How to Find Current Mailing Lists

Businesses use mailing lists to reach potential customers or business contacts. Finding the right list to fit a company's needs can result in increased sales or clients. There are several ways to find mailing lists, but focus on what and why the list is needed to help find the best list provider.

Things You'll Need

• List of criteria and uses for the mailing list
• List of mailing list companies
• List of business contacts and publications

Instructions

How to Find Current Mailing Lists

1. Decide what the list will be used for. One purpose is to market services to other businesses or to consumers. Another is for general announcements such as grand openings, product specials, an introduction of new products or to promote seminars and special guest speakers. Non-profits can use lists for donation appeals.

2. Determine the criteria for the list. Mailing lists can be compiled by ZIP codes, home ownership status, rental status, income levels, businesses, consumers, marital status, parental status, by school district, radius or distance from a location or many other criteria.

   Also determine if additional information is required such as phone numbers, fax numbers or email addresses.

3. Find current mailing list through the following companies:

   • ConsumerBase: specializes in consumer, business, postal, email mailing lists that use extensive behavior data for list compilation.
   • Direct List Technology: specializes in email, residential, consumer and business lists.
   • Experian: specializes in business and consumer mailing lists with a database of 210 million consumers and 16 million businesses.
   • Hoovers: specializes in lists built from data based on Fortune 500 companies, executives and specific industries with a total access to 60 million companies and 61 million people.
   • Marketing Comparison: acts as mailing list broker and work with marketing firms to maintain current mailing lists and provide marketing strategy assistance.

   Also, consult business associates, local chambers of commerce or read business directories and publications for additional resources. Some mailing list companies specialize in local, national or demographic lists, so review several companies before choosing a provider.

4. Ask a mailing list company basic questions to identify costs and services including minimum purchase requirements, fee structure to own or rent the list, time frame for use of the list, number of times list can be used and if the list is an "opt in" list with permission to solicit services to the database.

5. Determine the best format for the list. Lists are commonly delivered in Microsoft Excel spreadsheets, but lists also can be provided in Microsoft Word or Access, downloaded from the company's website, delivered on CD or on pre-addressed labels.

References

• Direct List Technology
• Marketing Comparison
• Experian

Resources

• List Pulse Report
• How to Buy Mailing Lists
• Hoovers