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A bounce is what it’s called when an email can’t be delivered to an email server. Normally, the server explains the issue.
You saw “Your email failed to be delivered”. Again. But why? Even if all your settings were right, there might be many reasons why your email could. Some could actually be due to your mistakes, but generally, it’s uncontrollable factors that cause emails to return in no time. In this piece, we’re going to independently inspect each case and discuss the differences between a hard bounce and a soft bounce, which are vital measures in managing your email marketing drives.
What does a bounced email mean?
If one of your emails has bounced, it didn’t reach the intended receiver. The mail server rejected the email. It could either be short-term or permanent. When this happens, you’ll usually get an autoreply informing you that the email couldn’t be delivered.
Bounced emails can occur for several reasons, such as a subscriber giving the wrong email address. Other times, an email can bounce because of server interruptions or because the recipient has insufficient inbox space.
Distinguishing between hard and soft bounces
You will receive an automated reply immediately once your emails start bouncing.
Error messages clue you on why an error happened are common, along with advice on possible solutions. At times, though, the notifications are vague and hence require interpretation.
Understanding Hard Bounce
A hard bounce generally means a permanent inability to deliver your message, indicating cessation of further attempts to reach out using that path, hence requiring new access methods towards reaching the recipient.
Usually caused by incorrect input of Email addresses, hard bounces also result from refusal by the recipient’s ISP (Internet Service Provider) with reasoning ranging from a to z.
Soft bounce
A soft bounce refers to an instance where an email fails to deliver initially, but there’s a chance it might be sent later. Such failures are often temporary and may require a bit of patience.
This type of bounce usually occurs when the recipient’s inbox is overloaded, both senders and recipients reach their capacity limits, or the email content is too big.
Automatic responses like out-of-office notifications can also trigger soft bounces, although they function differently. More details on this follow below.
Other factors can also make emails bounce, but they can be difficult to spot because error messages aren’t always clear.
These will also be examined further.
| Particulars | Soft Bounce | Hard Bounce |
| What | Temporary delivery failure | Permanent delivery failure |
| Cause | Full inbox, server issues, oversize emails | Inaccurate address, nonexistent domain, blockage |
| Fix it | Usually self-corrects. Might need size adjustments for the message content | The action required is removing the wrong address from your list |
| Retry Method | The Email server may resend the email at a later point | No retries are permitted. you need to remove that address from your list immediately |
| Result | Little effect if resolved quickly but could reduce sender’s trustworthiness | Potential high impact due to damage to sender’s trustworthiness and deliverability if not resolved promptly |
Differentiating soft and hard bounces & managing them effectively
The first step towards managing soft and hard bounces effectively is understanding their intricacies. The key here lies in following proven methods that consequently diminish email delivery disruptions while improving the performance of your email campaigns.
Action Plan for Soft Bounced Emails
Monitor your Email message size and content.
Regular monitoring of the size and content of your emails, including attachments and pictures, is crucial. Should your email repeatedly soft bounce due to its size, you might want to try compressing attachments or using external links rather than embedding directly in the email. Emails with a smaller size are less likely to have delivery issues.
Frequently check the server’s operational status.
Server issues like downtime or overload often cause soft bounces. It’s crucial to make sure that your email service provider maintains excellent server functionality and availability.
You can spot patterns or common periods of downtime through continuous tracking, enabling you to send your email campaigns when the server load is lower. This forward-thinking strategy reduces the risk of emails being soft-bounced due to server problems.
Key strategies for managing hard bounce emails
Keep your email list in good shape.
Remove hard-bounced addresses by regularly updating and cleaning up your email list. This is essential to preserve a strong sender reputation and guarantee top deliverability rates. Use tools that validate email addresses on your list to discard those that are invalid or unused.
Use double opt-in for subscribers
Introduce a double opt-in process by delivering an authentication email to new subscribers who need to confirm their subscriptions. This validates their email address and shows they agree to receive your emails. With this method, you assure the validity of email addresses and explicit consent from recipients, drastically reducing the probability of hard bounces.
Watch for domain changes.
Be on alert for changes in domains, especially with those linked with businesses or organizations. Domains might switch due to rebranding or business combinations, turning former addresses useless. Keep updating your list according to these changes, which can help prevent hard bounces. Using tools or setting up alerts about any inactive domains associated with emails on your list may help as well.
myEmailVerifier assists with fixing email bounces in ways such as giving you access to resources needed to clean an email list. It removes unworking addresses from your list automatically. Bridging communication gaps with an audience by helping send customized emails that can resonate with subscribers, ensuring better deliverability of emails. Detailed insights into deliverability assist in elevating performance.
Regardless of the type of your email bounce, maintain your bounce rate below 2%. The lower it is, the better. Use this professional guide to distinguish between a hard bounce and a soft bounce.
Our manual will aid you in forming improved email marketing techniques. You can also employ email top guidelines to expand your group.
Allow indifferent subscribers to unsubscribe without restraint. Prioritize merit over magnitude. In the end, review and cleanse your group consistently to prevent problems.