Straight answers about data, targeting and mail.

It depends on the file. Business, consumer and residential files are refreshed by their compilers on their own schedules, and different sources update at different rates. When we prepare a count, we can tell you which file it comes from and how that file is maintained.

For data you already own, NCOA processing updates records for people and businesses that filed a permanent change of address with the USPS.

Marketing files are compiled from a mix of public and commercial sources. Depending on the file, that can include property and assessor records, other public records, census-derived statistics, business directories and filings, and information people or companies have provided to other organizations under those organizations' privacy terms.

Sources differ from file to file. If sourcing matters for your project, ask us about the specific file before you order.

Resident (saturation) data covers deliverable addresses in an area, usually mailed to “Resident” or “Current Occupant”. It is the right choice when you want every household in a neighborhood.

Consumer data is named: it identifies individuals or households and lets you select by characteristics such as age, income, homeownership, children or proximity to an address.

Business data identifies companies, nonprofits and, where available, contacts inside them, selected by industry, size, location and title.

Specialty data covers audiences that don't fit a standard menu. If you can describe the person, household, organization or business you want to reach, we research what is available and recommend selections.

Yes. Business files are coded by SIC and, where available, NAICS industry classifications. Industry can be combined with employee size, sales volume ranges, headquarters or branch status and geography.

Often, yes. Many business records include a named contact with a title or functional area such as owner, president, operations, finance or marketing. Coverage varies by company size and industry, so we show you how many records carry a contact that matches your titles before you order.

Yes. We can select records within a set distance of one address or many, such as every location in a franchise system. A radius can be combined with any other selection, for example homeowners within three miles of each store.

Yes. Send us a marked-up map, a list of streets, landmarks that form a boundary or a set of ZIP Codes. We translate it into a selection at the level your campaign needs, from ZIP Code down to carrier route or ZIP+4.

Yes. That conversation is where most projects start. Tell us what you sell, who buys it today, where you operate and what the campaign needs to accomplish. We will recommend selections, explain the trade-offs between a broader and a tighter audience, and, if you have a customer file, run a penetration analysis to see where your current customers are concentrated.

CASS (Coding Accuracy Support System) is the USPS program that certifies address-matching software. CASS-certified processing standardizes addresses to USPS format, adds ZIP+4 and delivery point codes and flags addresses the software cannot match.

It is a basic requirement for most presort and automation postage prices, and it catches many problems before they become returned mail.

NCOA refers to the USPS National Change of Address data, accessed through the NCOALink system. Processing a list against it finds people and businesses that filed a permanent change of address and returns their new address where one is available.

Mailers claiming presorted First-Class Mail or USPS Marketing Mail prices must meet the USPS Move Update standard, and NCOALink processing within 95 days before the mailing date is one of the approved ways to meet it.

Merge/purge combines two or more files and removes duplicates, so one person, household or business receives one piece. Duplicates can be matched by address only, by household (last name and address) or by individual (full name and address), and you decide which file's record is kept when a duplicate is found.

The same process can suppress records you do not want to mail, such as current customers or an internal do-not-mail list.

Yes. Typical cleanup includes removing duplicates, standardizing names and addresses, CASS processing, NCOA processing, deceased and Do Not Mail coding, and flagging records that are likely undeliverable. We can also combine several files into one. We return the file in the layout you need, with flags so you can see what changed.

Often. Data append matches your records against compiled files to add missing fields, such as ZIP+4, names for address-only records, business firmographics or household characteristics. Results depend on how many of your records can be matched and on the permitted use of each field, so we review a sample before quoting.

Penetration analysis looks at an existing customer database geographically. It shows where customers are concentrated, which market areas are stronger or weaker, and which areas may be worth future marketing.

Response analysis happens after a direct-mail campaign. We compare your new-customer file against the original prospect file, flag matches and create a custom Excel response report showing which prospects became customers.

Excel and delimited text files (comma, tab, pipe or colon) work well. Fixed-width text files are fine with a file layout. We deliver in the format your printer, mail house or CRM needs.

Yes. AVS can prepare and process mailing data, append walk sequence information, perform CASS/NCOA processing, and provide files in the format required by the customer or production partner. We can send files straight to your mail house or printer.

It depends on the work involved. A straightforward selection moves faster than a project that combines custom mapping, several sources and data processing. Tell us your mail or launch date when you request a count and we will confirm a realistic schedule before you order.

Prospect data is licensed, not sold outright. Most files are licensed for a defined use, such as a single mailing or unlimited use for a set period. Terms vary by file and we confirm them before you order.

Your own customer data stays yours. Cleaning or enhancing it does not change who owns it, although appended fields may carry their own usage terms.

Sometimes. Phone numbers are available on a limited share of consumer records and on many business records, and phone availability can be used as a selection. Consumer phone data is typically screened against the National Do Not Call Registry. Ask before assuming a file includes them.

Licensing data does not by itself give you permission to call, text or email anyone. Telemarketing is governed by laws and rules such as the Telephone Consumer Protection Act, the FTC Telemarketing Sales Rule and the National Do Not Call Registry, as well as state laws. Commercial email is governed by the CAN-SPAM Act and state laws.

We can explain how a file was prepared and screened, but we do not provide legal advice. Your counsel should confirm how these rules apply to your campaign.

Yes. A large part of our work is with agencies, printers, mail houses and publishers who order data for the clients they serve. We can deliver to you or directly to your production partner, and we keep the project conversation with you.

AVS Leads provides data and services throughout the USA and Canada. Most projects are handled by phone and email.