Common Causes of Soft Bounces
Inbox Full : If the recipient's inbox is full, the email cannot be delivered until space is freed up.
Temporary Server Problems : Problems with the recipient's email server, such as overloads or downtime, may temporarily prevent delivery.
Large emails : If the email exceeds the size limits (for example due to large attachments), the server may reject it.
Temporary Blocks : Sometimes, the recipient's email provider may temporarily block the email due to network issues or a backlog in the email queue.
How to identify soft bounces ?
Soft bounces typically trigger error messages such as “Inbox Full,” “Server Unavailable,” or “Message Too Large.” These are temporary issues that may resolve themselves, so it’s important to give them some time before deciding how to handle the email address.
Also Read: When Is the Best Time to Send Marketing Emails?
Soft bounces usually resolve themselves within a few hours or a couple of days. Many email investor leads service providers (ESPs) will automatically retry the email multiple times over a 72-hour period. If the email still can't be delivered after multiple attempts, it may be classified as a hard bounce.
Key Differences Between Hard and Soft Bounces
Understanding the distinction between hard and soft bounces is critical to effective mailing list management. Here’s a breakdown of the key differences:
Nature of the rebound
Hard Bounce : Permanent. The email address is invalid and you will no longer be able to send them an email.
Soft bounce : Temporary. This is a temporary issue and the email may be delivered after a retry.