Email verification/ validation:

Email verification is the process of checking and confirming the validity and active status of an email address. It essentially aims to answer the 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 username, "@" symbol, domain name, and appropriate top-level domain (e.g., .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 validation is for.
• Checks functionality: Assesses if the email address can actually receive messages through an SMTP connection. This often involves sending a test email and looking for a response.
• Detects spam traps: Identifies email addresses used to catch spammers, which can harm your sender reputation.
  
  

Why is email validation important?

• Improves deliverability: Employing email validation ensures your 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.
• Enhances data quality: Email validation maintains data quality that won't need to be rechecked.
• Boosts sender reputation: Shows email service providers you're sending to 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.