Checking the validity of an email address is essential for various reasons. It ensures the accuracy of your contact database and prevents unnecessary bounces in email marketing campaigns.
Validating email addresses helps maintain the quality of your email lists and improves communication with recipients. This guide will show you how to confirm a valid email.
9 Tips for Validating an Email
There are different ways to check email validity. Here’s how to check if an email is valid:
Syntax check
The first step in email validation is checking the email’s syntax. Confirm that it follows the essential structure of an email address: [email protected]. Ensure there are no spaces, invalid characters, or missing parts.
Domain verification
Validate the email domain (the part after the “@” symbol). Check that the domain name is properly formatted and exists. You can do this by:
- Look into the domain’s DNS (Domain Name System) records to guarantee it is properly configured.
- Verifying the domain against a list of valid top-level domains (TLDs) to eliminate common typos or errors.
MX record lookup
An MX (Mail Exchange) record indicates whether a domain is set up to receive emails. Use an MX record lookup to verify that the recipient’s domain has valid mail exchange servers. If a domain doesn’t have MX records, it probably won’t be equipped for receiving emails.
Disposable email address detection
Disposable email addresses are frequently utilized for temporary purposes. Detecting and flagging such addresses can help filter out non-permanent or low-value contacts. You can use databases of known disposable email domains for this purpose.
Role-based email detection
Role-based email addresses, like “[email protected]” or “[email protected],” are associated with positions or departments rather than individuals. While these addresses are valid, they are often monitored by multiple people and may lead to low response rates. Consider flagging or verifying these addresses separately.
DNS validation
Perform a Domain Name System (DNS) validation to ensure the domain associated with the email address has the required DNS records, including MX, A, and PTR (Pointer) records. This check verifies the domain’s legitimacy and email deliverability.
SMTP verification
SMTP (Simple Mail Transfer Protocol) confirmation includes connecting with the beneficiary’s mail server to check whether it can effectively receive messages for the given address. However, SMTP validation can be resource-intensive and may not always be practical for bulk email lists.
Real-time email verification services
Numerous email verification services offer real-time validation of email addresses. The services use different approval methods to quickly browse through the validity of email addresses. Many provide API integrations for automated validation within your systems.
Verifiable data analysis
After some time, analyze historical email down bounce rates and engagement statistics to distinguish dormant or invalid addresses. Assuming an address keeps bouncing or stays inert, consider flagging it for validation.
Conclusion
It’s vital to take note that no single strategy is secure for email validation. A blend of these methods should be used for best results. Routinely keeping up with and validating your email list will improve your sender reputation and the quality of your communication.