ZIP Code Lookup
ZIP Code Lookup: What Is It And How To Ensure The Quality Of Your Zip Code Data?
A few weeks ago, we met with one of our clients, and our main point of discussion was the ZIP Code lookup. The client – let’s call him John- was enchanted by the ZIP Codes concept and its potential as a marketing tool. John is a business owner with a keen interest in the marketing side of things. He was looking for innovative ways to use the ZIP Code data for location-based marketing.
As an expert in all things related to direct mail, including address verification, PostGrid was John’s ideal choice for offline marketing. John was curious about how the ZIP Code works and how to find ZIP Codes for specific addresses.
As someone who completely depends on online marketing approaches, John had zero clue about direct mail, ZIP Codes, or their functions. Talking to John made us realize that these are some questions every business owner or marketer may have about ZIP Code lookups.
So we thought it would be a good idea to answer these questions and record them so that it can help other businesses like yours. We discussed ZIP Code lookup and how he can use it for his business organization. However, we believe the key takeaways of that discussion can help you and your business.
What is a ZIP Code Lookup?
The first thing we do to all our clients, especially those enthusiastic about learning like John, is to explain the ZIP Code lookup. So, here is what you need to know about looking up ZIP codes for your business communication and marketing purposes.
The ZIP Code lookup involves finding (or looking up) the ZIP code of a location or address. There is more than one way to look up ZIP Codes, and it depends solely on the requirements of specific businesses. Here are the ways you can look up ZIP codes for your business.
- ZIP Code Lookup By Address
- ZIP Code Lookup By Radius
- ZIP Code Lookup By Cities
- ZIP Code Lookup By State
Take John’s business, for example. John came to us hoping to optimize his company’s communication and marketing efforts. Although John maintains a quality customer address database, details such as the ZIP code may sometimes be missing. Here, the best choice for John is the ZIP Code lookup by address because he already has the address data.
On the other hand, things may be different for a business trying to target its product across multiple states in the US. In this case, the company can use the ZIP Code lookup by state. Similarly, the requirement for every business, including yours, can vary, and you must choose the right approach for your business needs.
ZIP Code Lookup By Address
The ZIP Code lookup by address is the most useful and insightful way to find the ZIP Code of a location or address. It is no secret that an address is incomplete without its ZIP Code. A valid ZIP code for your addresses enables you to reach your target audience accurately and efficiently.
John wanted to send bulk mail to his customer all over the US. But, every time John tried sending mail, he noticed a significant margin of error. He was facing a high return rate for his business mailers, including bills and invoices.
John’s initial assessment was that he had low-quality or incorrect ZIP Code data and that a ZIP Code lookup tool would help him. That is when we explained to him that the high return rate could have multiple causes and that the ZIP code is only one possible reason.
How To Find ZIP Code By Address?
Finding the ZIP Code by address is easy if you have an address verification tool like PostGrid. What happens in an address verification tool like PostGrid is that it takes the address you provide and compares it against the USPS’s official address database.
PostGrid’s system scans through the database, which also contains the address’s ZIP code. It then obtains the ZIP Code from the USPS database and relays it. For someone like John, who sends a lot of mail, a ZIP code lookup tool like PostGrid is perfect.
There are two ways you can find ZIP Codes by address, and they are
If you want the ZIP codes of a single or a couple of addresses, you can use PostGrid’s Address Autocomplete API. But suppose you want the complete ZIP code of hundreds or thousands of postal addresses. In that case, you can use PostGrid’s bulk address verification.
How To Find ZIP Codes By Address Using Address Autocomplete?
As we mentioned, Address Autocomplete is one of the best ways businesses can find ZIP Codes by address. Usually, companies integrate the Address Autocomplete API to enhance user convenience while navigating through your website, mobile app, or landing pages.
However, the principle of ZIP Code lookup by address is the same. You can use PostGrid’s Address Autocomplete API to obtain any address’s ZIP code. Of course, this method might be slow and impractical if you want the ZIP codes of hundreds of mailing addresses.
PostGrid ensures easy integration of Address Autocomplete with a simple and easy process. Below are the steps for integrating Address Autocomplete API with your website.
