What is a valid email address list?

Valid email address lists are collections of email addresses that conform to standard formats and meet specific criteria. 

These are email addresses that are:

• correctly structured
• active (the address is still in use)
• obtained legally and ethically, with the recipients’ permission

Only with a valid email list can you expect high open- and click-through rates and conversions from your emails.

What does a list with valid email addresses look like?

Here are some ways to know that you have a list with fully valid email addresses.

• Follow the correct format

Each email address should conform to the standard format of “[email protected],” where the username consists of alphanumeric characters, periods, underscores, and hyphens. 

Also, the domain should be a valid domain name with a proper top-level domain (the bit at the very end, such as .com).

✅ Good example: [email protected] ❌ Bad example: “johndoe”@exmple.com (contains an invalid character “)

• Have active and deliverable status

The email addresses should be actively used by their owners, allowing them to receive emails in the mail server. Sometimes, people leave companies or change email addresses and an address you had before is no longer usable.

A valid email address list excludes addresses that are abandoned, inactive, or non-functioning.

✅ Good example: [email protected] (regularly receives and responds to emails) ❌ Bad example: [email protected] (created for testing purposes and probably deleted since its creation)

• Originate from opt-in or permission-based sources

Moving forward, the addresses in the list must be acquired legitimately and with the explicit permission of the recipients. 

This means they have willingly subscribed, opted in, or given consent to receive emails from the sender. 

Purchased or scraped email lists, which often contain addresses without consent, are not considered valid. Some emails you send to those list could get delivered but there is a good chance that many addresses are fake or inactive.

✅ Good example: [email protected] (explicitly opted in through a sign-up form) ❌ Bad example: [email protected] (obtained from a third-party vendor without explicit consent, emails end up in the spam folder)

 

• Undergo regular cleaning and validation

Your valid email list should undergo routine maintenance to eliminate invalid or non-functional email addresses. 

This involves a few actions. For example, you might verify the syntax of each address or check the existence and accessibility of the associated domain. 

Another possible procedure is removing addresses that have resulted in delivery failures or have remained inactive for an extended period.

✅ Good example: [email protected] (validated for syntax, domain existence, and activity regularly) ❌ Bad example: [email protected] (not checked or updated for several years)

• Comply with applicable laws and regulations

Finally, it’s essential that a list like this adheres to relevant regulations concerning email marketing and communication. Those refer to anti-spam laws (e.g., CAN-SPAM Act, GDPR).  This includes providing recipients with clear opt-out mechanisms and respecting their preferences.

✅ Good example: [email protected] (provided with clear opt-out mechanism and respects recipient preferences) ❌ Bad example: [email protected] (ignores opt-out requests and continues sending unsolicited emails)

Why is a valid email list important to have? Invalid mail addresses vs valid mail addresses

• Lower bounce rates

A valid email list helps reduce bounce rates, which occur when emails are undeliverable. 

Invalid or non-existent email addresses result in hard bounces, negatively impacting your sender reputation and potentially leading to email deliverability issues. 

When you have a valid list, you can minimize bounce rates and improve your email deliverability.

💡 Practical example 💡

❌ Invalid addresses (500 contacts) with a bounce rate of 15%:  500 contacts * 15% = 75 bounces

✅ Valid addresses (300 contacts) with a bounce rate of 2%:  300 contacts * 2% = 6 bounces

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• Improved conversions

A valid email list consists of recipients who have willingly opted in or expressed interest in receiving your emails. 

These individuals are more likely to engage with your content, click on links, and convert into customers or take desired actions. 

Targeting a qualified and engaged audience increases the chances of achieving higher conversion rates.

Get real data on your conversions: validate your email list with Bouncer

💡 Practical example 💡

❌ Invalid email addresses (500 contacts) with a conversion rate of 2%:  500 contacts * 2% = 10 conversions

✅ Valid addresses (300 contacts) with a conversion rate of 10%:  300 contacts * 10% = 30 conversions

 

• Enhanced engagement

With a valid email list, you can reach an audience genuinely interested in your offerings. 

This increases the likelihood of recipients opening your emails, reading the content, and interacting with your messages. 

Engaged subscribers are more likely to share your emails, provide feedback, and participate in surveys or promotions, fostering a stronger relationship with your brand.

💡 Practical example 💡

❌ Invalid addresses (500 contacts) with an open rate of 10%:  500 contacts * 10% = 50 opens

✅ Valid addresses (300 contacts) with an open rate of 30%:  300 contacts * 30% = 90 opens

Skyrocket your email engagement rate: optimize your campaigns with Bouncer’s email validation

• Cost efficiency

Sending emails to invalid or inactive addresses not only wastes resources but can also lead to increased costs. 

Many email service providers charge based on the number of subscribers or the volume of emails sent. 

When you maintain a valid email list and eliminate non-functioning addresses, you can optimize your email marketing budget and focus on engaging a responsive audience.

