No, a hard bounce is permanent and can't be changed to a soft bounce. A hard bounce occurs when the email address is invalid or the domain doesn't exist, making it no longer deliverable. A soft bounce, on the other hand, is caused by temporary issues (such as a full mailbox or a server outage) and those issues can resolve themselves, allowing emails to be delivered later.
Question 2: How often should I clean my email list?
It's important to product or services introduction clean up your email list regularly to keep your bounce rate low. Try to clean up your list every day, 3 months, 6 months , or after each major campaign. Removing invalid or inactive email addresses will save you from wasting time emailing people who don't see your emails and help maintain your sender reputation.
A healthy bounce rate for email marketing should be under 2%. If your bounce rate exceeds this, it could be a sign that you have outdated or invalid email addresses on your list. A high bounce rate can negatively impact sender reputation and deliverability, so it's important to keep your list organized and check your bounce rate regularly.
Q4: What if I don't manage my bounce rate effectively?
Failure to manage your bounce rate can lead to major problems, such as damaged sender reputation and reduced inbox placement. When an email provider encounters a high bounce rate, they may mark your email as spam or block it altogether. This can result in reduced engagement, low open rates, and a decrease in the effectiveness of your email marketing campaigns.
Also read: What is a good email open rate?
Question 5: How do I know if my email is marked as spam or hard bounced?
When an email is marked as spam, the recipient's email server may send back a message stating that the email was rejected because it was considered spam. A hard bounce will generate a message like “Domain not found” or “Recipient address rejected.” Spam alerts are often associated with a poor sender reputation, while hard bounces are associated with invalid email addresses or non-existent domains.
Question 6: Should I remove the email address after a single soft bounce?
Don't send immediately. Soft bounces are often caused by temporary issues, such as a full mailbox or server outage. You should allow your email provider to retry the message (usually within 72 hours). If an email address continues to soft bounce after multiple attempts, it may be time to consider removing the email address from your list. Reviewing bounce patterns is important in making this decision.
