Clearout Review - Email Verification Tool [AppSumo 2019]

Introduction

Email marketing remains a crucial component of digital marketing strategies, but its effectiveness hinges on the quality of your email list. Enter Clearout, an email validation tool designed to enhance deliverability and reduce marketing costs. This review delves deep into Clearout’s features, performance, and value proposition, particularly in light of its lifetime deal offering on AppSumo. We’ll explore its user interface, compare it with competitors like Bulk Email Checker, and gain insights from email marketing expert Daniel Reifenberger. Whether you’re a small business owner or a marketing agency handling large-scale campaigns, this comprehensive review will help you determine if Clearout is the right tool for your email verification needs.

AppSumo Deal Details [00:47]

Clearout’s AppSumo deal offers an enticing proposition for email marketers and businesses looking to maintain clean email lists. Let’s break down the specifics of this lifetime deal:

Pricing Tiers

• Entry-level price: $49
• Stacking options available for increased benefits

Email Verification Limits

• 10,000 daily email verifications
• Lifetime cap of 500,000 email addresses

Stacking Benefits

• Multiple codes increase total verification credits
• Stacking to 10 codes removes daily limitations
• Maximum stack (10 codes) provides 5 million total email verification credits for $490

Comparison with Competitors

• Bulk Email Checker charges about $280 for 500,000 email verifications
• Clearout’s AppSumo deal offers significant savings

The AppSumo deal for Clearout presents a compelling value proposition, especially when compared to the regular pricing of competitors. Here are some key points to consider:

• Cost-effectiveness: The entry-level price of $49 for 500,000 lifetime verifications is substantially lower than market rates.
• Scalability: The stacking option allows users to increase their verification limits based on their needs.
• Flexibility: Removing daily limitations with maximum stacking provides freedom for large-scale verification projects.
• Long-term value: As a lifetime deal, users can continue to benefit from the service without recurring costs.

For businesses and marketers looking to maintain clean email lists over an extended period, this deal could represent significant long-term savings and improved email marketing efficiency.

Interface Overview [01:50]

Clearout’s user interface is designed with simplicity and efficiency in mind, catering to both novice users and experienced email marketers. Let’s explore the key components of the interface:

Dashboard

• Provides an at-a-glance view of statistics and account activity
• Clean and intuitive layout for easy navigation

Lists Management

• Centralized area for uploading and managing email lists
• Drag-and-drop functionality for easy list uploads

Lead Finder

• New feature highlighted with a badge in the menu bar
• Assists with cold email outreach by finding relevant email addresses
• Search functionality allows users to enter professions and locations

Integrations

• Currently offers Zapier and MailChimp integrations
• Planned integrations include popular email marketing tools like ClickFunnels, Modstic, Drip, and ActiveCampaign

The user interface of Clearout stands out for several reasons:

• User-friendly design: The clean layout and intuitive navigation make it easy for users to access all features without a steep learning curve.
• Efficiency: Drag-and-drop list uploads and quick access to key features streamline the verification process.
• Comprehensive view: The dashboard provides instant insights into account activity and verification results.
• Future-proof: Planned integrations indicate Clearout’s commitment to expanding its ecosystem and improving user workflow.

For marketers and businesses looking for a straightforward yet powerful email verification tool, Clearout’s interface offers a balance of functionality and ease of use. The addition of the Lead Finder feature also adds value by simplifying the process of building targeted email lists for outreach campaigns.

Shootout with BulkEmailChecker.com [03:13]

To assess Clearout’s performance and accuracy, a head-to-head comparison was conducted with Bulk Email Checker, a well-established email verification tool. This shootout provides valuable insights into Clearout’s effectiveness and potential advantages. Let’s break down the comparison:

Test Setup

• Email list used: 155 email addresses of plastic surgeons on Facebook
• Previously verified by Bulk Email Checker
• Same list run through Clearout for comparison

Verification Speed

• Clearout: Completed in approximately 2-3 minutes
• Bulk Email Checker: Estimated 15 minutes and 55 seconds
• Clearout offered significantly faster verification, about 5 times quicker

Pricing Comparison

• Bulk Email Checker: $280 for 500,000 email verifications
• Clearout (AppSumo deal): $49 for 500,000 email verifications
• Clearout offers substantial cost savings, more than 80% cheaper

Speed Boost Option

• Bulk Email Checker offers a speed boost option
• Cuts completion time by 66% (to about 5 minutes)
• Requires 775 credits instead of 155 (a 5x price increase)

The shootout between Clearout and Bulk Email Checker reveals several key points:

• Speed advantage: Clearout’s significantly faster verification process can save valuable time, especially for large lists.
• Cost-effectiveness: The AppSumo deal for Clearout offers substantial savings compared to Bulk Email Checker’s regular pricing.
• Scalability: While Bulk Email Checker offers a speed boost option, it comes at a considerable price increase, potentially making Clearout more attractive for users with large lists or frequent verification needs.
• Value proposition: Clearout’s combination of speed and cost-effectiveness presents a compelling alternative to established competitors in the email verification space.