Step 1: Sign Up/Log In On PostGrid
To find ZIP Code by address using PostGrid’s Address Autocomplete, you must sign up or log in on PostGrid’s web interface. The sign-in process is short; you only need to fill in some essential details to create a profile.
Step 2: Go To The Developer’s Section In The Dashboard
After signing up or logging in to PostGrid, you can access the PostGrid dashboard. The dashboard will look something like the one you see below. On the left of the dashboard, you can see a developer section. Click on the developer section to proceed with Address Autocomplete API integration for ZIP Code lookups.
Step 3: Create New Access Key
After clicking on the “Developers” section from the PostGrid dashboard, you can find an option to “Create New Access Key.” Here you can obtain the necessary access key for implementing Address Autocomplete on your website. In other words, you can’t get a ZIP Code finder for your website without the access key.
After you click on the “Create New Access Key” button, a window will pop up asking for detail such as
- Name Of The API Key
- API Key Type
- Domain URL
You need to fill all the fields before you can create a ZIP Code finder using the Address Autocomplete API. After entering all the necessary information, click “Create,” and the system will generate an API key for you.
You can also find the option to edit the keys you create from the same page after the pop-up window disappears. Click on the three dots corresponding to your key to edit or delete the key(s) you create.
Simply clicking on the API Key will expand it and show you the step-by-step guide to embedding the Code. Besides this, you can also view the sample code to help you set up a ZIP Code lookup for your business via Address Autocomplete.
Of course, you can also reach out to us anytime for assistance. Our experts will be more than happy to take care of you.
How To Find ZIP Codes By Address Through Bulk Verification?
Address Autocomplete is an easy way to find ZIP Codes by address. However, it is not the only way. Sometimes, it is not practical to use an Address Autocomplete tool to look up ZIP codes by address.
Take John’s case, for example. John’s business operation requires him to send countless mail to customers all over the US and abroad. So, the million-dollar question is how can we carry out ZIP Code lookups for hundreds and thousands of customers?
Our answer is a simple one – Bulk Address Verification. PostGrid offers a convenient way to verify your addresses and find ZIP Codes by address. And all you need is a CSV file of your customer database.
And the best part is that you don’t need any integration as PostGrid lets you use its convenient web interface. Here’s how you can find ZIP codes by address using PostGrid’s bulk address verification.
Step 1: Sign Up/Log In On PostGrid
Like what we saw in PostGrid’s Address Autocomplete, you must sign up or log in on PostGrid’s web interface. The sign-in process is relatively short, and you only need to fill in some essential details like
- Name
- Company Name
- Password
Once you provide the detail and click sign up, the web interface will navigate you to PostGrid’s Once you provide the detail and click sign up, the web interface will navigate you to PostGrid’s dashboard. You can also access the same dashboard if you are logging in. However, we would advise you to note down your password if you intend on using bulk verification for ZIP Code lookup regularly.
Step 2: Go To The Developer’s Section In The Dashboard
Once you sign up or log in to PostGrid’s web interface, you can view your dashboard. PostGrid’s dashboard allows you to access a variety of features and functions. But that’s a story for another time. For now, let us focus on how to find ZIP Codes by address through bulk verification.
On the dashboard, you can find a section named “Bulk Verify.” Click the “Bulk Verify” button to proceed to the address verification page. You should be able to see an option to “Upload File” on the new page, which you can use for ZIP Code lookup.
Step 3: Upload Your CSV File
You can see an option to upload your CSV file on the Bulk Verify page. Click on the “Upload File” button to begin the upload process.
Upon clicking the “Upload File” button, you will navigate to the page where you can upload your CSV file. On the new page, you can see three boxes indicating the three steps for bulk verification-
- Upload File
- Map Fields
- Preview And Import
You must complete all three steps to bulk verify and find ZIP Codes by address. Drag and drop the CSV file where it says, “Drop your file here or Browse.” And, of course, there is the “Browse” part of the upload option from where you can access and upload the CSV file.
At the bottom of the page, you can find two check options. One allows you to produce the addresses in a mixed case (145 Mulberry St) instead of the upper case (145 MULBERRY ST). The second check option is verifying addresses outside of the US and Canada. Hence, you should only check the second box if you want the postal or ZIP Code lookup of international mailing addresses.
