How do you analyze bounce patterns for root cause clues?

Bounce pattern analysis:

Categorize by type:

Hard bounces (invalid addresses)

Soft bounces (temporary issues)

Policy bounces (reputation blocks)

Analyze by provider:

Is one provider showing more bounces?

Provider-specific indicates targeted problem

Look for timing patterns:

When did new bounce types appear?

Correlate with sending changes

Read error messages:

Messages often explain the reason

"Policy" or "reputation" indicates behavioral issues

"Blocked" or "blacklisted" indicates listing

Track trends: Increasing bounce rates over time versus sudden spikes indicate different causes.

Cargo rejection notices explain why shipments were refused. Read them carefully.