When it comes to email, many of us rely on Google’s services like Gmail and Google Workspace.
But there is a reason it is so cheap and seductive to use – it is a consumer product not really fit for fund marketing,
You might have noticed that sometimes emails get blocked or end up in the spam folder more often than you’d like – or maybe you don’t or don’t even care.
This isn’t because Google is doing something wrong; it’s all about the way their system operates on such a massive scale and how it’s abused by some users – and again how much they care about the issue.
Here’s a straightforward breakdown of the issues:
1. Shared IP Pools: One Bad Apple Spoils the Bunch
Google has millions of users sending emails from shared IP addresses. When even a small number of these accounts are hijacked or send out spam, it tarnishes the reputation for everyone using those same IP addresses. Mailbox providers look at a combination of IP reputation, domain reputation, and complaint history, which means a few bad users can drag down the credibility for thousands of legitimate ones.
2. High Volume Equals High Scrutiny
Google handles billions of emails every day. Because of this enormous volume, mailbox providers closely monitor high-traffic sources. If certain thresholds are exceeded—like hitting spam traps or receiving too many complaints – those IPs face automatic actions like throttling, rate limits, or getting blacklisted by services like Spamhaus.
3. Spammers Like Google Cloud – A Lot
Spammers are keen on using Google Cloud due to its ease of access. It’s quick to create accounts and relatively cheap to run email operations. This leads to a lot of shady activities happening behind the scenes, like sending bulk spam or running phishing schemes. Even if your own use is legitimate, a neighbor in the cloud can create issues that hurt your IP’s reputation.
4. Gmail Accounts Are Prime Targets for Phishing
Compromised Gmail accounts are often exploited for sending out bursts of spam, which leads to complaints and ultimately a hit on the reputation of those IPs. Google usually manages to restore their reputation relatively quickly, but it doesn’t always happen overnight.
5. No Dedicated IPs for Most Users
Google doesn’t typically offer dedicated IP addresses to its Gmail or Workspace users, which means that whether you’re a hedge fund or a spammer, you’re sharing the same reputation pool. This can be particularly risky if you’re sending important investor communications.
This is a big reason why major corporations, like Microsoft or large banks, often avoid bulk emails sent from Gmail. They know the risks that come with using consumer-grade email services for important communications.
