What is Email Verification ?
Understanding the difference between email verification and email validation can be tricky, as people often use these terms interchangeably. However, they have slightly different meanings. Click and Verify An Email Address In Real Time
Email verification is the process of checking if an email address exists and is active (i.e., valid). A valid email can receive messages from other senders. Email verifiers, whether they check emails in bulk or individually, perform several steps during the verification process. These steps usually include syntax checks, domain checks, catch-all checks, MX record checks, and email address pings (more details on these later).
Email validation is the end result of the email verification process. Based on the result, an email gets a status, usually “valid” (marked in green), “invalid” (marked in red), or “unverifiable” (marked in yellow). If the email doesn’t exist anymore, it is marked in grey. Sometimes, validation also involves checking additional information related to the lead’s email or the source of that lead.
How to Verify an Email Address with 4 Easy Methods
There are several ways to check if an email is valid. Some methods are more effective than others, and some are more convenient if you have only a few emails to check.
Method 1: Send a Test Email
The simplest way to check an email is to send a test email to the address. If the email address is fake or invalid, your email will bounce back, and you’ll get a message saying that the delivery failed or the address wasn’t found. However, frequently using this method can increase your bounce rate, damage your sender reputation, get you added to spam lists, and mess up your metrics. To avoid these issues, use a dummy account to send the test email.
Method 2: Look Up the Address on Google
This method won’t tell you if an email address is fake, but it might show if it’s valid. People often mention their email addresses on the internet, such as on their websites or social media profiles. If you have only a few email addresses to check, this method can be effective without harming your domain reputation.
Method 3: Ping the Server
You can ping the mail server and ask if the address is valid using tools like PuTTY or Telnet. While this method is quite accurate, it can be cumbersome and risky for your infrastructure.
Method 4: Use an Email Verifier
The most effective way to verify an email address is by using email verification software. These tools can validate email addresses with just a few clicks. While the features and monthly validation limits may vary between different email checkers, they are generally very easy to use.
By using these methods, you can ensure your email list remains clean and effective. Email verification helps maintain good deliverability rates and reduces the chances of your emails bouncing back.
