Bounce rate is the fastest way to burn an outbound domain. Unverified purchased lists routinely bounce 10 to 30 percent.
How to implement lead email verification#
- Verify every address through an API before it enters a sequence.
- Segregate catch-all domains and send to them at lower volume.
- Refresh verification for any lead older than 90 days.
- Enrich with 3 to 5 data points that drive the opening line.
How to verify it worked#
Send a test message to seed mailboxes at Gmail, Outlook, and Yahoo, then inspect the Authentication-Results and delivery headers. Repeat after any DNS or sending-platform change.
Common mistakes#
- Trusting a vendor's 'verified' label from months ago.
- Treating catch-all as valid.
Frequently asked questions#
What bounce rate is safe for cold email?
Under 2 percent. Above 5 percent, pause and re-verify the list before continuing.