NCOALink and Data Quality

Address data quality is a critical aspect of any direct mail campaign. Accurate and up-to-date address information is essential for reaching your target audience and achieving your desired results. Unfortunately, address data can become outdated quickly, especially with the high rate of address changes in the United States. In fact, the United States Postal Service (USPS®) estimates that approximately 40 million Americans change their addresses each year.

This is where the National Change of Address (NCOA^Link®) service provided by the USPS comes in. NCOA^Link is a powerful tool for maintaining accurate address data and improving the quality of your direct mail campaigns. In this blog post, we'll take a closer look at NCOA^Link and how it can benefit your business.

What is NCOA^Link ?

NCOA^Link is a database of change of address (COA) information provided by the USPS. The database is updated weekly and contains information about people and businesses that have moved within the last 48 months. When a person or business changes their address, they typically submit a change of address form to the USPS. This information is then added to the NCOA^Link database, allowing mailers to update their mailing lists and improve the accuracy of their direct mail campaigns.

Benefits of NCOA^Link

There are many benefits to using NCOA^Link  to improve the quality of your address data. Here are just a few of the key benefits:

1. Increased Deliverability: One of the biggest benefits of NCOA^Link is increased deliverability. By using NCOA^Link  to identify and update address changes, you can ensure that your mail reaches its intended recipient, reducing the risk of undeliverable mail and lost opportunities.
2. Lower Return Mail Rates: Another key benefit of NCOA^Link is lower return mail rates. When your mailing list is accurate and up-to-date, you can minimize the number of returned or undeliverable pieces of mail, saving time, money, and resources.
3. Improved Customer Relationships: Keeping your mailing list accurate can also help you improve your customer relationships. By ensuring that your customers receive their mail, you can demonstrate your commitment to providing high-quality service, building trust and loyalty with your customers.
4. Better Data Management: NCOA^Link  can also help you manage your data more effectively. By using NCOA^Link to regularly update your mailing list, you can ensure that your data remains accurate, reducing the risk of errors and improving your overall data quality.
5. Compliance with Postal Regulations: Finally, using NCOA^Link helps you comply with postal regulations. The USPS requires that mailers use NCOA^Link or another change of address service to keep their mailing lists current, so using NCOA^Link helps you stay in compliance with these regulations and avoid penalties or fines.

How to Use NCOA^Link

Using NCOA^Link is simple and straightforward. The process typically involves submitting your mailing list to a licensed provider, who will then use the NCOA^Link database to update your addresses. The provider will then return your updated mailing list to you, allowing you to use it for your direct mail campaign.

It's important to work with a reputable and licensed provider to ensure that your data is secure and that your mailing list is updated correctly. A good provider will have experience working with NCOA^Link and will be able to help you get the most out of the service.

If you are searching for a NCOA^Link provider, Peachtree Data can help. Since 1994 we have specialized in data quality solutions. As a Full-Service NCOA^Link  licensee we can provide you with change of address processing and a full suite of data quality services. Contact us today to learn more.