Email searches are an important part of communication. The Internet is a vital communication tool, but email addresses are sometimes hard to find. While telephone numbers and even addresses are readily available, email does not have any shared directory. Search email directories and common search engines to find email addresses of personal and business contacts. If you have an email address, but want to know who it belongs to, use a reverse email search to find information.

Regardless of what type of information you are looking for, there are a variety of ways to narrow down your email searches.

1. Don't overlook regular search engines, such as Google. Enter as much information as you have, using quotation marks to narrow the search field.

2. If you have an old email address that bounces, check change-of-address websites for updated listings.

3. Use your connections with other people. Search email for contacts who may have the information you need.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Search for an email address using free sites

Using an email directory search is the first stop in looking up email addresses. With the large number available, it can be hard to choose one email search engine. Fortunately, the search process is quick. If you do not find the information you are looking for, check another email search finder.

I recommend: Both The White Pages and InfoSpace offer email address search services at no cost.

Prepare to pay for email searches

If you strike out with your first email address search, it may be necessary to use a directory that charges a fee. When you use a paid service, you can normally choose between a fee per use or a subscription with unlimited searches. Choose a service that allows you to preview results before paying.

I recommend: Intelius and Search Detective are paid services that provide email addresses, reverse email search and other personal information searches.

Play detective when you search for email addresses

If the person lives outside the United States or Canada, you will need to use an international email search engine. Consider social networking sites when conducting search for email addresses. If you know where the person attended school or what industry they are employed in, check specialized directories.

I recommend: Find international email search engines at My Email Address Is. LinkedIn is a popular social networking site that many professionals use. Alumni.net provides a wide range of search functions to search by school, area, or company.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  If you have corresponded with the person whose email address you need, search email on your computer. Use the search function and improve your results by including all folders, including trash and archived files, in the search, and searching message bodies as well as headers.
• •  Most companies have uniform email conventions throughout the company. Find a listing for one person, usually someone from the communications department, and use the same convention for your email. For example, if the company's PR contact is jane.doe@mycompany.com, and you are looking for John Smith's address, try john.smith@mycompany.com.