This comparison underscores the potential benefits of Clearout for businesses and marketers looking to optimize their email verification process while managing costs effectively.

Shootout Results [05:03]

The results of the shootout between Clearout and Bulk Email Checker provide valuable insights into the performance and accuracy of both tools. Let’s analyze the outcomes:

Validation Results

• Clearout: 80% of the list deemed valid
• Bulk Email Checker: 67% of the list deemed valid
• Clearout identified a higher percentage of valid emails

Accuracy Concerns

• Discrepancy in valid email percentages raises questions about accuracy
• Possibility of Clearout being less strict in its validation criteria

Expert Insight

Daniel Reifenberger, an email marketing expert, provided context for the discrepancy:

• Bulk Email Checker is known for being very strict in its validation process
• It considers role-based email addresses (e.g., info@, support@) as failures
• 16% of the test list consisted of role-based accounts, explaining much of the difference

Implications of Results

The shootout results highlight several important considerations for email marketers:

• Validation strictness: Different tools may have varying levels of strictness in their validation algorithms.
• Role-based emails: The treatment of role-based email addresses can significantly impact validation results.
• False positives vs. false negatives: A less strict tool may include more valid emails but might also let through some potentially problematic addresses.
• List composition: The makeup of your email list (e.g., percentage of role-based accounts) can affect validation results across different tools.

Practical Application

• Marketers should consider their specific needs when choosing a validation tool
• For some, a stricter validation process might be preferable to ensure the highest quality list
• Others might prefer a more lenient approach to maximize potential reach, with additional filtering methods applied later

The shootout results demonstrate that while Clearout offers faster processing and identifies more valid emails, users should be aware of potential differences in validation criteria compared to other tools. Understanding these nuances can help marketers make informed decisions about which tool best suits their email verification needs and risk tolerance.

Interview with Daniel Reifenberger from Loyal Tribe [06:41]

To gain deeper insights into the importance of email verification and its practical applications, we interviewed Daniel Reifenberger, founder and chief strategist of email marketing agency Loyal Tribe. His expert perspective sheds light on the critical role of email validation in successful marketing campaigns.

About Loyal Tribe and Email Marketing

• Focuses on e-commerce businesses
• Helps build loyal customer bases that make repeat purchases
• Works with companies generating $10-100 million in annual revenue
• Emphasizes increasing lifetime value and average cart values through email marketing

Importance of Email Verification

Daniel stressed several key points regarding the significance of email verification:

• Essential first step for every client, regardless of list origin or opt-in method
• Performed quarterly for all clients, even those with large influxes of new emails (e.g., 20,000 per week)
• Addresses issues like incorrect email entry, abandoned addresses, and full inboxes

Risks of Poor Email List Hygiene

Reifenberger outlined potential consequences of neglecting email verification:

• Email service provider warnings or account suspension due to high bounce rates
• Triggering spam filters, particularly with abandoned addresses turned into “honeypots”
• Decreased engagement rates leading to poor deliverability and placement in promotion or spam folders
• Potential flagging by hash-based filters that identify spam-like content regardless of sender reputation

Verification Process for Small Businesses

• Equally important for small businesses with lower email volumes
• Proportional impact: even a small number of spam reports can exceed acceptable thresholds
• Crucial for maintaining good sender reputation and deliverability

Current Verification Tools and Costs

Daniel shared insights on the tools and costs associated with email verification:

• Primary tools used: Bulk Email Checker and BrightVerify
• Bulk Email Checker: $280 for 500,000 verifications
• BrightVerify: $3,000 for 500,000 verifications

Thoughts on Clearout’s AppSumo Deal

• Considers it an excellent value proposition
• Plans to purchase and test against other services
• Notes that even with large clients, they haven’t exceeded 500,000 verifications in two years

Best Practices for Email List Management

Daniel shared some valuable tips for managing email lists effectively:

• Remove inactive subscribers (e.g., no opens, clicks, or purchases after 10 emails)
• Export removed emails to a separate list for client records
• Focus on engagement metrics to reduce verification costs and improve overall list quality

The interview with Daniel Reifenberger provides valuable context for understanding the critical role of email verification in marketing strategies. His insights underscore the importance of regular list cleaning, the potential risks of neglecting verification, and the need for cost-effective solutions like Clearout’s AppSumo deal.

