Listcounts 9-13-19 Release Notes

Listcounts September 13, 2019 – Release Notes

NFocus has launched the first in a series of upgrades to our online data portal Listcounts.  Upgrades will add additional features, increase intuitiveness, and improve the overall user experience.  Subsequent releases are scheduled throughout 2019 and 2020.

September 13, 2019

The first implementation focuses on user account management.

Differences users will notice for this upgrade:

  • Account Management drop-down menu in top right corner
  • Upgraded user experience of the Account Management menu
  • Addition of Companies tab

For a more detailed overview of the September release notes, or to schedule a demo of Listcounts, please contact your Account Manager or email us.

Account Management drop-down menu

Users will notice a new user ID menu in the top right corner of the screen.  By clicking on the drop-down menu, users can quickly access their Account Management menu.

Account Management menu

A new horizontal Account Management menu provides a simplified user experience for users to manage certain aspects of their Listcounts account.  Simplified fields and more intuitive headings make it easier for users to complete information.

Companies tab

Listcounts users will now notice the new Companies tab.  This consolidates two previous features: customer information in the Address Book and the company information box.

 

About Listcounts:

Developed and managed by NFocus, the Listcounts portal provides you 24/7 access to the top marketing databases available.   Easily accessible, continually updated and customizable, the Listcounts portal gives you total control scaled to meet your specific needs.  Features include robust mapping options, list segmentation, suppression, extensive reporting capabilities, and full white-label integration.  Contact us to learn more about Listcounts or to schedule a demo.

About NFocus:

Since 1989, NFocus has helped marketers succeed by providing scalable data solutions for their businesses.  Printers, marketers, publishers, retail companies and non-profits have partnered with NFocus because of our deep postal knowledge and extensive data portfolio.

Listcounts Upgrades

NFocus is excited to announce the first in a series of upgrades to our online data portal Listcounts

Listcounts Direct mail data portal

Listcounts users will notice some new changes when they log into the system.  Starting in September NFocus began rolling out a series of upgrades that will include new features, increased intuitiveness, and an improvement in the overall aesthetics of the site’s user experience.

The first update launched September 13th and coincided with the monthly data publish.  The September upgrade focuses on refreshing the Account Management user menu.  See detailed release notes here.  Users will see additional upgrades in subsequent releases scheduled throughout 2019 and 2020.

About Listcounts:

Developed and managed by NFocus, the Listcounts portal provides you 24/7 access to the top marketing databases available.   Easily accessible, continually updated and customizable, the Listcounts portal gives you total control scaled to meet your specific needs.  Features include robust mapping options, list segmentation, suppression, extensive reporting capabilities, and full white-label integration.  Contact us to learn more about Listcounts or to schedule a demo.

About NFocus:

Since 1989, NFocus has helped marketers succeed by providing scalable data solutions for their businesses.  Printers, marketers, publishers, retail companies and non-profits have partnered with NFocus because of our deep postal knowledge and extensive data portfolio.

Informed Delivery Opportunities for Mailers

Informed Delivery reaches a new milestone for sign-ups opening new opportunities for mailers

The United States Postal Service recently announced that Informed Delivery has reached the milestone of 15 million subscribers.  Informed Delivery is a free service allowing consumers to receive a daily email preview of their incoming mail and manage their packages.  Consumers can sign up for the free service at the USPS Informed Delivery website.

What does this mean for marketers using direct mail?

Mailers can now deploy an Interactive Campaign that will integrate their mailpiece with the Informed Delivery email being sent to consumers.  The interactive campaign includes custom images and a targeted URL, giving consumers the ability to click through to a landing page or website.  The Informed Delivery Interactive Campaign gives mailers an easy pathway to marry their direct mail campaign with a digital component creating an omni-channel option.

The USPS is also offering a 2% discount off postage for mailings incorporating the interactive campaigns.  The promotional period runs from September 1st through November 30th.  Eligible mail includes Marketing Mail letters and flats, Nonprofit Marketing Mail letters and flats, and First-Class presort & automation letters, cards and flats.

NFocus is here to help you succeed with your Informed Delivery Interactive Campaign.

NFocus can help mailers with every step of creating and deploying interactive campaigns.  The NFocus NFormed Delivery full service option includes formatting pre-campaign data and reports, and uploading required elements into USPS Business Customer Gateway for deployment.

We also offer a self-serve option to mailers who would like to manage their campaigns.  NFocus can provide the required data elements needed to marry the interactive campaign to the direct mail campaign.

Contact NFocus today to learn how you can take advantage of these opportunities.

Mail.dat Version Requirements for 2019

USPS have updated mail.dat requirements for the new year.