Step 4: Map Fields
You need to map the fields to your CSV file in this step. Mapping the field involves organizing how the address data is accessible in the CSV file. Suppose you have the address in a single column. In that case, you only need to map Address Line 1, and the rest of the fields are optional.
However, if the address data has different parts like street name, ZIP code, etc., you need to map the fields even more. You can see options to map your columns to our field on the page that will speed up the ZIP Code lookup process. The elements to which you can map your columns include
- Address Line 1
- Address Line 2
- City
- Postal/ZIP Code
- Province or State
- Country
Before proceeding to the next step make sure to set the default country as “United States of America.” Once you map your columns with our fields, click on the “Confirm Field Mappings” button at the bottom.
Before proceeding to the next step, set the default country as “United States of America.” Once you map your columns with our fields, click the “Confirm Field Mappings” button at the bottom.
Step 5: Preview And Import
In this step, you can access your address list report. With PostGrid, you get 100 free address verifications. In other words, you get 100 free ZIP Code lookups for your business. You can see the details of the address list, such as
- The number of addresses in the file
- Remaining free addresses
- Additional addresses
On the right of the page, you can find the payment summary for the remaining addresses. The 100 free ZIP Code lookups allow you to test out PostGrid’s bulk verification tool. You can upload and verify up to 200k addresses at a time using PostGrid.
Of course, you can also go for one of our subscription plans, which starts at $18 per month and allow 2000 lookups per month. We offer monthly and yearly packages to customers like John, who require address verification regularly for their business communications.
Once you check the address list report, the price per additional address, and the total cost, you can click “Confirm” to proceed forward.
Step 6: Create Payment Method
After you press “Confirm,” PostGrid will ask you to create a payment method. Here you can enter the card details, including
- Card Number
- Expiry Date
- Security Code
Once you create the payment method, you can quickly process your payment, get your verified list, and find ZIP Codes by address.
Suppose you are testing the bulk verification tool or have fewer than 100 lookups. In that case, you can verify the address database without the payment process.
ZIP Code Lookup By Radius
The ZIP Code lookup by radius is much simpler compared to looking up ZIP Codes using the address. Several online tools let you input a radius in miles or kilometers and obtain the ZIP Codes within that area.
You can even find free tools like FreeMapTools that lets you find ZIP Codes by radius, and the process is pretty simple too. And depending on the type of tool you use, there may be advanced features, such as
- Defining the minimum population level
- Plot multiple ZIP Codes using several radius areas
- Automatically return all ZIPs within a city
However, the radius is usually limited when you use a free online tool for ZIP Code lookups. On the other hand, if you are only looking to get a pictorial view of the ZIP Codes, you can use PostGrid’s geocoding and mapping capabilities.
How To Find ZIP Codes By Radius
There are a few ways to find ZIP Codes by radius. Finding the ZIP codes by radius can vary depending on your tool. In most cases, the process that happens in the backend is the same. The change is in how you input the data or radius into the system. Below we list some common ways to input a radius and the ZIP codes within that radius.
Input Radius Through Text Input
One of the standard methods to find ZIP Codes by radius is to input the radius as text. It means you will have a box where you can type in the radius. Most tools, if not all, provide provision for inputting the radius in miles and kilometers. Nonetheless, ensure that the radius you type in is in the value you want.
Input Radius Through The Map
Another way you can input the radius for the ZIP Code lookup is directly through the map. Yes, you can simply drag the radius on the map and obtain the ZIP Codes within that radius. Many marketers prefer this method as it gives them a better understanding of the ZIP Code layout.
However, these lookups are usually more suitable for large-scale marketing campaigns. In some tools, the ZIP Code appears on the map and provides you with the ZIP Codes in text format. However, most ZIP Code lookup tools provide a list of ZIP Codes for the specified radius.
ZIP Code Lookup By Cities
Finding ZIP Codes by cities is easier than you think, unlike looking up ZIP Codes using address or radius. Technically, all you need is a list of city-wise ZIP Codes, and you are good to go. However, there is one small problem here.
