As email marketing evolves, fresh challenges emerge. Among the top concerns is deliverability – the ability to ensure that emails reach their intended recipients’ inboxes.

In this context, email verification becomes a must-have. It allows you to check whether a given email address is “valid”, meaning that it can receive emails and isn’t associated with any spamming activity or similar risks.

Invalid addresses trigger bounces, which damage your sender reputation and can even get you blacklisted by ISPs. Verified recipients, however, mean smoother delivery, reduced bounces, less spam complaints and higher engagement.

To that end, email verification isn’t just about placement – it’s a chain reaction shaping your sender status and campaign impact.

But how can you verify an email address without sending emails? Let’s find out.

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Checking Email Address Syntax

Before delving into the more advanced techniques of email verification, it’s essential to start with the fundamental aspect of email addresses: their syntax. Email addresses have a specific structure that must be adhered to for successful communication. Ensuring the correctness of this structure is the first step in verifying the validity of an email address.

Components of an Email Address

An email address comprises two main parts: the local part and the domain. The local part appears before the “@” symbol, while the domain follows the “@” symbol. For example, in the email address “[email protected],” “john.barry” is the local part, and “example.com” is the domain.

Valid Characters

Email addresses can contain letters (both uppercase and lowercase), numbers, and certain special characters, such as dots (.), hyphens (-), and underscores (_). However, the specific rules for valid characters can vary depending on the email service provider and the domain’s configuration.

Examples of Common Syntax Errors

Syntax errors can arise from various mistakes in constructing an email address. Some examples include:

• Missing “@” symbol: An email address must contain exactly one “@” symbol to separate the local part from the domain.

• Invalid characters: The presence of characters not allowed in an email address, such as spaces or special characters not permitted by the email provider.

• Missing local part or domain: An email address must have both a local part and a domain to be valid. For instance, “john.barry@” or “@example.com” would be invalid.

• Incorrect domain format: Domains should have at least one period (.) and a valid top-level domain (TLD), such as “.com,” “.org,” or “.net.”

Role of Regular Expressions

Regular expressions (regex) play a crucial role in email syntax validation. These patterns of characters help identify and match valid email addresses based on predefined rules. For instance, a simple regular expression might verify that the email address contains an “@” symbol and has a domain with at least one period.

Now that we’ve covered the nuts and bolts of email address syntax, let’s dive into how email marketers can easily check it.

1. Visual Inspection: The simplest and most direct method is good ol’ visual inspection. As you’re putting together your email list, give each address a once-over. Double-check that the “@” symbol is sitting pretty in the middle, separating the local part (before the “@”), and the domain (after “@”). While it might sound elementary, giving each address a quick visual scan can catch glaring syntax errors.

2. Spelling and Characters: Pay special attention to spelling and characters. Make sure there are no typos, extra spaces, or funky symbols lurking in the address. An extra dot or a misplaced hyphen can throw the whole email address off course. By taking an eagle-eyed approach to spelling and characters, you’re ensuring that your emails reach their intended recipients without a hitch.

3. Domain Double-Check: Zoom in on the domain part of the email address. Ensure it’s properly formatted with at least one dot (.) and a valid top-level domain (TLD) like “.com,” “.org,” or “.net.” It’s easy to overlook this part, but it’s a key component of a correctly structured email address.

4. Copy and Paste Method: To catch syntax slip-ups, try the copy and paste method. As you compile your list, copy each email address and paste it into a plain text document, such as Notepad. This stripped-down environment can help reveal hidden formatting issues that might be harder to spot in a more complex document. If an address doesn’t paste as expected, you know it’s time to give it a closer look.

“Pinging” the Mail Server

This technique takes email verification up a notch by establishing a direct line of communication with the server associated with an email address.

Imagine you’re preparing to send a package. Before sending it off, you might call the recipient to confirm their address and ensure they’re available to receive it. “Pinging” the mail server follows a similar logic. It involves sending a brief signal to the email server, prompting it to respond. A successful response indicates that the email address is not only correctly structured but also linked to an active and functional mailbox — increasing the chances of it being a verified email address.

