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Ask HN: Is it important to verify email addresses?

6 points by Jonanin ↗ HN
How important is it to add an email verification step to the registration process? With this step a user must "activate" their account by clicking a link in an email before they can use site features. On one hand it makes the registration process much more difficult and time consuming, but on the other it is an easy way to verify a user's unique identity. How important is it? Are there alternative methods that are easier on the user?

5 comments

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urjitbhatia
It might seems like a time consuming step right now but will certainly help thwart illegitimate use of your service in the long run. It sort of depends on the service you provide. If it is something like signup and get discount coupons in email then I guess its ok. In most cases, IMHO, it will be better in the long run. Will save you in many ways:

1. Have verified users therefore less hacking your system through TOS type loopholes.

2. Your email server will bounce lesser number of emails therefore faster email delivery and reduced costs.

3. Once your service gathers customers, it will give them a sense of security.

dgudkov
I might be wrong, but my current belief is that if a user is interested in your service it will leave real email. If not, there is nothing else you can do with his/her email besides spamming.

Making extra burden for user just to make your life easier ... hmmm, not sure if this is right approach.

true_religion
After running users email verification for only a month with my current start up, I can tell you this: people mistype their emails, you want to verify it actually exists.
impendia
I don't know what your site is (perhaps different than I am imagining), but whenever I'm obliged to do this I nearly always give a Mailinator address.
cardiffspaceman
Thing is, three or four people around the world (a few in the US and one in Ireland) have given my email address as their own. I have had success in getting the email to go to the right person in some cases, but not others. I claim therefore that confirming email addresses is mandatory.