Email Validation Best Practices

Sending emails to invalid addresses is one of the fastest ways to damage your sender reputation. Here's how to avoid it.

Why Email Validation Matters

When you send emails to invalid addresses, several bad things happen:

1. Hard bounces - These hurt your sender reputation with email providers
2. Spam traps - Old, recycled addresses can flag you as a spammer
3. Wasted time - You're crafting messages no one will read
4. Wasted money - Most email tools charge per send

Scrappy's Multi-Tier Validation

We don't just check if an email looks valid. Our system performs multiple checks:

Tier 1: Syntax Validation

Basic checks that happen instantly:

• Valid email format (name@domain.com)
• No illegal characters
• Proper domain structure

Tier 2: Domain Validation

We check if the domain can receive email:

• DNS lookup for MX records
• Domain exists and is active
• Mail server responds

Tier 3: Deliverability Check

The most thorough check:

• Simulate email delivery
• Check for catch-all domains
• Detect spam traps
• Verify mailbox exists

Best Practices

1. Always Validate Before Sending

Never skip validation. Even a small batch of invalid emails can hurt your reputation.

2. Re-validate Old Lists

Email addresses go bad over time. People change jobs, domains expire. Re-validate lists older than 3 months.

3. Remove Risky Addresses

Some emails are technically valid but risky:

• role@ addresses (info@, support@, sales@)
• catch-all domains
• disposable email providers

4. Segment by Validation Status

Group your leads by validation confidence:

• High confidence - Send immediately
• Medium confidence - Send with caution
• Low confidence - Consider removing

Validation Costs

Scrappy charges just 1 credit per email validation. That's a fraction of what you'd pay for a bounced email or damaged reputation.

| Action | Credits | |--------|---------| | Syntax check | Free | | Domain check | Free | | Full validation | 1 credit |

The Bottom Line

Email validation isn't optional—it's essential. Every email you send to an invalid address is a step backward for your deliverability.

Use Scrappy's validation on every lead before you reach out. Your sender reputation will thank you.