Hard Bounce vs Soft Bounce in Email Marketing

Hard Bounce vs Soft Bounce in Email marketing

Introduction – Hard Bounce vs Soft Bounce in Email Marketing

Hard Bounce vs Soft Bounce Email Marketing – Hard bounce and Soft bounce are the categories of bounces. Those who are new at email marketing might not easily understand what are hard bounce and soft bounce actually these are the technical terms which simply mean:

When we are sending emails to someone and for some reason, the email has failed is considered as email bouncing.

Email marketing is an effective way to promote or engage with customers, suitable for businesses of all sizes. It is an effective way to reach out to customers and build brand awareness. However, sometimes emails fail to reach their intended recipients. When this happens, it is referred to as a bounce. Bounces can be categorized as either hard or soft. In this article, we will explore the differences between hard and soft bounces and what they mean for your email marketing campaigns.

What is a Hard Bounce in Email Marketing?

A hard bounce or permanent bounce occurs when an email is returned to the sender because the recipient’s email address is invalid or does not exist. This type of bounce is permanent and cannot be resolved by simply resending the email.

A hard bounce is an email that has failed due to some permanent reasons. For example, We can say hard bounce occurs when sending an email to an address that does not exist.

There is n number of reasons which has come under the hard bounce category but below I am giving one example so you can understand clearly.

Suppose you have to send an email to “support@forum.com”  and in hurry, you haven’t focussed that you typed “support@forumm.com” and send the email. Now tell me what happens? Yes, here 2 cases will be arise 

• It might be reached the address which you have typed mistakenly means emails are not reaching the actual subscriber. And that user might be marked your email as spam.
• If this address doesn’t exist then it not going to deliver so it is referred to as a Hard bounce or permanent bounce.

Common reasons for hard bounces include:

• Invalid email address
• Email account does not exist
• The domain name does not exist
• The email server has blocked delivery

If you receive a hard bounce, it is recommended that you remove the recipient’s email address from your mailing list to prevent further bounces.

What is a Soft Bounce in Email Marketing?

A soft bounce occurs when an email is returned to the sender for temporary reasons. This can include a full inbox, a busy mail server, or a message that is too large to be delivered. Unlike hard bounces, soft bounces are temporary and may be resolved by resending the email at a later time.

A soft bounce is an email that has failed due to some temporary reasons.

For example, Email delivery has failed due to insufficient space in the inbox. So the bounce which occurs due to temporary reasons has come under the category of soft bounce or temporary bounce.

Common reasons for soft bounces include:

• The recipient’s mailbox is full
• The email server is busy or unavailable
• An email message is too large
• The email server has blocked delivery temporarily

If you receive a soft bounce, it is recommended that you wait a few hours and try resending the email. If the email continues to bounce, it may be necessary to remove the recipient’s email address from your mailing list.

How to Reduce Bounces

Reducing bounces is an important part of email marketing. Not only does it help ensure that your emails reach their intended recipients, but it also improves your overall email deliverability. Here are some tips for reducing bounces:

• Use a reliable email service provider (ESP) that has a good reputation for email deliverability.
• Keep your email list up-to-date by removing invalid email addresses and regularly cleaning your list.
• Use a double opt-in process to ensure that subscribers have confirmed their email addresses.
• Personalize your emails to increase engagement and reduce the likelihood of bounces.
• Monitor your email deliverability and track bounce rates to identify any issues and make necessary adjustments.

How to Fix Soft Bounce Email

Hard bounce vs soft bounce email marketing – If you are experiencing soft bounces in your email marketing campaigns, there are a few steps you can take to try and resolve the issue:

Check the bounce reason: When an email bounces, you should receive a message from your email service provider that explains why the email could not be delivered. Check the message to see if there are any specific issues that need to be addressed, such as an invalid email address or a full inbox.

Verify the email address: If the bounce message indicates that the email address is invalid, try verifying the email address by contacting the recipient through a different channel, such as phone or social media. If you are unable to verify the email address, remove it from your mailing list.

Resend the email: In some cases, a soft bounce may occur due to a temporary issue with the recipient’s email server or inbox. Wait a few days and try resending the email to see if it goes through.

Review your email content: Make sure your email content is not triggering spam filters or being marked as spam by recipients. Check your subject line, body text, and any images or links to ensure they are not violating any spam rules.

Monitor your bounce rate: Keep track of your bounce rate and address any ongoing issues with soft bounces. A high bounce rate can harm your email sender’s reputation and affect your deliverability.

Use a reputable email service provider: Consider using a reliable email service provider that can help you monitor and address bounce issues. Many email service providers offer features like automatic list cleaning and spam filter testing to help reduce bounces. Check here the list of 16 best email service providers.

By following these steps, you can help reduce the number of soft bounces in your email marketing campaigns and improve your deliverability.

Learn the bounce codes and helpful websites to handle hard bounce and soft bounce

How to Avoid Soft Bounce?

To avoid soft bounces in your email marketing campaigns, here are some steps you can take:

1. Use a double opt-in process: Require subscribers to confirm their email addresses after signing up for your mailing list. This can help ensure that the email address is valid and reduce the likelihood of soft bounces.
2. Segment your mailing list: Segment your mailing list based on subscriber engagement and behaviour. This can help you send more targeted emails to subscribers who are more likely to engage with your content and reduce the likelihood of soft bounces.
3. Use the best email service provider: Choose an email service provider with a good reputation and a high deliverability rate. Reputable email service providers have strong relationships with internet service providers and are more likely to ensure that your emails are delivered successfully.
4. Test your emails: Before sending your emails, test them to ensure they are not triggering spam filters or being marked as spam. This can help you avoid soft bounces and improve your deliverability.
5. Keep your mailing list up-to-date: Regularly clean your mailing list by removing inactive or invalid email addresses. This can help you avoid soft bounces and improve your engagement rates.

Quick Overview – Hard bounce vs Soft bounce Email Marketing

Hard Bounce or Permanent Bounce	Soft Bounce or Temporary Bounce
Permanent delivery failure.	Temporary delivery failure.
Cannot be resolved.	Can be resolved.
Examples of Hard bounces: 1. Not a valid user. 2. Mailbox is no longer in use. 3. The recipient account is blocked.	Examples of Soft bounces: 1. Exhausted allowed storage space. 2. Quota exceeded. 3. 452 tries later

Faqs – Hard Bounce vs Soft Bounce Email Marketing

Conclusion – Hard Bounce vs Soft Bounce Email Marketing

In conclusion, understanding the differences between hard and soft bounces is important for maintaining the effectiveness of your email marketing campaigns. By following the tips outlined above, you can reduce the likelihood of bounces and ensure that your emails reach their intended recipients. Remember, high-quality email content is just one factor in a successful email marketing campaign, and reducing bounces is equally important to improve your email deliverability.

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