Workaround for Gmail Account Creation Verification Requirements - For Setting Up Client Accounts (GA, GSC, Including Socials, etc.)

[Chris CCMM-STM]

Our agency is hitting limits when creating free Gmail accounts for new client service setups (Google Analytics, Search Console, Socials etc.) due to phone number verification caps and the new QR code requirement.

As a permanent, scalable solution, is Google Workspace the only official recommendation for agencies to manage a separate Google account for each client's properties?

If so, can you confirm that creating a new Workspace User Account through the Admin Console does not require a unique, personal phone number or a physical device scan for the initial setup, allowing us to maintain centralized management?

Thanks for th answers!

 

[fisicx]

Why can't the client set up their own email account?

 

[Jannell Howell]

Hi Chris. I know this challenge well and have been exploring options like this as well. The Agency I work for creates an individual Google account so we can set-up/manage the GSC, GA, etc. While the client's have their own accounts, it can be cumbersome (or a complete roadblock) to do what we need to do using the client's account.

Unfortunately, I cannot answer if going the Workspace route skips the phone PIN code requirement. But would love to know. I'd also like to know how many individual accounts can be created within Workspace (I've read that each account can have 30 'aliases').

 

[d2minc]

We've found that if you use Android phone (at least this is only way we tried, might work with iPhone? not sure) and create the Gmail/Google account as if you were adding a new Google account to the phone - you can create as many accounts as you want. Never had an issue (100s of accounts). Once you create the account and login through the desktop (to confirm everything is good to go). You can just delete the account from your phone.

Then for each account we only add the recovery email - and use the same recovery email on all these "client" accounts. When the verification comes up - you just choose confirm confirmation email - to get access.

 

[Jannell Howell]

@d2minc, thank you for your reply. I tried the method that you described through my phone, but it was strictly a gmail. For my purposes, I need to use an existing email address. Do you have a workaround for that?

 

[d2minc]

On desktop you get an option to use an existing email address for the Google account. - https://static.md/0325143395c51572dd0bf59a7fdc571d.png

But I just tested on mobile and doesn't look like it gives you that option? We are just using regular Gmails. So not sure of any additional workarounds, sorry.

 

[Jannell Howell]

Thank you for confirming, @d2minc

 

[Chris CCMM-STM]

We've found that if you use Android phone (at least this is only way we tried, might work with iPhone? not sure) and create the Gmail/Google account as if you were adding a new Google account to the phone - you can create as many accounts as you want. Never had an issue (100s of accounts). Once you create the account and login through the desktop (to confirm everything is good to go). You can just delete the account from your phone.

Then for each account we only add the recovery email - and use the same recovery email on all these "client" accounts. When the verification comes up - you just choose confirm confirmation email - to get access.

We’ve actually tested this method. While it does work for a while, we found that it eventually triggers an initial phone verification request—especially if you set up multiple accounts within a short span of time.

Once that happens, you have to let the device 'cool down' before attempting another setup. It becomes a bottleneck because there is no assurance of when (or if) you can set up the next account without issues. It might work for some, but the waiting game makes it inefficient for us.

Thanks @d2minc for your response