Many teams use validation as a binary step: keep or remove. That is better than nothing, but it leaves useful nuance on the table.
A more useful model
After a MailCull run, think in four groups:
Deliverable
This is your strongest segment and the easiest one to send with confidence.
Risky
These addresses deserve review. Some may be recoverable because of typo signals or context from the original file.
Undeliverable
These are the addresses you should stop treating as active send targets.
Unknown
These belong in a separate decision bucket, not mixed blindly into the main audience.
Why segmentation helps
Segmentation gives you:
- cleaner reporting
- more deliberate risk management
- better export control
- more flexibility for different campaign types
Instead of treating every uncertain address the same way, you can decide based on the use case.