Summary
Email validation is a critical process for maintaining a healthy email list, improving deliverability, and protecting sender reputation. It involves identifying and removing invalid, risky, or low-quality email addresses using various techniques, from simple syntax checks to advanced threat detection. Numerous providers offer email validation services, including Webbula, EmailHippo, Kickbox, ZeroBounce, NeverBounce, Mailfloss, Debounce, Emailable, and Hunter.io. When selecting a vendor, consider your specific use case, data volume, and geographical distribution of your email list. Remember that email validation is not a substitute for good list hygiene practices and a proper opt-in process. Be cautious of providers offering services that seem too cheap, as their reputation and effectiveness may be questionable. Furthermore, email validation is not a means to fix poor data acquisition practices.
Key findings
- Benefits: Email validation improves deliverability, protects sender reputation, and reduces bounce rates by removing invalid, risky, and low-quality email addresses.
- Providers: Popular email validation providers include Webbula, EmailHippo, Kickbox, ZeroBounce, NeverBounce, Mailfloss, Debounce, Emailable, and Hunter.io, each offering varying features and pricing.
- Techniques: Email validation techniques range from simple syntax checks to advanced threat detection and disposable email address identification.
- Not a Fix: Email validation cannot rectify issues related to poor data quality acquisition.
Key considerations
- Use Case: Determine your specific needs, such as identifying abusive behavior or focusing on specific types of invalid addresses, before selecting a provider.
- Cost & Reputation: Exercise caution with extremely cheap providers, as their services may not be reputable or effective.
- Data Locality: Consider the geographical distribution of your email list, as the effectiveness of some providers may vary by region.
- Hygiene Practices: Email validation should complement, not replace, good list hygiene practices like obtaining explicit consent and regularly cleaning your list.
- Data Usage: Consider how you intend to use the data returned from the email verifier and the amount of data you will be sending them.
What email marketers say
14 marketer opinions
Email validation is crucial for maintaining a healthy email list and sender reputation. It helps reduce bounce rates, improve deliverability, and avoid spam filters by removing invalid, risky, and low-quality email addresses. Several providers offer email validation services, including Webbula, EmailHippo, Kickbox, ZeroBounce, NeverBounce, Mailfloss, Debounce, Emailable and Hunter.io. Different validation methods range from simple regex checks to more complex threat detection. The utility of some providers may vary based on geographical region. Be wary of providers that are 'too cheap to be believed'. Consider your use case and data volume when choosing a provider.
Key opinions
- Benefits: Email validation reduces bounce rates, improves sender reputation, and increases deliverability.
- Providers: Popular email validation providers include Webbula, EmailHippo, Kickbox, ZeroBounce, NeverBounce, Mailfloss, Debounce, Emailable and Hunter.io.
- Validation Methods: Validation methods range from simple syntax checks to advanced threat detection.
- Poor Data: Email validation should not be used as a method to resolve poor data acquisition.
Key considerations
- Cost: Be cautious of extremely cheap providers, as their services may not be reputable.
- Data Location: The effectiveness of some providers may depend on the geographical location of email addresses on your list.
- Use Case: Determine your specific needs (e.g., abusive behavior detection) before choosing a provider.
- Good Data: Email validation is not a substitute for good list hygiene practices and a opt-in process.
Marketer view
Marketer from Email Geeks shares that Webbula combines simple email verification with threat detection and offers a free, no-obligation test.
3 Feb 2024 - Email Geeks
Marketer view
Email marketer from Hunter.io indicates that email verification ensures the email address exists and can receive emails. It also improves deliverability, avoids spam filters, and maintains a good sender reputation.
16 Mar 2023 - Hunter.io
What the experts say
2 expert opinions
Email validation, or list scrubbing, is a recommended practice, especially for those who haven't mailed in a while, as it removes invalid addresses and protects sender reputation. When choosing a vendor, determine your specific use case and consider the amount and type of data you'll be sending and receiving. It's important to remember that validation is not a replacement for good list hygiene and an opt-in process.
Key opinions
- List Scrubbing: Email validation (list scrubbing) is recommended for those who haven't mailed in a while.
- Purpose: Email validation helps to remove invalid email addresses and protect your sender reputation.
Key considerations
- Use Case: Determine your specific use case before selecting an email verification vendor.
- Data Handling: Consider the amount and type of data you'll be sending to and receiving from the verification service.
- Hygiene Practices: Email validation is not a substitute for good list hygiene practices and a proper opt-in process.
Expert view
Expert from Spam Resource explains that when choosing an email verification vendor, it's important to determine your use case first. They also explain that a verification service is not a substitute for good list hygiene practices and a opt-in process. Consider the amount of data you send to the verifier as well as how you intend to use the data returned.
28 Apr 2023 - Spam Resource
Expert view
Expert from Word to the Wise recommends list scrubbing (email validation) for those who have not mailed in a while. This process removes invalid email addresses to avoid harming your sender reputation.
26 Jul 2022 - Word to the Wise
What the documentation says
4 technical articles
Email validation is a process that identifies various issues with email addresses, including syntax errors, domain problems, disposable addresses, and overall deliverability. By identifying and removing invalid, risky, or undeliverable addresses, email validation helps improve deliverability, protect sender reputation, and reduce bounce rates.
Key findings
- Purpose: Email validation identifies various issues with email addresses (syntax, domain, deliverability).
- Benefits: It improves deliverability and protects sender reputation.
- Address Types: Email validation detects invalid, deliverable, risky, and disposable email addresses.
Key considerations
- Address Removal: Users should remove the problematic addresses identified by email validation services.
Technical article
Documentation from Kickbox indicates email validation identifies invalid, deliverable, risky, and unknown email addresses, allowing users to remove the problematic addresses. It also helps improve your deliverability and sender reputation.
18 Jun 2023 - Kickbox
Technical article
Documentation from Mailgun explains that email validation identifies syntax errors, domain issues, and disposable email addresses, thus improving deliverability and protecting sender reputation.
23 Nov 2023 - Mailgun Documentation
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