When it comes to focusing and zoning in on finding your next best customer, data stemming from mailing lists can really make or break your marketing efforts. Mailing lists when first compiled may be neat and orderly, but as time passes, you may need to brush the dust off of an outdated mailing list. People tend to not remain in one place, and life circumstances like marriage, can really make your mailing list inaccurate. To liven up your data and better your chances of a successful mailing, here are some ways mail list services can make your next direct mail campaign worthwhile:
- CASS (Coding Accuracy Support System) Certification
- Standardizes address, corrects errors and adds Zip+4, Carrier Route and delivery barcode information to get optimal USPS rates.
- NCOA (National Change of Address)
- Updates your mailing list with USPS change of address forms. Valuable customer names that would be lost are saved through this process.
- LACS (Locatable Address Conversion System)
- Updates rural addresses to city-style addresses. For example, if Nowheresville, VA decided they wanted to rename a road after their beloved mini-horse, this would be updated through LACS.
- DSF (Delivery Sequence File)
- Checks and corrects mailing lists against the complete, exact address for every USPS delivery point.
- Suppression
- Purges or flags the deceased, DMA Mail Preference Service (aka Do Not Mail list), prisons, trailer parks and nursing homes.
- Intelligent Mail Barcode support
- USPS® barcode technology used to sort and track letters and flats.
It really is no fun to have a well thought out direct mail campaign do poorly because of a messy outdated list. Keep these services in mind next time you begin to strategize a direct mail campaign!