Can your published email addresses receive mail?
It reports published email domains that the saved mail test says cannot accept mail.
What Check Engine measures
The mail-delivery measurement must be available. Domains from mail links on successful pages are joined to saved domain results. Only a result with accepts-mail explicitly false and a published address can produce a finding. A conclusive result on a static host raises severity. Domain validity, IP-like forms and the relationship to the site's own host inform the explanation and suggested fix.
The check uses published email links and the recorded domain-level mail test. A result applies to the domain. Checking whether a specific mailbox accepts messages needs a separate test.
How to read the result
Severity is high for the conclusive static-host case and medium otherwise. This is a domain delivery test, not a promise that a particular inbox exists or that a person will answer a message.
Why it matters
A visible email link is a route a visitor may use to contact you. Without mail delivery, a domain breaks the contact route even if the link itself is correctly written and the website still loads.
How to fix it
Confirm the intended address with the person who receives enquiries. Correct spelling errors in the link and its visible text. For an address you own, review the domain's mail setup with its provider and retest delivery. Do not replace a valid address merely because an inconclusive network result needs investigation.
The contact address that cannot receive mail
What we found in field audits
Problems in Conversion & landing pages were found on 13 of the 14 sites we audited. These are area totals. Read the field-audit method.
Method note
backend/seo_engine/checks/conversion.py, dead_contact, revision 0bb8e8d3.
Common questions
Does the mail-link check test whether a particular inbox exists?
No. It uses domain delivery results rather than testing a particular inbox. A domain result cannot promise that someone will answer.
When can a published email address produce a dead-contact finding?
The saved result must say accepts-mail explicitly false. Unknown delivery results cannot establish that the published address is unusable.
Does a conclusive mail failure on a static host change severity?
Yes. The conclusive static-host case is high severity. Other qualifying failures are medium.