s how your DNS should look like:
Wait for 5-10 minutes, then press “Start Authentication”. Status should be changed to “Authenticating email with DKIM”.
If you see the mistake, try to authenticate in 20-30 mins. If you keep seeing the mistake, check the DNS once again. Usually, DKIM starts authentication right away.
Let’s proceed with the DMARC record. DMARC stands for Domain-based Message Authentication, Reporting, and Conformance.
There are a lot of DMARC options you can add, but I have no experience with how they affect deliverability.
I always add a simple record:
v=DMARC1; p=quarantine; rua=mailto:moc.liamg%40oknemotgelo; pct=90; sp=none
TIP: DMARC reports are really annoying, you will receive them daily. That’s why I recommend creating a separate address for reports and adding this report to the rua property.
This is how DMARC record look like:
Connecting mailboxes to Instantly
Instantly uses an Oauth connection via IMAP, sp we need to enable EMAP on all mailboxes we connect.
So I log into the Gmail app and go to Settings -> See all settings.
Then to the Forwarding and POP/IMAP tab, and enable the radio button “Enable IMAP”, then save.
Now, back to Instantly.
Go to Accounts - Add New.
Connect a new Gmail account:
Then yes, IMAP is enabled, and now we need to add Instantly OAuth app to make the tool send and receive emails. Choose oAuth option:
Now you’ll see that window. Copy the Client-ID and go to Admin Panel.
Security -> API controls -> Manage Third-party app access.
Add app -> Oauth App Name or Client ID.
Paste the Client-ID and press “Search”.
Select the Instantly oAuth.
Enable the checkboxes and press Select.
Configure for all units and continue.
Access to Google Data -> trusted.
Review and save.
The app should appear in the list of your apps.
Now you can connect your email.
Press login and log into your email account.
Continue and allow the access.
Now your mailbox should appear in Instantly.
Click on the mailbox and enable the warmup. New mailboxes should be warmed up at least 2-3 weeks before you start sending campaigns.
Then go to settings.
Scroll down to Campaign Settings. I set 30 emails per day per mailbox and 4-minute wait time here.
Then add a Custom Tracking domain. Enable the checkbox “Use custom tracking domain”. Put “inst.yourdomain” in the field “your tracking domain”.
Go back to your DNS provider and add CNAME record with the data above.
Then Click “Check Status”. Usually, you should wait 2-3 minutes to see CNAME confirmed. You will see green icons.
Go to advanced settings (if you have SuperGrowth plan) and set the following:
Press “Save”.
Your domain and mailboxes are ready.
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