Key facts
- Remove hard bounces from your list for good, because that address does not exist.
- Retry soft bounces, which are temporary, a few times before giving up.
- If bounces pass a few percent, stop sending and check your list.
- Buzz Send suppresses bounced addresses for good and pauses a mailbox at a 5 percent bounce rate.
Hard bounce or soft bounce?
A hard bounce means the address or domain does not exist. A soft bounce means a temporary problem, such as a full mailbox or a busy server. Treat three soft bounces from the same address like a hard one.
Why do bounces matter so much?
Mail providers read a high bounce rate as a sign you are sending to a bought or guessed list. It can send your next emails to spam.
Do I get anything back?
On paid plans, when an email you sent with Buzz Send hard-bounces, or soft-bounces three times, the contact comes back to your balance, once per contact. Contacts only, not cash.
| Bounce | Meaning | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Hard | Address does not exist | Remove for good |
| Soft | Temporary problem | Retry, then remove after three |
| Rate over a few percent | List problem | Pause and check the list |
What to do after a bounce
- Sort the bounces
Hard or soft.
- Suppress hard bounces
Never send to them again.
- Check the rest of the list
If one source bounces a lot, check every address from it.
- Find the replacement
If the person moved, find who holds the role now.
When does Buzzlist fit, and when does it not?
It fits when
- You want bounces handled and refunded as contacts automatically.
It does not fit when
- You want to keep sending to an address that bounced.
Questions people ask next
What bounce rate is too high?
Buzz Send pauses a mailbox at 5 percent. Many senders aim for well under that.
Why did a checked email bounce?
Checks reduce bounces but are not a delivery guarantee. People also leave jobs after a check.
Are bounced contacts refunded on Free?
No. The bounce refund is on paid plans, for emails sent with Buzz Send.
Should I email their personal address instead?
Only if the offer suits a personal inbox. Usually, find the person at their new job.