Bounces - Online Help | Zoho Campaigns

Bounces


Bounces occur when sent emails cannot be delivered. Typically, the email server will send you an error message, detailing the reason for the bounce. To learn more about this mechanism, let's walk through the process of sending an email and where bounces fit into the picture.
email-bounces

How are bounces generated?

Once an email is ready and the 'Send' button has been clicked, the system immediately looks up the recipient's domain and mail server. Once our system makes contact, the mail server looks at the message to determine if it will deliver the message. If the message passes through the mail server, then it is considered a success. If that server finds that the email address is invalid or does not exist, then the corresponding bounces will be returned back to our sender's server. This is called a 'hard bounce'.

If the recipient's email address exists but does not have enough storage space to accept the message, then it will bounce back to the sender as a 'soft bounce'. There is a possibility that these bounces may have occurred while the recipient system is busy or unable to handle requests. These emails will be retried within the next five days.

Our system will identify the mail delivery status based on the recipient system's response/status code/message, then generate a report for it.

Significance of bounce rates

Bounce rates are important to determine how many of your emails reach the contacts' inbox and how many don't. They also impact your domain reputation, so it's essential to keep an eye on your bounce numbers. Internet Service Providers (ISPs) and Email Service Providers (ESPs) set a certain threshold for bounce rates; exceeding that threshold may lead to a warning or account suspension.

At Zoho Campaigns, while sending a campaign, if the bounce rate exceeds 5%, we'll temporarily pause sending the campaign. We'll notify you about the campaign and resume sending the campaign after 24 hours. After we resume sending the campaign, if the emails bounce and if the bounce rate exceeds 5%, we will permanently cancel the campaign.

Bounce types

Bounces come in two categories: soft and hard bounces.

Soft bounces

A soft bounce is just a temporary delivery failure. It does not necessarily mean the email address is invalid or no longer active, so we will continue trying to send emails to these addresses.

These are a few common reasons for a soft bounce:
  1. Recipient's mailbox is full.
  2. Email server is temporarily unavailable.
  3. Email content is too large.
  4. Spammy content or blacklisted sender address.
In many cases, soft bounces are resolved on their own. Marketers should give utmost priority for these temporary failures in order to avoid a major breakdown in the future. A good marketer must have a plan to handle soft bounces.

If the emails sent to a particular address soft bounces around seven times, it will be considered a hard bounce, and that address will be added to the 'Bounced' list in order to preserve server and IP integrity.

Long story short, soft bounces = temporary deliverability failures.

Hard bounces

A hard bounce means there is a permanent reason for the delivery failure. Generally, the recipients' addresses are immediately added to the 'Bounced' list. Frequent hard bounces bring down the reputation of sending sources drastically.

Here are a few common reasons for an email's hard bounce:
  1. Recipient email address does not exist.
  2. Domain name does not exist.
  3. Typos render the email address invalid. (for example, gnail.com instead of gmail.com)
  4. Recipient email server has blocked delivery.
  5. The email address is inactive.
  6. Email account has been closed.
Hard bounces are quite serious. A raise in hard bounce rate badly affects your sender domain reputation with ESPs and ISPs, and may also lead to blacklisting of your email address.

Long story short, hard bounces = permanent deliverability failures.

How to avoid bounces

You can practice the following techniques to avoid email bounce:
  1. Don't use purchased mailing lists.
  2. Use the double opt-in technique to prevent the entry of invalid email addresses into your mailing list.
  3. Regularly clean your mailing list using email validation services.
  4. Don't use blacklisted URLs or spam trigger words in your email content.
  5. Ensure that your sender domain doesn't receive abuse complaints.
  6. Maintain optimal email volume and a healthy email frequency.
  7. Authenticate your sender domain.

    Access your files securely from anywhere

      Zoho CRM Training Programs

      Learn how to use the best tools for sales force automation and better customer engagement from Zoho's implementation specialists.

      Zoho CRM Training
        Redefine the way you work
        with Zoho Workplace

          Zoho DataPrep Personalized Demo

          If you'd like a personalized walk-through of our data preparation tool, please request a demo and we'll be happy to show you how to get the best out of Zoho DataPrep.

          Zoho CRM Training

            Create, share, and deliver

            beautiful slides from anywhere.

            Get Started Now


              Zoho Sign now offers specialized one-on-one training for both administrators and developers.

