If you’re tired of watching your emails bounce or land in spam, you’re not alone. Most email lists are full of old, fake, or mistyped addresses. Bad emails mean wasted effort—and sometimes blacklisting. This guide is for marketers, founders, or anyone who actually sends emails and wants results. I’ll show you how to use Snov’s email verifier to clean your list the right way. No fluff, no silver bullets—just what works.
Why Cleaning Your Email List Matters
Let’s get straight to it: dirty lists cost you. Here’s what happens when you don’t clean up:
- High bounce rates (your emails hit dead ends)
- Low open rates (because half your list isn’t real)
- Email providers start flagging you as a spammer
- Wasted budget and time on people who’ll never see your message
So, if you’re not verifying your list, you’re not just being inefficient—you’re actively hurting your deliverability. Snov’s verifier isn’t magic, but it does the job if you know how to use it.
Step 1: Get Your List Ready
Before you do anything in Snov, get your list in order. Start with the basics:
- Format: Snov accepts .CSV and .TXT files. Make sure your file is clean—no weird columns, merged cells, or extra data. One email per row is best.
- Remove obvious junk: If you see addresses like
test@test.com,asdf@gmail.com, or anything that looks fake, delete them now. No tool will save you from this low-hanging fruit. - Check size: Free Snov plans have limits. If your list is huge, consider splitting it or upgrading.
Pro tip: If your list has names or extra data (like first/last name), keep those columns. Snov lets you export the cleaned list with all columns intact.
Step 2: Upload Your List to Snov
Alright, let’s get into Snov itself.
- Log in to your account. If you don’t have one, the sign-up is painless, but you’ll need to confirm your email.
- Go to Email Verifier in the dashboard. (Not the “Prospector” or other tools—stick to Verifier.)
- Click “Upload list” and select your .CSV or .TXT file.
- Map columns if prompted. Snov usually detects the email column, but double-check. If it asks you to match fields, make sure “Email” is correct.
What to ignore: Snov markets a bunch of related features (like drip campaigns and prospecting). For now, just focus on the verifier. The rest is optional, and it’s easy to get lost.
Step 3: Start the Verification Process
Once your file is uploaded:
- Select the list you just uploaded. You should see it in your dashboard.
- Click “Verify.” Snov will chew through the addresses and check if they’re valid, risky, or undeliverable.
- Wait it out. Time depends on your list size, but Snov is usually quick. For a few thousand emails, expect a couple of minutes.
What’s actually happening: Snov is pinging mail servers and running checks to see if the address is real, dead, or risky (like catch-all domains). This isn’t 100% perfect—some servers block verification—but it catches most of the garbage.
Step 4: Analyze the Results (Don’t Just Download and Go)
When Snov finishes, you’ll see results like:
- Valid: Safe to send.
- Invalid: Dead or fake—delete these.
- Catch-all: The domain accepts all emails, so Snov can’t confirm if it’s real. Risky, but sometimes worth keeping.
- Unknown: Couldn’t verify, usually due to server settings. Use caution.
What works: Trust “Valid” results. They’re almost always good.
What doesn’t: Relying on “Catch-all” or “Unknown” as safe. If your list is mostly these, you have a problem. Expect higher bounce rates if you send to them.
Pro tip: If you’re sending anything important (like cold outreach or launch emails), stick to “Valid.” For newsletters, you might risk including “Catch-all,” but monitor your bounce rates closely.
Step 5: Download and Clean Your List
Snov lets you filter and export:
- Filter by result. Select only “Valid” (and “Catch-all” if you’re feeling lucky).
- Export: Download as .CSV. Snov keeps any extra columns (like name, company, etc.) so you can import back to your CRM or email tool.
- Back up your original list. Always keep a copy of the unverified version, just in case.
If you’re using an ESP (like Mailchimp, SendGrid, etc.), upload only the cleaned list. Don’t overwrite your old contacts unless you know what you’re doing.
Step 6: What to Do With Risky or Unknown Emails
Here’s the straight talk: There’s no tool that can guarantee every “unknown” or “catch-all” email is good. If you need to play it safe:
- Delete invalids. No debate here.
- Catch-all: If you must include them, do it in a separate campaign so you can monitor bounces and complaints.
- Unknown: Treat as if they’re invalid unless you really trust the source.
You can try re-verifying after a month or two (sometimes servers change), but don’t expect miracles.
Step 7: Keep Your List Clean Going Forward
Don’t treat verification as a one-time fix. Lists decay fast—people change jobs, emails get shut down, domains expire.
- Verify new signups regularly. Snov has API integrations, but even a monthly manual check is better than nothing.
- Prune inactive contacts. If someone hasn’t opened in 6+ months, consider removing them—even if their address is valid.
- Never buy lists. Most are garbage and loaded with spam traps. No verifier, Snov included, can save you from that.
What Snov Does Well (and Where It Falls Short)
What works: - Fast, easy list upload and download. - Good at catching obvious bounces and dead domains. - Keeps your data organized—doesn’t mess up your formatting.
What to ignore: - Don’t expect perfect verification on catch-all or tricky corporate domains. That’s just how email works. - Don’t get sold on the upsell features unless you actually need them. The verifier is solid; the rest is extra.
What doesn’t work: - If your list is almost all catch-alls, you’ll still get bounces. - Cleaning once a year isn’t enough.
Wrapping Up: Keep It Simple
Email list cleaning isn’t glamorous, but it’s necessary. Snov’s verifier makes it easy, but it’s not a one-and-done magic trick. Clean your list, use the “Valid” results, and keep checking in. Don’t overthink, don’t chase every upsell, and don’t expect miracles. Just stay consistent, and your deliverability (and sanity) will thank you.
Now get back to sending emails—just to real people this time.