DATABASE GUIDELINES

When it comes to developing an optimum database for Variable Data Printing projects, more is almost always better. The more data you can provide, the more powerful your campaign can be. And the more data fields you have in your database, the more flexibility you have for personalization.

For a mailing file, the minimum required fields are: Name, Address, City, State and Zip Code. We prefer that the data be further subdivided into fields like these: Salutation, First Name, Middle Initial, Last Name, Suffix, Company Name, Contact Name, Street Address, Suite, City, State, Zip Code, Telephone, etc.

These separated fields can always be put together in a VDP project, but are very difficult to break apart if they are lumped together in one field. When providing demographic data, the same principle applies: the more your data is separated into distinct fields, the easier it is to customize your marketing communications.

Acceptable formats for database files are (in order of preference): Excel spreadsheets, Comma separated (.csv) files, Dbase (.dbf), Filemaker Pro, and fixed-length text files.

These tips and much more about building effective VDP projects can be downloaded in a PDF here. If you have specific questions about your project, just contact us.