What Is Address Validation and How Does It Work?

Address Validation ensures that address information is formatted correctly, particularly according to USPS guidelines. This technology avoids errors in a company's system resulting from typos, misspellings, or incorrect structuring.

SocialBio's tool compares the submitted addresses against standardized examples found in postal databases. A USPS-valid address contains some or all of the following components:

  • Company Name
  • Street Number and Name
  • Apartment or Suite Number
  • City
  • State
  • ZIP Code

Most websites provide separate fields for each information type. This method allows businesses to organize addresses into commonly acceptable forms, such as 114 Main Street, Dallas, Texas. The problem is that this only concerns the information order rather than the address validity.

Although 114 Main Street may not be a house, it still reads as a believable address. Businesses waste shipping resources because the address wasn't validated on entry.

SocialBio's address validation tool checks addresses for inconsistencies, such as contradictory ZIP codes and cities, unowned properties, and spelling errors. It suggests corrections for these addresses, keeping your customer information pristine.

How To Use SocialBio's Address Validation

Our validation tool is simple to use. Simply enter the customer's provided address into our search bar, and we will correct it to the standardized format. Businesses can import their addresses in bulk to check everything in one fell swoop!

However, validation is most effective when integrated into your systems. Contact one of our service professionals to learn how to apply our tools to your CRM software.

Address Validation vs. Address Verification

Verification and validation are often used interchangeably. They both serve similar purposes, designed to prevent shipping errors and problematic returns.

However, validation is typically used to check addresses upon system entry. At this point, the focus is to check whether the address exists and can receive mail. This can be viewed as the first step to verification.

Address verification goes further than proving a location exists. This process matches the validated address to the customer's other information, such as a phone number, full name, or email address.

Information that doesn't match can indicate an improperly input address or point to fraudulent activity.

Why Is Address Validation Crucial for Businesses?

It is dangerous to ask a customer to correct their address data, as extra steps in the sales process often result in failed conversions. Address Validation is an automated way to keep customer records clean from the business's side.

Ensuring shipments go to legitimate addresses also avoids shipping complications that negatively impact the customer experience. Incorrect addresses can incur the following costs:

  • Lost shipping
  • Refunds and replacements
  • Item reprocessing resources

The above are immediate costs of a failed shipment. However, there are other indirect costs, such as the increased work time required to correct the issue and the loss of brand reputation.

Who Can Benefit from Address Validation?

Address Validation can improve all types of businesses. It is best to get customers' addresses right during collection rather than wasting resources by correcting them in the future. Implementing validation will show immediate benefits in the following sectors and departments:

  • E-Commerce Websites: Ensures addresses are legitimate, preventing shipping errors.
  • Marketing Agencies: Vital for accurate advertisement and campaign targeting.
  • Security Departments: Catches incorrect or invalid addresses, pointing to fraud.
  • Real Estate Companies: Confirms that all properties are accurately named during deals.

Core Features of Our Address Validation Service

Our Address Validation Service comes with several key features:

International Data Access

Our systems aren't restricted to US addresses. We tap into international postal data, allowing us to support your business no matter how big you get.

Delivery Point Validation

The USPS assigns a uniquely coded delivery point to every mailable address in the US. Delivery Point Validation checks the customer's address and matches it with one of these codes.

Real-Time Corrections

Users can validate an address upon entry into their files. This means every address is confirmed valid, shortening any following verification processes.

Table of Contents