A few months ago we released a new method for accessing the LiveAddress API – a REST-based endpoint.  This endpoint is superior and easier to use than our old XML web service endpoint.  With this release we have officially deprecated our old XML web service.  Please take note and begin to use the new REST API…no really, right now!  You’ll thank us later!

The benefits of this new method are many:

• JSON response (as opposed to the cluttered XML you’re used to)
• Queries can be executed much more easily, with fewer lines of code, from many more languages, without any extra libraries or supporting code.  Just roll your own HTTP request.
• More detailed output (see examples below).

Here’s some sample code links to get you started:

• Simple URL with query string parameters (a nifty little tool on your account page)
• jQuery
• Python
• Ruby
• C#

The only thing to be aware of is that the subscription can only be renewed once per month. If your usage goes above 250 address lookups per month you’ll need to purchase a paid subscription that allows higher usage and will automatically renew when you run out of lookups.

So you may be wondering why we would do this.  Are we out of our minds?  Short answer: yes.  Honestly, we imagine a world in which all data points are standardized, verified, and a benefit to the organizations to which they pertain (rather than a hindrance)…a world where you don’t have to wonder whether a proposed shipping address is deliverable…a world where all the addresses have 12-digit Delivery Point barcodes and a ‘Y’ for the DPV code…

Basically, we’re hoping to make the world a better place, 250 addresses at a time.

The case was a hard one to unravel. The prosecution’s main argument came from Section 212 of Publication 28  of the USPS, which states: “Uppercase letters are preferred on all lines of the address block”.  It was hard evidence to overlook. We want our customers to get what they’re paying for  in terms of convenience, and it seems convenient for addresses to be returned ready to go.

But we weren’t satisfied with the answer. Something wasn’t right, and we knew it. We had to get to the bottom of it. We dug into the problem with full force, willing to go wherever we needed to get the solution. After all, that’s our job, right? And we’re proud to say that, after some strong detective work, SmartyStreets was able to solve the information output mystery. The verdict is in, and the truth is that people just think that ALL UPPERCASE TEXT HAS A TENDENCY TO APPEAR ROBOTIC and lacks a personal touch.  Hmm… we agree.

In light of this discovery, we are taking a new approach. Our address verification service will now be returning your information in an easier-to-read, softer, mixed title case. We think you will prefer to read the information this way. Head on over to your account and scrub a list to see the results.

Important Note:  For those of you tasked with storing address data in a database or spreadsheet we recommend against storing the individual street address line components without storing the entire delivery line as a separate field.  Believe us–there isn’t a good way to get these components back into a format that is appropriate for mailing because of the various ways addresses are formed (PO Box, Rural Routes, street addresses, PMB’s, military addresses, etc…).  So, always store the entire delivery line (street addres).  Once you’ve done that you can also safely store the components as separate fields.

Deduplication

Deduplication means finding and removing duplicates.  Every database or address list in the world has duplicates (unless they’ve been using our address verification service, of course).  If you gather or store addresses, you’ll have to deal with it eventually.  Many organizations choose to just ignore the duplicates so that they don’t have to deal with them until later.

 The problem with ignoring them is that when later comes, it generally costs more to take care of them.  These costs can be things like, additional postage, sending multiple catalogs to the same person, additional storage space in a database, or making notes in the wrong customer account, to name just a few.

What is a duplicate address?  It should be very simple to figure out, right?

100 North Main Street, Anytown CA 90210   

100 North Main Street, Anytown CA 90210.  

Even a quick glance at these two addresses in a spreadsheet would show that they are 100% duplicates.

However, what happens when the address is typed in differently, like these:

100 N Main Street, Anytown CA 90210

100 North Main Str, Anytown CA 90210

100 N Main ST, Anytown California

100 N Main Street, 90210

100 North Main ST, Anytown 90210

Each of these is the exact same address written a little differently.  (There are at least 10 more variations of this same address that are valid.)  If these addresses were scattered throughout your address list (or database) you might not ever notice that they were the same one, being repeated.  If your list is bigger than 10,000 you might not even want to look through it for duplicates.

If only there were a way to standardize the addresses so that the duplicates could be easily removed.  THERE IS!  That’s one of the ways you can use our address verification service.  In fact, the first step in our address verification process is standardization.  Our service utilizes the US Postal Service standards for addressing.  Thus, each of the previous example addresses would be standardized to be exactly the same:

100 N MAIN ST ANYTOWN CA 90210

After this standardization, when you could enter this into your spreadsheet and then sort by address, making it very easy to see the duplicates.  However, you don’t have to sort through them manually.  Our address verification service automatically marks the duplicate addresses for you and places them in a separate file called “duplicates”.  