💡 Practical example 💡

❌ Invalid addresses (500 contacts) at a cost of $0.05 per email:  500 contacts * $0.05 = $25

✅ Valid addresses (300 contacts) at a cost of $0.05 per email:  300 contacts * $0.05 = $15

Increase Email Marketing ROI: Validate Your Email List with Bouncer Today!

• Compliance with regulations 

A valid email list ensures compliance with anti-spam regulations, such as the CAN-SPAM Act in the United States or the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) in the European Union. 

These regulations require obtaining proper consent from recipients before sending commercial emails and respecting their preferences to unsubscribe or opt out. 

By adhering to these rules, you protect your reputation, maintain trust with your subscribers, and avoid legal consequences.

Stay compliant with confidence: ensure GDPR and SOC2 compliance with Bouncer’s trusted email validation solution

• Effective Segmentation and Personalization

A valid email list allows for better segmentation and personalization of email campaigns. 

Understanding your subscribers’ preferences and interests can help you tailor your content and offers.

This targeted approach increases the relevance and effectiveness of your emails, resulting in higher engagement and conversions.

Unlock the power of segmentation and personalization: boost your email campaigns with Bouncer’s precise email validation for targeted engagement

Create a valid email address list for your next campaign in 4 steps

Creating a valid email address list for your next campaign involves 4 important steps. 

Here’s a guide on how to do it effectively:

#1 Do an email syntax check

This process helps identify any addresses with improper syntax, such as missing “@” symbols or invalid characters.

💡Tip: use an email syntax checker or validator to make sure that the email addresses in your list are correctly formatted

#2 Remove disposable and catch-all emails from your lists

Disposable email addresses are temporary accounts that users create for short-term use.  

On the other hand, catch-all addresses accept emails for any username at a particular domain. 

These types of addresses are often associated with low engagement and deliverability issues. 

💡Tip: consider using a service or tool that can identify and remove disposable and catch-all emails from your list to maintain a higher-quality audience

#3 Do a DNS lookup

A DNS lookup helps verify the existence and validity of the domain associated with each email address. 

It checks if the domain has valid MX (Mail Exchanger) records, which indicate that the domain can receive emails. 

Tools like MX Toolbox or online DNS lookup services can assist in this process.

💡Tip: conduct a DNS (Domain Name System) lookup for each domain in your email list

#4 Use an email verification tool

Finally, we highly recommend using an email verification service or tool to further validate the deliverability of your email addresses. 

These tools go beyond syntax checking and DNS lookups to perform additional checks, such as mailbox existence and activity. 

Email verification services like Bouncer can help you verify the deliverability and quality of your email list quickly and easily.

Bouncer is the ultimate tool for building and maintaining a valid email address list. 

With Bouncer’s email verification service, you’ll experience the easiest-to-use and most powerful platform available. 

Our dedicated team provides premium support and genuinely cares about your email marketing success. 

With the highest coverage, rocket-fast speed, and top-notch accuracy, Bouncer ensures your emails land smoothly in your recipients’ inboxes, increasing your email marketing ROI. 

How to use Bouncer in five easy steps:

1. Sign up for an account.
2. Navigate to the “Verify List” section.
3. Upload your email list that needs validating.
4. Select “Start Now”.
5. Analyze the results and enjoy a validated email list.

Start using validated lists today

In conclusion, the success of your email marketing campaign hinges on having a valid email address list. 

By following the steps outlined in this article, including utilizing an email verification tool like Bouncer, you can create and maintain a high-quality email address list. 

Bouncer offers the easiest-to-use and most powerful email verification platform, with premium support and a team that cares about your success. 

So, get ready to propel your campaign toward success by unlocking the gateway to a thriving email marketing strategy like never before!

Sign up for Bouncer today and don’t forget to check out our blog for more informative releases.

Frequently asked questions

Why is it important to validate email addresses?

Validating email addresses is crucial to ensure that your email campaigns reach their intended recipients. By validating email addresses, you can reduce bounce rates, improve sender reputation, and increase email deliverability.

What does a valid email address consist of?

A valid email address consists of two parts: the email prefix and the domain. The email prefix is the part before the “@” symbol, while the domain represents the website or service hosting the email.

How do IP addresses relate to email deliverability?

IP addresses play a role in email deliverability as they are associated with mail servers. The reputation of the IP address used to send emails can impact deliverability, as email service providers may block or filter messages from IPs with a poor reputation.

What are acceptable email prefix formats?

Acceptable email prefix formats include alphanumeric characters (letters and numbers), periods, underscores, and hyphens. However, the prefix should not start or end with a period and should not contain consecutive periods.

What are valid email domains?

Valid email domains are legitimate and properly formatted domain names associated with email addresses. These domains should have valid top-level domains (TLDs) like .com, .net, or .org. The opposite of that is invalid email domains.

Are uppercase and lowercase letters important in email addresses?

No, email addresses are generally not case-sensitive. This means that “[email protected]” is considered the same as “[email protected]” or “[email protected]“.

What are valid email prefixes?

Valid email prefixes consist of alphanumeric characters (letters and numbers), periods, underscores, and hyphens. They should follow the correct format and adhere to the rules mentioned earlier.