Email Verification
Email Verification checks an address the instant someone types it into your form — before the submission even completes. Powered by a third-party platform, it runs a series of automated checks against the email address itself:
Syntax check — confirms the address is formatted correctly
Domain/MX record check — confirms the domain can actually receive mail
Typo detection — catches common mistakes (like "gamil.com" instead of "gmail.com") and can suggest the correct domain
Disposable email detection — flags temporary/throwaway addresses (e.g. mailinator.com)
Role address detection — flags generic addresses like support@ or admin@
Deliverability check — determines whether the mailbox is likely to accept mail
Based on these checks, each address gets a result: deliverable, undeliverable, risky, or unknown. On Spotlightr, if an address comes back as undeliverable or risky, the form submission is automatically rejected — the viewer is asked to enter a different email before they can continue.
What it confirms: the email address is real, well-formed, and capable of receiving mail.
What it doesn't confirm: that the person filling out the form actually owns or has access to that inbox. Someone could type in a coworker's, friend's, or even a stranger's valid email address, and Email Verification would let it through — because the address itself is legitimate.
Email Verification vs. One-Time Password (OTP): What's the Difference?
When you add an opt-in form to your video, you have two tools available to keep your email list clean and confirm real users: Email Verification and One-Time Password (OTP) Verification. They sound similar, but they check very different things. This article explains what each one does and when to use them.
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Email Verification | OTP Verification |
What it checks | Is the address valid and deliverable? | Does the submitter control this inbox? |
When it runs | Instantly, at the moment of typing/submission | After submission — requires the viewer to check their email and re-enter a code |
Viewer effort | None — fully automatic | Must open inbox and enter a code in the video |
Catches typos & fake domains | Yes | No (assumes a valid address) |
Catches disposable/temp emails | Yes | No, unless the disposable inbox is also accessible to the viewer |
Confirms inbox ownership | No | Yes |
Best for | Keeping your list free of junk, typos, and fake addresses | Gating premium content, lead-gating where verified contact info matters |
Friction added to form | Minimal | Slightly higher (extra step), but proves genuine access |
Email Verification vs OTP: Which Should You Use?
Just want a clean list with no junk or typos? Email Verification alone is usually enough.
Need to be confident the lead is reachable and genuinely theirs (e.g. gated downloads, paid content, lead magnets you'll follow up on)? Add OTP Verification.
Want maximum quality control? Use both together — Email Verification filters out invalid addresses before they're even submitted, and OTP confirms the remaining ones are truly owned by the viewer.