The United State Postal Service recently announced that they will only accept mail.dat versions 18.1 or higher in 2019.  Versions 17.1 and 17.2 will no longer be supported.  As such, NFocus will move to providing mail.dat version 18.1 for all processed jobs by January 1st.

Please contact your Account Manager or Support with any questions or concerns.

USPS 2019 Promotions and Incentives

An overview of the proposed 2019 USPS promotions and Incentives for mailers.

Each year the United States Postal Service provides several promotions and incentives for mailers to utilize new technology with their direct mail printing and messaging.  Promotions focus on specific technologies and are only available for a limited amount of time, usually 3-6 months.  The incentive programs are available for both First-Class and Marketing Mail classes.

2019 proposed USPS Promotion and Incentive program

  • Tactile, Sensory & Interactive Promotion
    • February 1, 2019 – July 31, 2019
    • Encourages marketers to incorporate innovative techniques on their mailpieces including specialty paper, specialty ink, and interactive elements.
    • Available for Marketing Mail letters and flats, nonprofit Marketing mail letters and flats
    • Incentive: 2% discount of eligible postage
  • Emerging and Advanced Technology Promotion
    • March 1, 2019 – August 31, 2019
    • Encourages direct mailers to incorporate advanced technology in their mail campaigns, including augmented reality, virtual reality and mixed reality.
    • Available for First-Class presort & auto letters, cards and flats, Marketing Mail letters and flats, nonprofit Marketing Mail letters and flats
    • Incentive: 2% discount on eligible postage
  • Earned Value Promotion
    • April 1, 2019 – June 30, 2019
    • Encourages the use of Business Reply Mail and Courtesy Reply Mail to boost First-Class Mail volumes.
    • Available for Business Reply Mail, Courtesy Reply Mail and Share Mail cards and letters
    • Incentive: $.03 credit
  • Personalized Color Transpromo Promotion
    • July 1, 2019 – December 31, 2019
    • Encourages the mailer of bills and statements to use color messaging.
    • Available for First-Class Mail commercial letters with IMb Full-Service
    • Incentive: discount of 2% of eligible postage
  • Mobile Shopping Promotion
    • August 1, 2019 – December 31, 2019
    • Encourages the use of technologies to connect direct mail to online shopping, such as QR codes.
    • Available for Marketing Mail letters and flats and nonprofit Marketing Mail letters and flats
    • Incentive: 2% discount on postage for eligible pieces
  • Informed Delivery Promotion
    • September 1, 2019 – November 30, 2019
    • Encourages mailers to use create Informed Delivery campaigns in conjunction with their direct mail campaign.
    •  Available for First-Class Mail presort & auto letters, cards and flats, Marketing Mail letters and flats, and nonprofit Marketing Mail letters and flats
    • Incentive: Discount of 2% on eligible postage

USPS Proposed 2019 Postage Rates

Mailbox with lettersNFocus is here to help you plan for the 2019 postage rate increases.

October might be the most important month for mailers as the proposed postage rate increases are announced.  The overall average proposed increase for Marketing Mail is 2.479% while Periodicals will see a 2.52% increase.

How are rates set?

The United States Postal Service filed their intended rate changes to the Postal Regulatory Commission the 2nd week of October.  The PRC has up to 34 days to review the filing.  The new rates are set to go into effect Sunday January 27, 2019.

Postage rates are adjusted annually and are based on the Consumer Price Index.  This method of rate adjustment was set under the Postal Accountability and Enhancement Act which was signed into law in 2006 by President George W. Bush.

What can you do now?

Now is the time to plan and we are here to help.  Our postal experts will examine your mailing and provide you with details on how the new rates may effect your mailing.  Even though Marketing Mail is facing a proposed 2.479% overall increase, the percentage increase varies based on multiple factors including drop location and carrier route volumes.  We can help you navigate all the details to uncover your individual impact.

What options do you have?

NFocus offers multiple solutions for mailers to help them manage their postage.  The NFocus Smart Saturation solution allows marketers to use a highly targeted direct mail list while maintaining specific postage requirements.  Mailers who need to maintain full walk sequence saturation on their lists will find ResQue’s powerful route level optimization tools extremely useful.

Contact NFocus today for more information on how the new rates could impact your mailing and help you plan your 2019 mailing strategy.

NControl Report Helps Publishers Stay on Track

NFocus NControl Report

Delivery Point Validation, Address Element Change Service, Coding Accuracy Support System, National Change of Address…it is difficult to keep it all straight.  But for publishers it can be a costly mistake to not pay attention to the details.  NFocus is here to help you keep track of all the details and improve your bottom line.

