Identifying Mailing Routes with Melissa Lookups

Publishers can use Melissa Lookups to verify specific addresses within their residential distribution.

Verify Current Residential Route Distribution

For New Publishers: Start with the Residential Distribution Overview email provided by the Distribution team. This overview details your distribution, and will detail routes with the highest value homes in your territory.

For Established Publishers: Go to ARC > Distribution > Residential Routes to see current, active routes.

Identifying an Address in Melissa Lookups

Go to Melissa Lookups
Navigate to the Lookups tab at the top of the page
Select All-In-One Lookup
Input the address you wish to verify and click Submit
Scroll down to see information regarding the address identifying the:
1. Postal Carrier Route: route number that starts with "R" or "C", followed by numbers (e.g., R061). R (rural) & C (city) are just placeholders these days and do not necessarily mean rural or city any longer.
2. Postal Zip Code: mailing zip code (e.g., 64108).
Using your Residential Distribution Overview or Residential Routes list in ARC, compare the postal route number and zip code obtained from Melissa Lookup (e.g., R061 64108).
1. It is critical to verify both the route number WITH the zip code and as many zip codes have the same route numbers. If you do not look up the route under the correct zip code, it may appear missing when it is, in fact, part of your distribution.
2. If the route is listed, you are currently mailing to this home. If it is not listed, you are not mailing to this home.
Single addresses can be added in as an Additional Reader. Use local insights to determine if expanding to entire additional routes would benefit reach such as:
1. New residential developments
2. Revitalization of older homes or areas
3. Current “Hot Spots”

Existing Publishers: Make note of these areas for tier growth or Annual Distribution Review.

New Publishers: Make note of these areas and schedule a distribution call before launch to see how these could fit into your initial distribution.

See more below:

How to Look Up Mailing Routes using Melissa Lookups

Learn how to efficiently look up Mailing Routes using Melissa Lookups.

Go to lookups.melissa.com

1. Melissa Lookups for Residential Distribution

Melissa Lookups is an online tool Publishers can use to verify addresses within their residential distribution. New Publishers can use the Residential Distribution Overview to verify routes while established Publishers can find this information in ARC under Distribution.

2. Go to lookups.mellisa.com

First, go to lookups.melissa.com and click on the Lookups tab.

3. Search Address

Under All-in-One Lookup, enter the address you are searching for.

4. View Zip Code and Postal Carrier Route

Scroll down under Address Information to view the Zip Code and Postal Carrier Route. You will need both numbers to verify if the address is currently in your residential distribution.

5. Verify if Route/Zip Code is listed in Residential Routes

Using your Residential Distribution Overview or Residential Routes list in ARC, compare the postal route number and zip code obtained from Melissa Lookup. If the route is listed, you are currently mailing to this home. It is critical to verify both the route number WITH the zip code and as route numbers may have multiple zip codes.

6. Consideration of Distribution Changes

If the route for this address is not listed, you can add the specific address in as an Additional Reader. If you believe an entire additional route would benefit reach such as new residential developments or current hot spots in the area, make note to discuss with the Distribution department upon your Annual Distribution Review. New Publishers can schedule a call to go over any potential distribution changes before launch.

This guide provides a straightforward approach to looking up Mailing Routes using Melissa Lookups