              BOOK A SESSION






                          Quick Links Workflow Automation Data Collection
                          Web Forms Enterprise Begin Data Collection
                          Interactive Forms Workplace Data Collection App
                          Offline Forms Customer Service Accessible Forms
                          Digital Forms Marketing Forms for Small Business
                          HTML Forms Education Forms for Enterprise
                          Contact Forms E-commerce Forms for any business
                          Lead Generation Forms Healthcare Forms for Startups
                          Wordpress Forms Customer onboarding Order Forms for Small Business
                          No Code Forms Construction RSVP tool for holidays
                          Free Forms Travel
                          Prefill Forms Non-Profit

                          Intake Forms Legal

                          Form Designer HR

                          Card Forms Food
                          Assign Forms Photography

                          Translate Forms Real Estate
                          Electronic Forms

                          Notification Emails for Forms Alternatives
                          Holiday Forms Google Forms alternative 
                          Form to PDF Jotform alternative





                                            You are currently viewing the help pages of Qntrl’s earlier version. Click here to view our latest version—Qntrl 3.0's help articles.




                                                Manage your brands on social media

                                                  Zoho Desk Resources

                                                  • Desk Community Learning Series


                                                  • Digest


                                                  • Functions


                                                  • Meetups


                                                  • Kbase


                                                  • Resources


                                                  • Glossary


                                                  • Desk Marketplace


                                                  • MVP Corner


                                                  • Word of the Day


                                                    Zoho Marketing Automation

                                                      Zoho Sheet Resources

                                                       

                                                          Zoho Forms Resources


                                                            Secure your business
                                                            communication with Zoho Mail


                                                            Mail on the move with
                                                            Zoho Mail mobile application

                                                              Stay on top of your schedule
                                                              at all times


                                                              Carry your calendar with you
                                                              Anytime, anywhere




                                                                    Zoho Sign Resources

                                                                      Sign, Paperless!

                                                                      Sign and send business documents on the go!

                                                                      Get Started Now




                                                                              Zoho TeamInbox Resources



                                                                                      Zoho DataPrep Resources



                                                                                        Zoho DataPrep Demo

                                                                                        Get a personalized demo or POC

                                                                                        REGISTER NOW


                                                                                          Design. Discuss. Deliver.

                                                                                          Create visually engaging stories with Zoho Show.

                                                                                          Get Started Now









                                                                                                              • Related Articles

                                                                                                              • How to Avoid Bounces

                                                                                                                Emails that are not delivered and are returned to sender are called bounces. Take a closer look at email bounces to learn why emails bounce. Check the reason for bounces In your campaign report, under Real-Time Campaign Data, you will find the ...
                                                                                                              • What is the difference between hard and soft bounces?

                                                                                                                A soft bounce is just a temporary delivery failure. It doesn’t necessarily mean the email address is invalid or no longer active, so you can try to send emails to these addresses again. These are a few common reasons for a soft bounce: The ...
                                                                                                              • How can I avoid email bounces?

                                                                                                                You can practice the following techniques to avoid email bounce: Don't use purchased mailing lists. Use the double opt-in technique to prevent the entry of invalid email addresses into your mailing list. Regularly clean your mailing list using email ...
                                                                                                              • What will cause a contact to be skipped while sending an email?

                                                                                                                Contacts will be skipped when: the email address is invalid there are deliverability issues and soft bounces
                                                                                                              • What is the sender domain and bounce domain?

                                                                                                                As the name suggests, sender domain is the domain name used in the email address in the From field of any mail you receive. It helps the recipients identify where the mail came from. For example, in the email address “julius@zylker.com”, the sender ...
                                                                                                                Wherever you are is as good as
                                                                                                                your workplace

                                                                                                                  Resources

                                                                                                                  Videos

                                                                                                                  Watch comprehensive videos on features and other important topics that will help you master Zoho CRM.



                                                                                                                  eBooks

                                                                                                                  Download free eBooks and access a range of topics to get deeper insight on successfully using Zoho CRM.



                                                                                                                  Webinars

                                                                                                                  Sign up for our webinars and learn the Zoho CRM basics, from customization to sales force automation and more.



                                                                                                                  CRM Tips

                                                                                                                  Make the most of Zoho CRM with these useful tips.



                                                                                                                    Zoho Show Resources