So, instead of dealing with the hassle of sorting through all of those addresses, you can bring you lists and databases to us.  Use our address verification service to deduplicate them today, instead of ignoring them, and dealing with the stress later.  It only takes a few minutes, and then you’ll be duplicate free! 

Because your usage of our LiveAddress web service is (probably) determined by traffic and transactions from your customers, you may not be able to predict if your LiveAddress subscription will have enough credits to match demand in any given month.

The obvious problem here is that, had you been able to predict the future, you might have been able save a good deal of money by purchasing fewer credits. If thoughts like this keep you awake at night, you can rest assured that you will no longer need those sleeping pills! 

While our annual plans are a significant discount compared to the monthly plans, we’d like to ease the financial and logistical burdens further for those users who anticipate high traffic on their sites. To do this, we will now be offering a more accessible and affordable unlimited annual plan.  This plan is available from the LiveAddress product page as well as from your account.  

With this plan you are allowed unlimited LiveAddress usage. Wait, what’s that you ask?

Should LiveAddress subscribers be worried that this offer will become so popular that SmartyStreets’ servers won’t be able to handle the increased load?

How thoughtful of you to ask. Again, no need to lose sleep. Our infrastructure is configured in such a way that it’s very easy for us to augment our processing capacity to meet demand. Bring it on.

Just imagine, once your unlimited annual subscription is activated, the only way you would ever encounter a subscription-related service interruption is if the credit card on your account expires.  Of course,  we will email you a reminder when renewal time approaches so that you’ll have time to update your billing information.

And as an added bonus, those who purchase the unlimited annual LiveAddress subscription are also granted unlimited access to our CASS-Certified Scrubbing service. So what are you waiting for? Sign up today for unlimited address verification, and start saving money.

I know what you’re thinking, we’re crazy. And you’d be right, because we are crazy—crazy awesome.

As of today, we are now offering completely free address verification  to non-profit organizations and educational institutions, including public schools, school districts, and higher education.  Read all the details to get started.

There are two small catches to be aware of:

1. You have to be a real non-profit, supporting the general good of society. Organizations involved in any questionable or objectionable endeavors are excluded from this offer.
2. We ask that you let others know about this offer—whether they belong to non-profit or traditional institutions. You’re welcome to use any method of communication including tweets, blogs, or even traditional word-of-mouth to spread the word about our address verification services.

Enjoy.

How about this: a nicely rendered preview that doesn’t require you to download a .zip archive, extract the file you want, and then open your favorite spreadsheet application just to see the first 42 records.  So now when you click on the ‘free preview’ link you’ll see something like this:  

(this example is contrived, these aren’t real people)

Neat, huh?  As the picture illustrates, you can still download the preview file as well as the complete list.  This feature is available for any list currently in your account.  What are you waiting for?  Go try out our newest address verification feature!

So, as a solution to this, we’re now providing several files with each download:

• simple-mailable file (yep, this just includes the good addresses)
• simple-duplicates file (yep, you guessed it, just the duplicates)
• simple-rejected file (seeing a pattern?)

These files only include the essential fields needed to get a mailing out the door—such as the Street Address, City, State, ZIP Code, Delivery Point Barcode, and any Name or ID fields you may have provided.

Now, because the address junkies out there are probably starting to bite their nails with anxiety and worry, let us reassure you we are also still providing the same output file we’ve always provided, and it’s now called:

• everything

Pretty simple, huh?

Each of these files is explained in more detail on our wiki, but the best way to familiarize yourself with the new files is to see and use them. So head over to your account, and process a list!

We hope this update simplifies your workflow!

• You have to go through checkout to get it (even though you’re not charged)
• The free trial only provides 25 credits, which means that your test list can’t have more than 25 addresses
• Once you used up the 25 credits they are gone forever…

So, get ready for something revolutionary!

…Drum roll, please……….

We will now be offering a free downloadable preview for every list you process!  This preview will include the first 42 records from your file.  Gone are the days of a one-time, multi-step, limited free trial!  It’s like you now get a free trial with every list you process!  So, if you’re not satisfied with the address verification results in the preview, you don’t have to download the full output and you’ll never have to pay for that list (you can just delete it from your account using our slick new interface).

We believe that you should feel totally comfortable with what we provide before you make any monetary commitment.  Now, get back to your account and process some lists to see the previews!