Email Verification / Validation

Email validation is a way to describe the process of checking and confirming the status of an email address. It essentially asks the key question: Does this email address actually exist and belong to someone who can receive messages?

Here are some key points it's worth knowing about email verification:

What does email validation do?

• Validates format: A good email validation process will check if the address follows the correct structure with a username, "@" symbol, domain name, and appropriate top-level domain (its suffix, ie. .com, .org).
• Verifies existence: Needless to say, it's critically important to know the domain you're sending to exists and isn't a typo or made-up name - that's what the validation process does.
• Checks functionality: Validation doesn't just check if an email looks legit. It goes a step further and tests whether the address can actually receive messages through an SMTP connection. This often involves sending a test email and looking for a response.
  
  

Why is email validation important?

Here are the key advantages that come with validated emails:

• Improves deliverability:  Your validated emails reach real people and land in inboxes, not spam folders.
• Reduces bounces: Verified emails aren't likely to bounce back due to being invalid or typoed addresses, which improves your sender score. 
• Enhances data quality: Email validation helps maintain a database with tip-top efficiency.
• Boosts sender reputation: Email service providers will notice that you're sending your communications to predominantly (or exclusively!) valid addresses, improving your deliverability score.
• Combats fraud: A great email validation process will detects fake or disposable email addresses used for malicious purposes.

Learn more: What is email validation, and why is it so important? 

How does email validation work?

Several methods are used for email verification, often combined in verification tools:

• Syntax check: Verifies the basic structure of the email address.
• Domain checks: Ensures the domain exists and accepts emails.
• MX record check: Confirms the mail exchange server responsible for receiving emails for the domain.
• Email ping: Sends a test email and analyzes the response to see if the address is active.
• Disposable email detection: Identifies known disposable email addresses.
• Spam trap detection: Checks against databases of known spam traps.

Overall, email verification plays a crucial role in maintaining accurate email lists, improving email deliverability, and protecting your sender reputation. To find out more about how Loqate can streamline your business' email validation process at the push of a button, check out Email Verify.