Lead Finder [19:31]

One of Clearout’s standout features is the Lead Finder tool, which adds significant value to the email verification service. This feature is designed to assist users in building targeted email lists for cold outreach campaigns. Let’s explore the functionality and potential benefits of the Lead Finder:

Functionality

• Search-based system for finding relevant email addresses
• Allows users to input professions and locations
• Generates lists of potential leads based on search criteria

Test Case: Plastic Surgeons in the United States

A test search was conducted for plastic surgeons in the United States:

• Results: 107 email addresses found
• Comparable to manual scraping efforts from social media platforms
• Majority of addresses were general inboxes rather than direct doctor emails

List Creation and Verification

• One-click list creation from search results
• Seamless integration with Clearout’s verification system
• Test verification results:
• 70 out of 107 email addresses verified as valid
• 31 identified as catch-all addresses
• Only 1 found to be invalid
• 99% deliverability score reported

Advantages of the Lead Finder

The Lead Finder feature offers several benefits for email marketers and businesses:

• Time-saving: Eliminates the need for manual email scraping
• Targeted outreach: Allows for specific demographic and professional targeting
• Integrated workflow: Seamlessly combines lead generation with email verification
• High initial quality: Most emails found are either valid or catch-all, reducing wasted verification credits

Considerations and Limitations

While the Lead Finder is a powerful tool, users should keep in mind:

• General inboxes: Many results may not be direct contact emails
• Verification necessity: Despite high initial quality, verification is still crucial
• Ethical use: Ensure compliance with anti-spam laws and best practices for cold outreach

The Lead Finder feature significantly enhances Clearout’s value proposition, offering users not just email verification but also a means to build targeted lists. This integration of lead generation and verification streamlines the email marketing workflow, potentially saving time and resources for businesses engaged in outreach campaigns.

Why BulkEmailChecker Returned Fewer Valid Emails [21:44]

The discrepancy between Clearout and Bulk Email Checker’s validation results raised questions about accuracy and validation criteria. Further investigation and expert insight from Daniel Reifenberger revealed important factors contributing to this difference:

Stricter Validation Criteria

• Bulk Email Checker is known for its stringent validation process
• It may flag emails as invalid that other services might consider acceptable

Treatment of Role-Based Email Addresses

• Bulk Email Checker considers role-based emails (e.g., info@, support@) as failures
• 16% of the test list consisted of role-based accounts
• This accounts for a significant portion of the difference in valid email percentages

Implications for Users

Understanding these differences has several implications for email marketers:

• Choice of tool: Users must consider their specific needs and risk tolerance when selecting a verification service
• List composition: The makeup of your email list can significantly impact validation results across different tools
• False positives vs. false negatives: Stricter tools may reduce the risk of invalid emails but might also exclude potentially valuable contacts

Best Practices

To navigate these differences effectively, consider the following approaches:

• Use multiple verification tools for critical lists
• Keep “unknown” results for further monitoring
• Implement engagement-based list cleaning in addition to verification
• Consider the nature of your audience and industry when interpreting results

The difference in results between Clearout and Bulk Email Checker highlights the nuanced nature of email verification. While Clearout may provide a larger pool of potentially valid emails, users should be aware of the trade-offs and implement additional measures to ensure list quality and deliverability.

Final Thoughts and Overall Rating [22:01]

After a comprehensive review of Clearout, including its features, performance, and value proposition, it’s time to summarize the key points and provide an overall rating.

Key Strengths

1. User-friendly interface: Clearout offers a clean, intuitive design that makes email verification accessible to users of all experience levels.
2. Speed: The tool demonstrated significantly faster verification times compared to competitors, potentially saving valuable time for users with large lists.
3. Cost-effectiveness: The AppSumo lifetime deal presents exceptional value, offering substantial savings compared to regular pricing of competitors.
4. Lead Finder feature: This additional tool adds significant value by combining lead generation with email verification, streamlining the outreach process.
5. Accuracy: While slightly less strict than some competitors, Clearout still provides reliable verification results, especially when considering role-based emails.

Areas for Consideration

1. Validation strictness: Users should be aware that Clearout may be less stringent in its validation criteria compared to some competitors.
2. Limited integrations: While more integrations are planned, current options are limited to Zapier and MailChimp.
3. Lifetime deal limitations: The cap on total verifications, even with maximum stacking, may be a consideration for very high-volume users.

Overall Rating: 9.7/10

Clearout receives a high rating of 9.7 out of 10, reflecting its strong performance, value, and feature set. The tool effectively addresses the critical need for email verification in digital marketing while offering additional value through its Lead Finder feature.

The high score is justified by:

• Exceptional speed and efficiency in email verification
• User-friendly interface suitable for all skill levels
• Outstanding value proposition through the AppSumo deal
• Innovative features like Lead Finder that extend beyond basic verification

The slight deduction accounts for:

• Potential differences in validation strictness compared to some competitors
• Room for expansion in integrations and features

In conclusion, Clearout presents a compelling option for businesses and marketers of all sizes looking to maintain clean email lists and improve their email marketing effectiveness. Its combination of speed, accuracy, and additional features, coupled with the exceptional value of the AppSumo deal, makes it a top contender in the email verification tool market.

For those considering investing in an email verification tool, Clearout offers a strong balance of functionality, ease of use, and cost-effectiveness that could significantly enhance email marketing efforts and overall deliverability.