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Understanding and Reducing Bounces: A Comprehensive Guide

Email Bounces: What They Are and How to Prevent Them 📧

Updated over a week ago

Hi there, lemlister! 👋

Let’s talk about email bounces—one of the most common challenges in email marketing. Here’s everything you need to know about bounces and how to minimize them for a healthier email strategy! 🚀


What Is an Email Bounce?

An email bounce happens when your email can’t be delivered to the recipient’s inbox. There are two main types of bounces you need to know about:

1. Soft Bounce

A soft bounce is a temporary failure caused by issues like:

  • The recipient’s inbox is full.

  • A server problem occurred.

  • The email exceeded the size limit.

  • The message was blocked due to its content.

  • Policies of the recipient server weren’t met.

  • DMARC or anti-virus requirements weren’t satisfied.

  • Relay or forwarding issues between servers.

Soft bounces might resolve themselves, but they’re worth monitoring!

2. Hard Bounce

A hard bounce is a permanent failure caused by:

  • Sending to an invalid or non-existent email address.

  • Typos in the email address.

  • Addresses that are outdated or linked to closed accounts.

Hard bounces require immediate action to keep your sender reputation intact.


How to Prevent Email Bounces

Reducing email bounce rates is critical for successful campaigns. Here’s how:

  • Verify Email Addresses: Use a reliable email verification tool to ensure your list is up-to-date.

  • Clean Your List Regularly: Remove inactive or bouncing addresses to avoid deliverability issues.

  • Monitor Blacklists: Check your domain status on blacklists and resolve any flagged issues.

  • Optimize Email Content: Avoid spammy phrases and ensure your emails comply with best practices.


The Ultimate Anti-Bounce Checklist

Ready to tackle bounces like a pro? Here’s a powerful checklist to fortify your email campaigns:

👉 Custom Tracking Domain: Follow our step-by-step guide to set up a custom tracking domain for seamless analytics.

👉 Deliverability Check: Use our Email Deliverability Checklist to navigate the complexities of email deliverability.

👉 Avoid Cold Email Mistakes: Check out our Cold Email Mistakes Checklist to learn from common errors and run flawless campaigns.

👉 Email Validation: Verify your list with reliable tools to ensure all addresses are valid.

👉 Domain Health Assessment: Use tools like MXToolBox to check domain health and follow our Domain Reputation Guide for proper authentication.

👉 New Domains? No Problem!: Our Deliverability Booster helps you avoid bounce risks when starting fresh.

👉 SPF and DKIM Setup: Simplify authentication by setting up SPF and DKIM records with our Definitive Guide.

👉 Engaging Subject Lines: Craft creative subject lines to improve open rates.

👉 Control Email Volume: Send no more than 200 emails daily to maintain domain health.

With this checklist and insights from our guides, you’ll reduce bounce rates, improve deliverability, and keep your campaigns thriving! 💪


Bonus Wisdom for Email Success 🤓

Hungry for more tips? Check out these additional resources:


Enjoy Email Marketing Like a Pro! ❤️

Mastering email deliverability takes time, but with these strategies, you’re well on your way to success. Happy emailing! 🎉

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