What Is Email Validation?
Definition
One of the first methods that email marketers use to determine their campaign’s success is email validation. This method verifies that an email address is both accurate and capable of receiving messages. Through this, businesses are able to keep a clean email list. Email validation is incredibly important, especially considering how email lists degrade by 22% each year.
Example
Let’s say a user signs up on an online platform to create an account. Once they input their email address, this is then validated to ensure it’s in the correct format and that the email domain exists. Invalid addresses or email addresses with incorrect formatting are rejected, prompting the user to enter a valid address before they can proceed.
Steps in Email Validation
Email validation is a straightforward process that ensures your emails are sent to real, working addresses. It starts with a syntax check, which looks for obvious errors in the email’s format, like missing the "@" symbol or incorrect domain endings (e.g., .con instead of .com). This step catches typos right away, preventing unnecessary bounces.
Next comes domain verification, which checks if the email’s domain actually exists and can receive emails. For example, if someone provides "john.doe@fakemail.com," the tool will confirm whether "fakemail.com" is a functioning domain. This step helps weed out fake or non-existent domains that can hurt your sender reputation.
The final stage is mailbox validation, which goes a step deeper by confirming that the specific inbox is active and capable of receiving messages. This ensures that even if the domain is valid, the individual email address is also legitimate.
Many validation tools also identify role-based addresses like info@ or sales@. These are typically tied to teams or departments rather than individuals and often result in lower engagement because they’re not tied to a single person.
Why Email Validation Is Important
A clean email list reduces bounce rates, improves sender reputation, and enhances email deliverability. By removing invalid addresses before a campaign, you avoid deliverability issues and effectively reach more of your audience. Email validation ensures that campaigns target real, engaged recipients for maximum impact.
Beyond the technical benefits, validation helps target the right audience, meaning real, engaged recipients who are more likely to interact with your content. It is a small but impactful step that maximizes the success of every email you send, making sure your efforts and resources are not wasted on unreachable addresses.
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