You may not know this, but ZIP Codes are not always permanent. ZIP Codes may change for several reasons, such as USPS optimizing their delivery routes and whatnot. So, merely printing the ZIP codes of a city and referring to it every time you need a ZIP Code lookup is not a viable option.
It is also worth noting that the USPS always uses the city to which an address or ZIP Code belongs. The town of a ZIP Code is usually the name of the main post office. Hence, it can sometimes make ZIP Code lookup by cities challenging and confusing.
How To Find ZIP Codes By City
Looking up ZIP Codes by the city is usually an easy single-step process. Even USPS offers a provision that allows you to type in a city and state to find the city’s ZIP Codes. You must type in the city name, select the state, and click “Find.”
And just like that, you can complete a ZIP Code lookup and obtain the necessary ZIP code data for your business. However, the applicational-level use of finding ZIP Codes by their city or state is relatively low. It is usually helpful for companies that wish to target a whole town for marketing purposes.
ZIP Code Lookup By State
Before we talk about ZIP Code lookup by state, let us clarify one thing. The primary purpose of the ZIP code is to make personal, and business mail delivery faster for the USPS. In other words, USPS never had the intention to correspond their ZIP codes with geographical or other boundaries like
- States
- Cities
- Counties, etc.
Hence, you should note that ZIP codes can cross the state and other boundary lines. However, it is rare for a ZIP Code to cross state lines. Some examples of ZIP Codes crossing boundaries are 65733, 71749, and 73949. So, if you come across one of these codes under a different ZIP Code lookup by state, you know why or how it happened.
How To Find ZIP Codes By State
You can find ZIP Codes by state like we discussed finding ZIP codes by city. However, some tools, including the lookup ZIP Code tool from USPS, do not allow you to get all the ZIP Codes of state in one go. Usually, you have to specify a city or region in a state to get the ZIP Code list.
One approach you can take here is to buy or download a ZIP Code Database for your business communication. It is an ideal choice for small businesses that may want to do a quick ZIP Code lookup. A premium-quality ZIP Code database even includes details on aspects like
- Cities
- Coordinates
- Demographics
- And more
How To Find ZIP Code Online?
It is always better to use an advanced tool like PostGrid for your business’s ZIP Code lookup needs. Some mid and big companies have no option but to employ an advanced system like PostGrid. Remember John? A business like this needs all the advanced capabilities it can have.
On the other hand, small-scale companies with a handful of customers don’t need a specialized tool like PostGrid. Additionally, companies that are newly implementing direct mail campaigns or postal communication, in general, may not want to invest in a ZIP Code lookup tool.
If your company is one of them, you may want to try out one of the following online ZIP Code lookup methods.
USPS ZIP Code Finder
Many people don’t know this, but USPS offers its own in-house ZIP Code lookup tool. The USPS ZIP Code Lookup is a tool you can access and use on the USPS website. You have three options available in the USPS ZIP Code tool, and they allow you to look up ZIP Code
- By Address
- By City and State
- Cities by ZIP Code
By Address
In this option, you can enter corporate or residential address details into the USPS ZIP Code Lookup tool. The address details you can join in the lookup process include the following
- Company
- Street Address
- Apt/Suite/Other
- City
- State
- ZIP Code
The more details you provide, the more accurate will be your ZIP Code result. Once you enter all the pieces into the USPS tool, you should get the precise ZIP Code you want.
By City and State
It is relatively easy to find ZIP Codes by city and state in the USPS ZIP lookup tool. All you have to do is enter the city and state name into the boxes and hit the “Find” button on-screen. Suppose you want the ZIP codes within New York City.
In that case, you can simply search New York, fill in the state details, and click on the “Find” button. The ZIP Code lookup tool will return all the ZIP Codes in New York City, and you can use the data however you want.
However, the tool does not help you to find ZIP Code by state as you need to provide a specific city. Of course, you could always search for each city and join the data together, but that might take hours, days, or even weeks to finish.
Cities by ZIP Code
The Cities by ZIP Code option in the USPS ZIP Code Lookup tool is pretty simple. It allows you to enter a ZIP code and check which city or cities that ZIP code covers. Here, the USPS uses a simple, straightforward tool where you can input the ZIP Code.
