Support

    Using data with Postal Code Targeting

    How do I start my Postal Code Targeting data process and what do I need to provide?

    Contact your Canada Post sales representative or your mail service provider to discuss your data and targeting needs and submit your data order request.

    If you have the postal codes of your current customers, you can provide this data to help find postal codes with lookalike prospects for you to target. If you have no existing customer data, you can provide the geographic radius where you want to target. You can also provide the profile of your ideal customer and leverage Canada Post’s audience insights to help you determine which postal codes to target.

    Can I suppress my existing customers’ addresses from my Postal Code Targeting campaign?

    Yes, you can choose to exclude existing customers by giving Canada Post their addresses. Only include addresses in the target area in your suppression file (if the request is for Ontario, the suppression file should contain Ontario addresses only).

    Suppression is free up to a maximum of 25,000 records. If the data request is over 25,000 records, you will be allowed twice the quantity requested for suppression. Suppression records above these limits cost $10 per thousand.

    How many addresses do I reach per postal code?

    There is an average of 20 addresses per postal code.

    Can I use Postal Code Targeting to do a B2B (business to business) mailing?

    Yes. We have a data base of 900,000 business addresses, mostly in urban areas. We can suppress non-business addresses so that only businesses in your chosen postal code routes receive the mailing.

    Can I suppress the addresses of customers who live in apartment buildings?

    Yes, as long as the apartment/unit numbers you want suppressed are registered in our system as mailable addresses.

    Will Canada Post do a Postal Code Targeting campaign sizing at no extra cost?

    Yes. It’s the same as the existing process. It takes three to five business days for sizing.

    What type of data is Canada Post able to provide to augment my existing customer data and optimize my Postal Code Targeting campaign?

    You can pinpoint specific audiences based on geographic, demographic and lifestyle criteria, using Canada Post’s audience insights, to find prospects who match your ideal customers.

    Can I do my own customer suppression?

    No. To make sure that your output file is focused on acquisition, you must provide Canada Post with the list of your customers’ addresses for suppression.

    Do I need to run Address Accuracy on my customer suppression file before sending it to Canada Post?

    No. Canada Post will clean your file to ensure your list is optimized for suppression, so there is no need to run Address Accuracy on your list.

    How does Canada Post acquire data and how often is it updated?

    Canada Post has proprietary sources, as well as third-party sources. Data is updated monthly.

    Can I reuse my data output file for multiple mailings?

    No, you cannot use the same data output file since unique mailing IDs are provided per order, but a new list can be generated.

    If you plan to reuse a list, you must tell us that when you make the first request.

    Can a Postal Code Targeting mailing be seeded?

    Yes. You can include up to 10 seed addresses in the specific file format. Your seed addresses must be given to the data team when you make your original request.

    How do I create my order for Postal Code Targeting and do I need to import my mailing plan?

    You will need to create your order using Canada Post Electronic Shipping Tools (EST) using the same process as for Personalized Mail. You must enter your mailing ID, and each EST order must be associated with a unique mailing ID. We recommend that you upload your barcode data file to prepopulate the volume and mailing ID for your campaign.

    Does Canada Post targeting data conform to privacy rules?

    Yes, all Canada Post data is privacy compliant. When using demographic, interest or lifestyle profiles to create targeted lists, data is aggregated at the postal code level to ensure that an individual household cannot be identified.

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