Email is a vital marketing tool for almost all businesses, and it’s even more important for B2B companies that rely on building relationships with other companies. One of the most essential components in any email strategy is email list validation: verifying that each contact on your email list is genuine and relevant to your business objectives. Not only will this help you protect your sender reputation, but it can also offer valuable insight into how effective your campaign efforts are by weeding out bad data before sending emails.
Email list verification is the process of checking the accuracy and validity of the email addresses on a list. This involves verifying that the email addresses actually exist and that they are able to receive messages. An email list verification tool helps ensure that an email campaign will be successful by eliminating invalid or inactive email addresses from the list. This is important for B2B companies because it helps improve the deliverability of their emails and increases the chances that their campaigns will be successful.
In this blog post, we'll be taking a look at why it's so important to ensure proper list hygiene and regular verifications when dealing with large lists, as well as some simple practices you can implement today to maximize the potential of each individual entry!
What is the process of email list verification?
There are several steps involved in verifying the accuracy and validity of email addresses on a list:
- Remove any duplicate email addresses: Duplicate email addresses can lead to problems with email deliverability and can also dilute the effectiveness of an email campaign.
- Check the syntax of each email address: The syntax of an email address refers to its structure, including the local part (before the @ symbol) and the domain part (after the @ symbol). Email addresses with incorrect syntax may be rejected by the recipient's email server.
- Verify the domain of each email address: The domain of an email address refers to the portion after the @ symbol. This should be a valid domain name that is registered and in use.
- Check for inactive or invalid email addresses: An inactive email address is one that has not been used in a long time, while an invalid email address is one that does not exist or is not able to receive messages. Both inactive and invalid email addresses should be removed from the list.
- Use a paid email verification service: There are several paid services available that can verify the accuracy and validity of email addresses on a list. These services typically use algorithms and other techniques to check the accuracy of the email addresses and can provide a detailed report on the results.
Why it is necessary
Email verification is necessary because it helps ensure that an email campaign will be successful. Invalid or inactive email addresses can lead to problems with email deliverability and can also dilute the effectiveness of an email campaign.
Here are a few specific reasons why email verification is necessary:
- Improved email deliverability: Email addresses that are invalid or inactive can cause emails to bounce, which can negatively impact the deliverability of future emails. By verifying the accuracy and validity of email addresses, you can help ensure that your emails are delivered to the right recipients.
- Increased email campaign success rates: If you send an email campaign to a list of invalid or inactive email addresses, it is likely that few (if any) of the emails will be delivered, resulting in a low success rate. By verifying the email addresses on your list, you can increase the chances that your campaign will be successful.
- Enhanced customer relationships: By sending emails only to valid and active email addresses, you can help build and maintain strong relationships with your customers. Customers will appreciate receiving relevant and timely emails, and this can help foster trust and loyalty.
Benefits of email list verification for B2B companies
Improved email deliverability
Improved email deliverability refers to the ability of an email to reach the intended recipient's inbox. When an email is delivered successfully, it means that it has arrived at the recipient's email server and is waiting to be retrieved. If an email bounces or is rejected by the recipient's email server, it is considered undeliverable.
There are several factors that can impact email deliverability, including the quality of the email list, the subject line and content of the email, and the sender's reputation. One of the most important factors is the accuracy and validity of the email addresses on the list. If the email addresses are invalid or inactive, the emails are likely to bounce or be rejected.
By verifying the email addresses on your list, you can help improve the deliverability of your emails. This is because you are eliminating invalid or inactive email addresses from the list, which means that fewer emails will bounce or be rejected. As a result, you can expect a higher percentage of your emails to be delivered to the intended recipients.
Increased email campaign success rates
The success rate of an email campaign refers to the percentage of emails that are delivered successfully to the intended recipients. A successful email campaign is one that reaches a high percentage of its intended audience, while a unsuccessful campaign is one that reaches a low percentage.