After hitting the “Find” button, you will find the “Recommended City Name” and another session showing other cities with the exact ZIP code locations.
ZIP Code Lookup Via International Post Codes Website
The International Post Codes website offers a wide range of postal code information for domestic and international locations. Columbia Univerity maintains the website and updates the data accurately. Apart from acting as an effective ZIP Code lookup tool, it also offers crucial information for optimizing your business’s mailing process. You can access mailing acronyms, policies, and best practices in mail communication.
ZIP Code Lookup Via Google
Have you ever noticed that the first place we all run to when we want to look up anything is Google? The chances are that you found this article through the Google search engine. Of course, you can use any search engine to find ZIP code, but with Google, there is a certain level of trust legitimization.
Find Relevant Results Fast
Google’s search engine is so good that it almost always finds the most relevant result. For example, if the only data you have is a partial address and you type that into Google, you may still find the location of Gmaps. Hence, it acts as a ZIP Code lookup tool too.
Location Detection
Even if you search for something that sounds more random, like “Starbucks ZIP Code,” you can still get the relevant result. Google detects your location data and metadata to provide relevant results.
Speaking of which, you can also Google a ZIP Code to find the geographic location of the ZIP Code. Google is not just a ZIP Code lookup tool because it provides relevant web and map results. As a result, you can get a deeper insight into ZIP Codes.
Discard Irrelevant Results
As much as we would like to praise Google for always returning relevant results, that is not always the case. Sometimes, Google may return irrelevant results too. So you must append your ZIP Code lookup on google with ZIP Code at the end. If you don’t, Google may return irrelevant results, especially since ZIP codes are practically random numbers.
ZIP Code Lookup Via DuckDuckGo
Another popular search engine that people use to find ZIP Code is DuckDuckGo. You can type in a ZIP Code, and the search engine returns a map of the location. Suppose you look up the ZIP Codes for market research or similar purposes.
In that case, the map of the ZIP Code locations can help you find valuable insights or identify demographic trends. Besides the geographical area on the map, you also get access to additional information, including
- Weather
- Real Estate
- And other relevant information
Of course, it can’t compete with advanced address verification tools like PostGrid. Solutions like PostGrid provide deep insights into postal address data through features like geocoding. It is not merely a ZIP Code lookup tool but an advanced communication system.
It is also why our clients like John need us for business communication. Besides the ZIP Code lookup, we helped John set up their business with clean, verified, and standardized addresses to local postal standards. Additionally, we set up John’s online business with a robust Address Autocomplete feature which significantly contributes to user convenience.
ZIP Code Lookup Via Bing
Several businesses also rely on Bing for their ZIP Code lookups. You can use Bing to find out what city or locale a ZIP Code belongs to, along with other results, such as maps and local attractions. The attractions can include movie theaters, hotels, grocery stores, etc.
Another reason why businesses prefer to use Bing for their ZIP Code lookups is that it can complete the partial address you type. You can quickly obtain the ZIP Code from the completed address from Bing. In a way, it is very similar to the Auto-Address Complete API that PostGrid offers its users.
However, Bing is not CASS-certified like PostGrid. Unlike PostGrid, Bing can not access the USPS address database. In other words, there is no guarantee about the address you get from Bing. But, with PostGrid, you can be sure you have the best possible address data available.
What Is a ZIP Code?
After having the same conversation about ZIP Code lookup with John and several of our clients/leads, we understood something. Many people, including John, had a general idea of a ZIP Code and knew how to use it for their business.
To most people, a ZIP Code is a five-digit number that one can use to identify or specify a location. You may have had a similar idea about postal and ZIP code lookups. But, this is a common misconception about ZIP codes.
ZIP Code or Zone Improvement Plan Code is a five-digit number that specifies a Post Office or delivery area. But, it is not always that simple. For example, in some cases, a company or organization can have a different ZIP Code if its mailing requirement is significantly high.
ZIP Codes Are Not Areas or Boundaries
Like many others, John also thought that ZIP codes are areas or boundaries you can represent on a map. It is one of the most common misconceptions people, in general, have about ZIP Codes. Even mapping services like Google Maps often display ZIP codes as boundaries.