The Simple Mail Transfer Protocol (SMTP) is the backbone of email communication. It’s like the postal service for emails, making sure they reach their destination. When you “ping” a mail server, you’re essentially initiating a miniature SMTP conversation. This interaction helps verify the email server’s responsiveness and readiness.

How to Ping a Server

 You don’t need to be a tech wizard to perform this verification. Command-line tools like “telnet” or online services can help you “ping” a mail server. Let’s break it down:

Using “telnet”

• Open your computer’s command prompt (Windows) or terminal (macOS/Linux).

• Type “telnet mail.server.com 25” (replace “mail.server.com” with the actual mail server address).

• If you receive a response or connection, the server is live; if not, there might be an issue.

Online Ping Tools

There are user-friendly online tools that take the complexity out of the process. Simply enter the email address, and the tool will initiate the “ping” for you. It’s like having a virtual assistant handling the technical bits.

When you “ping” a mail server, you’ll get a response indicating its status. A successful response confirms the server’s availability, suggesting that the email address is associated with an active mailbox. However, a lack of response doesn’t necessarily mean the address is invalid – some servers have security measures that limit external pinging.

Conducting IP Address Lookup

An IP address is like a virtual fingerprint. It’s used to identify computers and other devices on the internet, just as physical addresses are used to locate homes and businesses in the real world.

Unlike email addresses that can be easily spoofed, IP addresses offer a more concrete trail of evidence. By deciphering the IP of recipient email address, you can discern if the sender’s claimed location aligns with their digital footprint, thus shedding light on the legitimacy of the email.

You can conduct an IP address lookup to verify the location of a domain or email user using Mxtoolbox.

Mxtoolbox is an online hub packed with tools for managing email systems and networks, from pinpointing mail servers with MX Lookup to avoiding spam folders through blacklist checks and diagnosing email roadblocks with SMTP diagnostics. Mxtoolbox ensures your email security shields are solid with SPF, DKIM, and DMARC checks, while also safeguarding your reputation through continuous blacklist monitoring.

Here’s how you can conduct an IP Address Lookup Using Mxtoolbox:

1. Open your preferred web browser and navigate to the Mxtoolbox website.

2. Once on the Mxtoolbox homepage, locate and select the “MX Lookup” tool.

3. In the provided box, enter the recipient’s email address for which you want to perform the lookup.

4. Click on the “MX Lookup” button to initiate the analysis.

5. Mxtoolbox will provide you with a list of IP addresses associated with the email address’s domain. These IP addresses are indicative of the mail servers responsible for handling emails for that domain.

6. You can choose any one of the IP addresses listed. This selection will be used for the subsequent IP address lookup.

That said, while Mxtoolbox is a robust and comprehensive tool, there are alternative options available for conducting IP address lookups:

1. WhatIsMyIPAddress.com: This website provides a straightforward and user-friendly interface for discovering your own IP address, as well as performing IP address lookups for domains.

2. IPinfo.io: IPinfo.io offers a range of IP-related tools, including IP address lookup, geolocation, and network details.

3. IP-Lookup.net: This online tool specializes in IP address lookups and provides valuable information about the geographic location and ISP associated with an IP address.

Performing DNS Lookup

DNS stands for Domain Name System. It is an essential component of the internet, responsible for translating website names into their associated IP address.

It works much like a phonebook, with websites listed under domain names rather than contact numbers. Much like IP address lookup, DNS lookup enhances email verification by offering a holistic view.

While IP address lookup focuses on the sender’s digital fingerprint, DNS lookup unveils the domain’s infrastructure, adding depth to our understanding of the email’s authenticity.

Additionally, DNS lookups can help uncover suspicious email activities, such as IP address spoofing and domain hijacking.

You can perform a DNS lookup using Mxtoolbox:

1. Head over to Mxtoolbox’s website in your web browser.

2. Locate the box for the domain connected to the email. Input the domain name.

3. Click the “DNS check” button to initiate the analysis.

4. Mxtoolbox will display a list of domain details, such as the domain name, special numbers (IP addresses), mail server info, and security elements like SPF and DKIM.

5. Examine the records closely – they indicate if the domain is genuine and secure.