- Data Capture:
- The entry of data records onto a computer file.
- Data Enhancement:
- Improving the quality of the data i.e. Changing the casing of the data, improving the post code, breaking up the salutation field into Title Initial Surname, and much more! Call us if you need some help.
- Data Entry:
- Entering names and addresses into a computer one at a time from printed or hand written material.
- Data Processing:
- Covers the actions taken by the Computer Department on data files such as sortation, file formatting, generating salutations, suppression, deduplication etc.
- Data Protection Act:
- 1984 Act of Parliament guaranteeing certain rights to individuals and control of the use of personal data held on a computer. The most well known of the rights is that of examining a computer record held by a company by the individual in the data record.
- Data Record:
- An individual entry within a computer file containing – in mailing terms – the name and address plus demographic data of the person named within the record. A group of records makes a data file.
- Databank:
- An accuulation of data. It can cover many different types of information including names and addresses and other demographic information.
- Database:
- Can be as simple as a card file; a collection of information stored in a computer medium that can be easily accessed and manipulated.
- Deduplication:
- The comparison of records in a data file to remove recurrences of the same address/person. This can be done in a number of ways. Examples would be by comparing the initials, surname and postcode of records and deleting records which match. A more precise process can be achieved if the address has been through Postal Address File enhancement and creating a match string. Other methods exist.
- Demographics:
- A description of data contained within records which helps to classify the person or company in different ways. Information is often held by a code attached to the record. The classic teaching example is to imagine records which contain a code which shows the person to be left-handed (code ‘L’ is placed in the record. There is also a code which shows if the person has red hair (code ‘R’). Demographic analysis would show the number of Left-handed Red-heads by counting all the records containing both codes ‘L’ and ‘R’ and rejecting any that only contained one (or none) of them. Naturally in reality, the system can become very complex, but the principles remain.
- Direct Mail:
- A personally addressed piece of mailing promoting a company’s products or services Direct Mailing – Marketing or advertising activity, based on a direct relationship
- DL Envelope:
- 110mm 220mm landscape
- DMA:
- The Direct Marketing Association. The ‘trade body’ of the Direct Marketing Industry. Formed in 1997 from a variety of Regulatory Bodies and Trade Associations, the DMA is now the principal organisation covering the affairs of our industry.
- Duplex:
- In Laser printing, printed on both sides of the page.
- Envelope DL:
- Envelope used for 1/3 A4 mailing. Can also be oversize and undersize. The undersize can be used to put a BRE in a DL envelope. Oversize DL envelopes assist in the mailing production buy giving a larger clearance.
- Envelope C5:
- Size to fit an A5 piece of paper or 1/2 A4
- Envelope C4:
- Size to fit A4 items
- EPS (Email Preference Service):
- An official body which registers the names and email addresses of those who do not wish to receive unsolicited email.
- Field/Data Field:
- Data in computer records is held in fields. Each field contains an item of information. For example a persons name could be stored in 3 fields. The first contains the Title (Mr/Mrs/Miss etc) the second the Forename or Initial (Fred/Mary/I.F.G. etc) and the 3rd field the surname. Having data in separate fields makes data processing easier.
- File Formatting:
- Preparing a data file for data processing.
- Font:
- The collection of all letters, numbers, punctuation marks, etc. within a certain size and style.
- Flexo printing:
- Flexography’ (often abbreviated to flexo) is a form of printing process which utilizes a flexible relief plate. It is basically an updated version of letterpress that can be used for printing on almost any type of substrate including plastic, metallic films, cellophane, and paper. It is widely used for printing on the non-porous substrates required for various types of food packaging (it is also well suited for printing large areas of solid color).
- Franking:
- The application of a postal indicia by printing from a printing plate through a specially designed machine.
- Freepost:
- Differs from BRE in that Royal Mail do NOT require a specifically printed envelope. Contracts are set up in a similar manner to Business Reply but with a different charging structure.
- Fulfillment House:
- A company specialising in responding to and tracking orders sold through Direct Mail.
