
You’ve just sent your best email yet, and you’re checking your reports: your bounce rate is 20%, spam complaints went through the roof, and your open rate makes you wonder why you even bothered. Before you say that email marketing isn’t for you, take a look at your email list. When have you last cleaned it? For many marketers struggling with low deliverability, email list validation does the trick. Let’s see why it works and how it helps you boost inbox placement.
Email list validation: making sure your list is accurate
First, what is email list validation? In a nutshell, it’s the process through which you clean your list of the bad data it has acquired. An email validator removes invalid email addresses and other risky contacts to restore the quality of your list and ensure the best inbox placement.
How email list validation helps your emails perform better
Let’s go back to the beginning when we were talking about your not-so-good email marketing results. A high bounce and spam complaint rate, combined with your campaigns ending up in spam traps or catch-all accounts, will affect your overall sender reputation.
What happens next is that not only will some of your emails bounce, but also, your legitimate and active subscribers are likely to never see your emails. A poor sender reputation will cause your emails to land in spam or not ever get delivered. This is where email list validation matters.
In a fast and secure fashion, an email verify service takes your messy list and gives it back to you free of all those risky contacts. As a result, your reputation improves, and that gives internet service providers (IPSs) a positive signal: it means you’re a lawful sender and your emails belong in people’s inboxes. Once you’re there, you have all the chances to connect with your subscribers and increase conversions.
Clean your email list in bulk and check subscribers in real-time
Now that you know the benefits of email validation, it’s time to see how you can get started with a suitable service. There are two things to keep in mind:
- you can clean your database in bulk by simply uploading it onto an email list validation platform. The duration of the cleaning process depends on how large your list is. In general, a high-performing validator will clean about 100,000 email addresses in less than an hour.
- furthermore, you can check the email address of every new subscriber you get, in real-time. By using an email validation API, you ensure the accuracy of the contacts you’re gathering and can keep your list healthy for longer. The API is easy to install on your signup forms and it will verify each address in a matter of seconds, preventing the bad ones from getting in your list.
How to find a good list cleaning system
Ok, let’s say you’re ready to start cleaning your email list. How do you find a reliable service? As you’ll discover if you make a search on Google, there are many different companies offering to validate your database. Here’s how to tell which one is good for you.
Is the service accurate?
If you’re going to verify your list, you need accurate results. Otherwise, why bother in the first place? So, take a look at what the company promises: what is the average accuracy they guarantee? You should look for at least 98%.
How much does it cost?
Let’s face it: email marketing involves costs. The more you can keep them under control, the higher your profit. Narrow down your favorite platforms to five or three. Then compare the prices and the features; it’ll be easier for you to make a choice.
Are you getting any support?
What if you’ve never cleaned your list and have no idea how to use an email validator? The process isn’t hard, but still, you’d like to have some support. Tip: some companies offer 24/7 support, go ahead, and take advantage of that.
Are there any bonus features included?
There are email list validation services that offer basic features. Sure, they clean your list well, but that’s all you get. Others strive to win customers over by offering one or several bonus features. So, once you narrow down your choices, make a list of the features that interest you the most. For example, there are email validators that also add missing data to your lists, such as subscribers’ names and locations. All that, at no extra cost.
Test your potential inbox placement
Once you’ve cleaned your email list, you’re ready to send your new campaign, and, guaranteed, you’ll see a lower bounce rate and better engagement. However, if you want to get an idea of where your email is going to land, you can use an inbox placement tester.
These kinds of testers tell you whether ISPs will deliver your campaign to people’s inboxes, spam folders, or not deliver it at all. The benefit of using an inbox placement tester is that, if you notice you get lots of “spam” results with certain domains, you can fix potential errors in your email and increase your chances of landing in the inbox.
Email marketing is more fun when you have a clean list
As you know, email marketing involves a good amount of effort. Not only do you have to write compelling copy, but also, make sure your template is attractive and renders well on all devices.
Most importantly, though, you need to start off with a healthy, accurate email list. When you send to valid and engaged subscribers, you’re more likely to boost your open rates and ROI. So, remember to validate your contacts periodically, consider adding an API to your forms, and you’ll see how email marketing will turn into a fun, productive task for you and your team.