What distinguishes hard bounces from soft bounces?

Hard bounces are identified as permanent failures in email delivery. This means that the email address being used is invalid or no longer exists, which makes successful delivery impossible. On the other hand, soft bounces are considered temporary issues. They can occur for reasons such as a full inbox or a server being temporarily unavailable. These temporary issues may resolve over time, enabling successful delivery if the email is attempted again later.

Understanding this distinction is crucial for effective email marketing, as it impacts how you manage your email lists. When you encounter hard bounces, you typically need to remove those email addresses from your list to maintain your sender reputation and improve deliverability. However, with soft bounces, you might choose to wait and see if the issue resolves on its own before deciding to take action. This knowledge can help marketers fine-tune their audience and enhance communication strategies.