Email labels explained: Verified, Catch-all server and the rest
What each email label means, and which addresses are safe to send to.
Every email on a record carries a label that says what the check of its mail server found. A label is a fact about the address. It is not an instruction.
The five labels
| Label | What it means | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Verified | The mail server accepted the address. | Safe to send to. |
| Catch-all server | The server accepts every address, so no check can prove this one. | Your call. Expect some bounces. |
| No answer | The mail server never answered the check. | Try again later, or send with care. |
| Will not deliver | The mail server refused the address. | Do not send. |
| Not checked yet | Held, but not checked. | Check it before a large send. |
The type tags
A second tag says what kind of address it is.
| Tag | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Director's own | A mailbox for a director named on the register. |
| Named address | Matches a person's name. |
| Role mailbox | Something like info@ or sales@. |
| Personal address | A free mailbox such as Gmail. |
Catch-all and role mailboxes are kept, never removed. Whether to use them is your decision.
Verified is not the same as right
Verified says mail will arrive. It does not say the person still works there. Read the label beside the person, not just the address.
Sole traders
A sole trader is an individual under PECR, so email marketing to them needs consent. See PECR and UK GDPR in plain words for a B2B seller.