Unit 2: Free List Cleaning Methods
When you’re just starting, you may rely on free tools and manual checks to clean your list.
2.1 Manual Review
- Remove emails from shady or suspicious domains (e.g., “.click”, “xyz123”).
- Delete addresses with extra characters like commas, colons, or spaces.
- Watch for obvious typos: “.cmo” instead of “.com.”
2.2 Free Email Verifiers
These tools let you check emails individually or in small batches:
- Hunter.io – Provides limited free credits daily.
- MailboxValidator – Allows 1 email check at a time.
- VerifyEmailAddress.org – Simple, free single-email checks.
These are not enough for bulk lists but are useful for small lead batches.
2.3 Send a Test Email
This method not only verifies if an address works but also provides extra insights.
How to do it:
- Send a short, polite email with a simple question.
📨 Sample Message
Subject: Quick question for [Business Name] in [City]
Hi [Business Name] team,
Hope you’re having a great week! I came across your business in [City] and wanted to ask — do you still offer [insert service]?
Thanks in advance!
2.4 How to Interpret the Results
- ✅ Reply received with a name in the signature
- Email is valid
- Business is active
- You now have a contact person’s name
- ❌ Email bounces
- Email is invalid
- ⏳ No bounce after 48 hours but no reply
- Email is valid
- If business-domain email (name@company.com) → Business is active
- If free email (Gmail, Yahoo) → Email may be valid but doesn’t prove business activity
💡 Bonus Benefit: Test emails often reveal the decision-maker’s name through signatures.