So it is understandable why John and many others might consider ZIP codes as specific geographic areas. John saw them like jigsaw pieces, and the completed puzzle forms the geographical image of the US.
Hence, to understand the process behind ZIP code lookups, you need to learn how ZIP Codes work.
How Do ZIP Codes Work?
Before we discuss the USPS ZIP Code lookup, let’s consider what we already know about ZIP Codes. We know that ZIP Codes are five-digit numbers that represent individual Post Offices across the US. Every country worldwide has a postal code system similar to ZIP codes but with a different name.
For instance, the ZIP Code equivalent in Ireland is called ‘Eircode,’ and in India, the ZIP Code equivalent is ‘PIN Code‘. It is also worth noting that some of these codes are alphanumeric. However, that only applies to ZIP Code lookups because the ZIP codes only include numbers.
On the other hand, if you deal with as many international customers as John, it is best to familiarize yourself with the relevant postal codes. Every digit in the ZIP Code conveys a specific location or address; once you know what you are looking at, it is hard to miss.
Understanding ZIP Code Look Up
You need to know a few things before you fully understand ZIP Code lookups and the complexities involved. Here are a few concepts that can help you better understand ZIP Codes and how you can use them for your business communications.
ZIP Codes Don’t Form Shapes or Boundaries
As you know, the primary purpose of ZIP Codes is to enhance the mailing efficiency of the USPS. Hence, USPS does not create ZIP Codes according to national or state boundaries. As a result, some ZIP Codes cross these boundaries, and it is practically impossible to find a ZIP Code using a map.
Think of it like this: You can assign most ZIP Codes to a geographic area. However, ZIP Codes do not represent geographic regions. ZIP Codes and, by extension, ZIP Code lookups are more about street address groups or delivery routes rather than a geographic area/region
So when John asked us if he could implement location-centric marketing campaigns using ZIP Codes, he was slightly disappointed. But, luckily we were able to cheer him up by pointing out how he could use PostGrid’s geocoding capability.
According to Factual, Location-based marketing results in higher sales, grows customer base up to 86%, and customer engagement up to 84%. So you can see why John was very keen on implementing location-centric marketing campaigns besides the ZIP Code lookups.
ZIP Codes May Overlap
Another thing about ZIP Code you may not know is that sometimes ZIP Codes or ZIP Code areas can overlap. Remember how we talked about some companies having their ZIP Codes? In such cases, the company ZIP Code may be lying within another ZIP Code. Hence, you can not implement an effective ZIP Code lookup using tools like Google Maps.
ZIP Codes Are Not Applicable Everywhere
Unlike some of you may think, not every occupied location in the US has a ZIP Code. ZIP Codes are not assigned to areas that don’t have regular postal routes or with no mail delivery at all. In such cases, USPS uses sparse mail delivery routes. Hence, the boundary between ZIP Codes, in this case, is indefinite, and so is the ZIP Code lookup.
How To Read a ZIP Code
After learning that the ZIP Code alone can give him the location of an address, John had just one question.
“Can I read the ZIP Code without using an automated address verification tool like PostGrid?”
John wanted to know if he could read a ZIP code to look up a ZIP Code manually and, if yes, how. We told him he could. At this point, John jokingly said, “So, I don’t REALLY need you guys to help me with ZIP Code lookup.”
Of course, as an expert marketer, John knew that he couldn’t find ZIP code manually. Not with the hundreds and thousands of addresses. Finding the ZIP Code for the bulk mail is excruciatingly slow and impractical when he could easily do it with our address verification software.
Nonetheless, learning how to read a ZIP Code give marketer unique insights and spark some out-of-the-box ideas for marketing. Here is how you can read a ZIP Code and identify the location of the ZIP Code
Step 1: Identifying The Postal Zone
The complete ZIP Code contains not 5 but 9 digits, including the ZIP+4 Code. But, we’ll get to the ZIP+4 Code part later. First, you must read the ZIP code’s postal zone or region. It is the first digit of the ZIP Code. Here is what you need to know about the ZIP Code lookup process.