NFocus developed the NControl Report to give publishers a tool to navigate the confusing and ever changing postal landscape.  The NControl Report provides  a quick snapshot of the current mailing, year to date mailing information, mail split information, CASS®, DPV®, SuiteLink®, NCOALink® and LACSLink® details.

 

DPV info from NControl Report

 

The report is an invaluable resource for publishers helping them identify areas to fix errors, improve delivery and lower expenses.  The report provides detailed information on potential issues with your mailing list and highlights specific action items publishers can take to improve their delivery.

The NControl Report is one component of the comprehensive solutions NFocus has developed while working with publishers over the last 30 years.

Contact us today for more information on how we can help you keep track of all the details and improve your publication’s bottom line.

Smart Saturation Starts Here

The NFocus Smart Saturation solution helps marketers succeed by saving money on postage while enjoying the benefits of a highly targeted list.

Saving money on postage while using roof-top level targeting seems like an impossible request.  NFocus delivers on that request with our Smart Saturation solution.

The NFocus Smart Saturation solution provides a robustly targeted list, not just simply removing addresses to meet postage levels.  NFocus works with you to identify your targeting, develop your profile and execute a finely-tuned direct mail list.

IdentifyNFocus the Data Agency

The first step in building a targeted list is identifying the best prospect.  The NFocus Audience NSight report provides a customized prospect profile based on your client list.  Overlay demographic, behavioral or property data to create a targeting profile specific to your needs.

Develop

The NFocus account management team works with you to further develop your targeting by ranking and scoring the data, helping you strengthen the profile.  The data is then loaded into the Listcounts portal to create a comprehensive customized profile.  Your priorities.  Your business rules.  Your targeting.

Execute

The NFocus data analyst team reviews your data on roof-top level, analyzing your ideal customer profile while meeting your expected postage levels and business rules.

The result is a highly targeted list, built with robust data options, custom to your marketing needs and optimized to maximize your postage savings.

Contact your representative today for more information on the NFocus Smart Saturation solution.

 

Direct Mail, It Works

Direct mail continues to be a popular marketing option.

48% of small and medium-sized businesses rely on direct mail as part of their overall marketing mix, according to Borrell Associates’ 2018 annual Local Advertiser Survey.  Direct mail edged out other channels including radio (44%), Search Engine Marketing (40%), and online Banner Ads (37%).Direct Mail Response Rates

Why are businesses still leveraging direct mail?  Because it works.

According to the DMA’s 2017 Response Rate Report, acquisition direct mail campaigns show impressive results.  These include a 30% return on investment and a 5% response rate for flat sized mail pieces.

Getting your mail piece into the right hands is key in developing an effective campaign.  The NFocus team of Data Analysts and Account Managers are your partners to help you build a powerful direct mail strategy.

Uncover your best prospects with our comprehensive Audience NSight Report.  This proprietary report identifies key characteristics of your top customer.  Select from hundreds of demographic, behavioral and property options.

Build your targeted list using the Listcounts data portal.  Access the top marketing databases including roof-top level consumer, automotive and lifestyle changes with new movers and homeowners.

Custom Match Back reporting allows you to review campaign performance and analyze your return on your investment.

Contact us today for more information on our complete direct mail solutions.

Listcounts: 24-7 Access to the Top Marketing Databases

Data Agency Solutions For On-Demand Marketing

Unlike list brokers that simply resell a mailing list, NFocus is a data agency with the purpose of positioning and hosting data to create scalable and brandable solutions for your business. Printers, marketers, publishers, retail companies and non-profits have partnered with NFocus because of our deep postal knowledge, extensive data portfolio, and direct mail data technology.

The Data

NFocus is the only company hosting and managing the largest postal, consumer, mortgage, property and automotive databases.  Along with access to weekly lifestyle files, bankruptcy, stressed property and behavioral databases, NFocus is positioned to be your data partner.  NFocus provides a comprehensive data portfolio to help our partners reach their direct marketing goals.

The Solution

Listcounts Direct mail data portal

Developed and managed by NFocus, the Listcounts portal provides you 24/7 access to the top marketing databases available.   Easily accessible, continually updated and customizable, the Listcounts portal gives you total control scaled to meet your specific needs.

Your Listcounts branded portal gives you full admin privileges to manage your customers, your queries and your pricing.

Create targeted direct mail campaigns with features including robust mapping options, list segmentation, suppression, and extensive reporting capabilities.

Every year hundreds of companies trust NFocus to process billions of records that drive their direct marketing success.  NFocus is your partner to help you grow with data.

Contact NFocus today to schedule a demo of Listcounts.