Email Bounce Rates

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Why Do I Experience Higher Email Bounce Rates Around the Holiday Season?

As an email marketer, you may notice an increase in your email bounce rates during the holiday season. This phenomenon can be particularly perplexing, especially when you believe you are sending to a list of valid contacts. It is important to understand the reasons behind these higher email bounce rates and what you can do to mitigate them.

Higher email bounce rates, particularly from valid contacts, can negatively impact your email deliverability and engagement rates. Understanding the causes and implementing best practices can help ensure that your emails reach the intended recipients during this busy time of year.

How to Access This Feature

To monitor your email bounce rates, you can access your email campaign reports through the ActiveCampaign dashboard. By examining these reports, you can identify patterns and specific instances of bounces, especially during the holiday season.

Step-by-Step Instructions

1. **Log into your ActiveCampaign account.** 2. Navigate to the **Reports** section from the main dashboard. 3. Select the specific campaign you want to analyze. 4. In the campaign report, review the **Bounce Rate** statistic to observe any spikes or trends, particularly during the holiday season.

Configuration Options and Settings

While there are no specific configuration options exclusively for bounce rates, it is essential to regularly clean your email lists and monitor engagement. Make sure to utilize features such as:

• Engagement Reports to identify active versus inactive subscribers.
• List Management to remove contacts that have hard bounced previously.

Best Practices and Tips

To help avoid high bounce rates during the holiday season, consider implementing the following best practices:

• **Send to clean lists and engaged contacts.** Focus on targeting your most engaged subscribers rather than sending to new or unverified lists.
• **Maintain consistent branding** in your emails. This includes design, sender name, and overall messaging, which helps subscribers recognize your email amidst a crowded inbox.
• **Utilize targeted, triggered, personalized emails** instead of larger, one-time campaigns. This approach helps to prevent your emails from being flagged as spam.
• **Reach out for support** if you encounter valid contacts that receive a hard bounce with a 5.7.1 code. ActiveCampaign can assist in resolving these issues without impacting your bounce statistics.

Common Use Cases with Examples

During the holiday season, many businesses ramp up their email marketing efforts. Common scenarios that can lead to increased bounce rates include:

• A retail business sending a holiday promotion to a large list quickly gathered might encounter unexpected bounce rates due to high sending volumes.
• An organization might notice that legitimate emails are being flagged as spam because contacts are overwhelmed with competing holiday messages.

By following the outlined best practices, businesses can improve their chances of avoiding significant increases in bounce rates.

Troubleshooting

If you begin to see unusual bounce rates, consider the following troubleshooting steps:

• Double-check your email lists for accuracy and ensure they consist of engaged contacts.
• Review your email content to ensure it is not triggering spam filters.
• Consult with ActiveCampaign support if valid contacts are improperly marked as bounced; we can assist in debouncing these contacts.

Related Features

For more detailed insights into how to manage your email marketing effectively, consult the following features:

• Email Deliverability Best Practices
• Bounce Prevention Strategies

FAQ

1. What is an email bounce?

An email bounce occurs when an email cannot be delivered to the recipient's inbox. Bounces can be categorized as either hard bounces or soft bounces.

2. What causes hard bounces?

Hard bounces typically occur when the email address is invalid, non-existent, or when the recipient's email server has blocked the delivery.

3. How can I check my email bounce rates?

You can check your email bounce rates by accessing the **Reports** section in your ActiveCampaign dashboard and reviewing specific campaign statistics.

4. What can I do to improve my deliverability during busy seasons?

Focus on cleaning your email lists, segmenting your contacts based on engagement levels, and maintaining consistent branding to avoid being marked as spam.

5. Is there a way to prevent valid contacts from being marked as bounced?

ActiveCampaign implements measures to ensure that valid contacts that receive a 5.7.1 bounce code are not marked as hard bounced. You can also reach out for support if you identify such instances.

6. How often should I clean my email list?

Regularly cleaning your email list is recommended to ensure you are engaging with active contacts. It’s advisable to review your list at least once per quarter.

7. What should I do if my bounce rates suddenly increase?

If you experience a sudden increase in bounce rates, review your recent email campaigns, engagement levels, and reach out to ActiveCampaign for support if the issue persists.

For more information about managing email bounces and best practices for email deliverability, please refer to the following resources:

• [What is a bounce and how can I prevent them?](https://help.activecampaign.com/hc/en-us/articles/115000191564-What-is-a-bounce-and-how-can-I-prevent-them-)
• [Email Deliverability Best Practices Guide](https://www.activecampaign.com/learn/guides/email-deliverability-best-practices/)

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