Our software is designed to handle hundreds, thousands, even millions of addresses so it is typically too expensive for these kinds of inquiries. However, there is a solution… free online address verification tools!

In this article I will introduce you to two of these tools, along with providing some guidance on how to use them and the key benefits of each. So let’s meet them, shall we?

Experian QAS also provides a free address verification tool powered by a stripped-down version of our QAS Pro Web software.

Old Faithful

The USPS provides a free tool at http://zip4.usps.com/zip4/welcome.jsp which can be very useful for verifying addresses on a small scale. The tool is robust and usable. Rest assured that it is accurate as the address data comes freshly updated from the most definitive source available!

Use this tool to:

• Determine whether an address actually exists
• Correct street descriptors (e.g. ‘street’ vs. ‘St’ etc.)
• Add directionals such as ‘N’ or ‘W’
• Identify apartments and/or unit numbers

Advantages:

• No limit on the number of searches you can do
• USPS address data is the best there is

The New Kid on the Block

We also provide a free address verification tool available at http://www.qas.com/address-software/free-address-lookup.htm which is great for small volumes of addresses as well. This free tool is powered by a stripped-down version of our QAS Pro Web software.

Use this tool to:

• Search USPS® address data, as above
• Browse all the valid addresses on any street
• Check the street descriptor (e.g. Blvd vs. Ln etc.)

Advantages:

• Easily cut-and-paste the final formatted address
• Results are also based on USPS® data

I hope this information was useful. Of course, we are always looking to improve the services we provide for our customers, so please feel free to provide us with any feedback on our free address lookup tool via the forum post that accompanies this article.

Happy verifying!

It is likely, however, that there will be a postage increase in May 2011, when the USPS typically submits their rate requests. Chances are that the rate request will specify that some classes of mail should be greater than the rate of inflation because of the ‘banked authority’ the USPS has from previous years.

Direct mailers can continue to be aggressive with their mailing plans and strategy through Spring 2011.

A few other aspects of the PRC ruling worth noting include:

• The USPS can re-file the case. However, this is not likely to happen given the testimony the USPS witnesses gave in the first case, along with the PRC’s unanimous decision to decline the first request.
• The USPS can file an appeal to the ruling. While this remains a possibility, it is highly unlikely the USPS would win an appeal given the way the PRC usually handles its decisions. Very few (if any) appeals have ever been won against a PRC ruling in the past.
• The USPS can file a CPI PAEA based increase at the class level. This is allowed under current law and is the most likely scenario to occur. We can expect between a 2.5% and 3.4% request based upon CPI trends and unused CPI banking authority from previous rate increases.
• The reclassification of products that were embedded in the USPS exigent request are not going to happen either — the ruling kills those as well.
• Some products and categories of Standard Mail could see significant rate increases (and in excess of the 3.4% maximum increase forecasted).

Again, the news is good for now. The ruling allows direct mailers to execute their campaigns as planned without the concern of increased costs coming to forefront.

For more tips on direct mail strategies, view our recent webinar on Direct Mail Strategies for the 2010 Holiday Season, or contact the Experian Data Management Services.

We are working on identifying such records prior to the mailing as opposed to after the mailing, so these can be dropped and another record can be chosen prior to be mailed. Identifying these records prior to the mailing can make your ROI even higher by reaching more of the intended recipients on the first try and, thus reducing USPS UAA mail and ACS related charges (manual charges for ACS returns can be up to 50 cents per piece). Direct mailers should also not mark a temporary away (W) as a permanent do-not-mail.

Identifying these records prior to the mailing can make your ROI even higher by reaching more of the intended recipients on the first try and, thus reducing USPS UAA mail and ACS related charges.

Another strategy direct mailers need to understand is why an address is marked UTF (Unable to Forward) or UAA (Undeliverable as Addressed). A recent Experian Data Management Services test of a large catalog client’s UAA and UTF records that were addressed to a Delivery Point Verified address (a perfectly addressed and coded mail piece) found that:

• 50% of these records had a name never associated with that address used
• 48% had a name that was no longer associated with the address used
• 2% had that name and address still be reported as current (it was a USPS carrier error to return it)

Knowing this ahead of time can help improve your ROI and also help save costs on future mailings. For more tips or to learn more about these types of solutions contact Experian Marketing Services.