There are several factors that can impact the success rate of an email campaign, including the quality of the email list, the subject line and content of the email, and the sender's reputation. One of the most important factors is the accuracy and validity of the email addresses on the list. If the email addresses are invalid or inactive, the emails are likely to bounce or be rejected, resulting in a low success rate.
By verifying the email addresses on your list, you can increase the chances that your email campaign will be successful. This is because you are eliminating invalid or inactive email addresses from the list, which means that fewer emails will bounce or be rejected. As a result, you can expect a higher percentage of your emails to be delivered to the intended recipients, leading to a higher campaign success rate.
Enhanced customer relationships
Enhanced customer relationships refer to the positive interactions and connections that a company has with its customers. Strong customer relationships are built on trust, loyalty, and mutual respect, and they are essential for the success of any business.
One way that companies can enhance customer relationships is by sending relevant and timely emails to their customers. Customers appreciate receiving emails that are personalized and offer value, and this can help foster trust and loyalty.
However, if a company sends emails to invalid or inactive email addresses, it is likely that few (if any) of the emails will be delivered, resulting in a poor customer experience. Customers may become frustrated or annoyed if they do not receive the emails they were expecting, and this can damage the relationship.
By verifying the email addresses on your list, you can help enhance customer relationships. This is because you are eliminating invalid or inactive email addresses from the list, which means that fewer emails will bounce or be rejected. As a result, you can expect a higher percentage of your emails to be delivered to the intended recipients, leading to a better customer experience and stronger customer relationships.
How to verify an email list
Manually checking for accuracy
To manually check the accuracy of your email list, you can send a test email to each address and see if it bounces. A bounced email means that the message was not delivered to the recipient's mailbox. There are a few different reasons why an email might bounce, such as:
- The email address is incorrect or invalid
- The email address is associated with a mailbox that is full
- The email address is no longer active
- The email server is experiencing issues
By sending a test email to each address on your list and checking for bounces, you can identify any incorrect or inactive email addresses and remove them from your list. This can help improve the accuracy and effectiveness of your email marketing efforts.
It's important to note that this process can be time-consuming, especially if you have a large email list. It may be more efficient to use an email verification service or an email marketing service that includes built-in email verification.
Using a paid email verification service
Paid email verification services are designed to help you verify the accuracy and validity of your email list. These services typically work by checking the syntax of each email address and checking to see if the domain is valid. Some services also check to see if the email address is actually associated with a mailbox, you have the ability to test a free email verifier for a short period to see the results for yourself.
Using a paid email verification service can be an effective way to improve the accuracy of your email list and ensure that your emails are delivered to their intended recipients. Some benefits of using a paid email verifier include:
- Increased deliverability: By removing invalid or inactive email addresses from your list, you can improve the deliverability of your emails and reduce the number of bounces.
- Improved email marketing performance: With a clean and accurate email list, you can expect to see better results from your email marketing efforts. This may include higher open rates, click-through rates, and conversion rates.
- Cost savings: In the long run, using a paid email verification service can actually save you money. By reducing bounces, you can avoid paying for emails that are not delivered, and you can also avoid the costs associated with having to resend emails to corrected lists.
Overall, using a paid email verification service can be a worthwhile investment for businesses that rely on email marketing to reach their customers.
Conclusion
Email list validation is particularly important for B2B companies because accurate and up-to-date email lists are crucial for effective B2B communication. If your email list is not accurate, you may end up sending emails to inactive or invalid email addresses, which can lead to a high number of bounces and a low delivery rate. This can damage your reputation as a sender and make it more difficult for your emails to reach their intended recipients.
In addition, B2B companies often rely on email marketing to nurture leads and build relationships with potential clients. If your email list is not accurate, you may be missing out on opportunities to engage with potential clients and convert them into customers.
Using an email list checker can help you avoid these issues and improve the effectiveness of your email marketing efforts. By using an email verification service or implementing a double opt-in process, you can ensure that you are only sending emails to people who are interested in receiving them and who are more likely to engage with your content. This can ultimately lead to better performance and higher ROI for your B2B company.