- USPS segments the country into 10 ZIP Code areas or postal zones
- Each of the 10 ZIP Code areas is numbered from 0-9
In other words, the first digit of the ZIP Code represents the postal zone of the address/location. We showed John the following table to help him understand the different postal zones in the US.
| First Digit Of The Zip Code | States/Territories In The Postal Zone |
| 0 | Connecticut, Massachusetts, Maine, New Hampshire, New Jersey, Puerto Rico, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virgin Islands, Army Post Office Europe, Fleet Post Office Europe |
| 1 | Delaware, New York, Pennsylvania |
| 2 | District of Columbia, Maryland, North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia, West Virginia |
| 3 | Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Mississippi, Tennessee, Army Post Office Americas, Fleet Post Office Americas |
| 4 | Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio |
| 5 | Iowa, Minnesota, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Wisconsin |
| 6 | Illinois, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska |
| 7 | Arkansas, Louisiana, Oklahoma, Texas |
| 8 | Arizona, Colorado, Idaho, New Mexico, Nevada, Utah, Wyoming |
| 9 | Alaska, American Samoa, California, Guam, Hawaii, Marshall Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Northern Mariana Islands, Oregon, Palau, Washington, Army Post Office Pacific, Fleet Post Office Pacific |
From the table above, you can easily find the national area of a ZIP Code. Once you do that, you can move on to the next step.
Step 2: Identify The City
The next two digits of the ZIP Code represent the city of the address. Generally, the USPS assigns the first ZIP Codes to regions with a central city or town. After setting the ZIP codes to the main cities, USPS proceeds with the other locations in alphabetical order. However, this information may not help you with the USPS ZIP Code lookup.
The first three digits of the ZIP Code together indicate the central mail processing facility. You may also know the central mail processing facility by the sec center or sectional center facility. The primary mail processing facilities are crucial for ZIP Code lookup because it is where USPS sorts and distributes your business mail.
It is also worth noting that the USPS sometimes assigns multiple three-digit codes to a few of these processing facilities.
Step 3: Identify The Area of The City/Town
You can use the fourth and fifth digits of the ZIP Code to identify the area of the city/town to which the ZIP Code belongs. It means as long as the ZIP Code lookup can find the first five digits of the complete ZIP Code, you can find the local area of the address. For instance, if a ZIP Code reads 47715, you can infer the following information.
- National Area/Postal Zone = Indiana
- City/County = Vanderburgh county
- Area inside the city = Evansville
Step 4: Reading The ZIP+4 Code
The ZIP+4 Code is a more advanced and precise ZIP code system that enhances the accuracy of ZIP Codes. However, sending and receiving mail is possible even without the ZIP+4 Code. Using the ZIP+4 Code, you can identify much smaller delivery areas, such as a street or a group of apartments.
Of course, ZIP Code lookups through advanced address verification tools like PostGrid provide a full ZIP+4 Code. On the other hand, it is not so easy to find the complete ZIP+4 Code manually with nothing but a pen and notepad. But, there is a bright side to it.
You don’t NEED to have the full ZIP+4 Code because USPS can calculate it automatically during the sorting and processing of mail. You can find all the additional details about the ZIP+4 Code here, including the benefits of the full ZIP Code lookup.
Conclusion
Business organizations are slowly drifting back to location-based marketing campaigns. It is undeniable that modern marketing campaigns combine online and offline marketing to obtain better results. It is no wonder that ZIP Code lookup tools are in such high demand today.
Finding the ZIP Codes of your customer base can provide insights that prove pivotal for your business. However, a simple ZIP Code lookup tool is not good enough to run advanced multi-channel or omnichannel marketing campaigns.
We recommend using a robust address verification tool like PostGrid to find ZIP Code. Using powerful tools like PostGrid gives you access to advanced features like geocoding, auto-address complete, and bulk address verification.
These features help you create effective location-based marketing campaigns for your business. Furthermore, you can access insights and analytical data that help you optimize your marketing efforts. In other words, you get an all-in-one solution that can streamline your business communication and marketing operations.
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source https://www.postgrid.com/zip-code-lookup/
source https://postgridplatform.tumblr.com/post/690522747772796928
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