Finding E-mail Addresses

Here's a challenge for you: how do you find someone's e-mail address? As you might suspect, there are a number of ways to go about this. Before you read any further though, make sure you understand the anatomy of an e-mail address by reviewing the "Understanding E-mail Addresses" article.

It may seem obvious, but the easiest way to get someone's address is to just ask. If you already know the person, pick up the phone and call. It will certainly save you a lot of time and effort.

It would be very convenient if you could consult a central directory of e-mail address. Unfortunately, no comprehensive directory exists, at least not yet. Why not, you may wonder? Imagine the task of compiling hundreds of millions of addresses from all over the world. Keeping the directory current would present an enormous challenge, given the frequency with which people change addresses. Then there's the privacy issue to contend with. Like phone numbers, many people don't want to be listed.

While you can access a number of online directory services, their usefulness is limited. Many are not up-to-date. Also, if the person you're looking for has a common name, the database may turn up a number of addresses. Which one is correct? You'll just have to guess. We recommend trying Yahoo! People Search.

If you strike out, don't give up. Try another approach.

Most people list their e-mail address on their cards, so look there. Or go to the company website and see if there's a staff directory.