What does your company do?  What services do you provide?

Telematch is the Database Marketing Division of Gannett Marketing Services Group (GMSG).  Our full range of services includes computerized telephone number appending, data enhancement, database management, and data processing.  Telematch is located within a 200,000 square-foot facility in Springfield, VA.

For nearly two decades, Telematch has been the recognized industry leader in computerized telephone number appending.  Over the years, we have continued to expand our capabilities and today, Telematch offers a single-source solution for your diverse and comprehensive database marketing needs.

Carefully developed, sophisticated software, superior programming techniques, and state-of-the-art technology ensure fast processing with no compromise to accuracy and quality. Experienced and highly qualified systems analysts continually refine our matching algorithms, resulting in a combination of the best find rates and the highest level of accuracy in the industry.  Our operational and technical capacity to process millions of records daily, combined with our expertise in database management and data processing, allow our customers to quickly obtain the end results they need for successful direct marketing campaigns.

Telematch is proud of our reputation for timely delivery of quality services and products to our extensive, nationwide client base.  Reflecting our leadership and recognition in the direct marketing industry, the name “Telematchâ€? is frequently used as a verb.  Our customers and prospects refer to the need to “telematchâ€? their databases. Our name is synonymous with quality and exceptional service.

Our corporate philosophy endorses a partnership marketing approach in serving our customers.  As your business partner, your business success is important to us, and our primary goal is to help you achieve your marketing objectives.

What is your search criteria?

Telematch will append listed telephone numbers that are not on the DMA Telephone Preference Service (TPS) file and the state Do-Not-Call files.   Our standard level of matching uses last name, complete street address, zip code and existing telephone number (if available)  as search criteria.  Our matching logic is relatively tight, but not so tight as to exclude a household. We provide our standard level of matching unless requested otherwise to provide either a loose match to increase the hit rate or a tight match to provide exact matches only.  Telematch will recommend the best level of matching, or tailor our matching logic based on our customers’ unique applications and specific program objectives.    

When the complete information requested as search criteria is not available (P.O. boxes, rural addresses with no box number, incomplete street addresses), we employ specific logic and algorithms to determine if a match can still be provided with a high level of confidence in the accuracy of the match.  Telematch’s goal is to provide our customers optimum results in terms of the quantity of matches without compromising accuracy.  We have applied our 20 years of experience and expertise to consistently perfect our matching logic and thereby, minimize the risk of error and maximize accuracy to the highest extent possible within this industry.

The process of verification is performed when a customer file has existing telephone numbers. Telematch will provide a verification code to indicate whether the Telematch phone and customer phone match, are different, or if Telematch did not find a phone.

Area codes are provided on both hits and no-hits.  Telematch uses three sources for area code changes because of the rapidity and quantity of changes taking place to cross check and append the correct area code. We use an internal area code, zip code, exchange exception table as well.

Telematch subscribes to the DMA TPS file as well as the following individual states’ Do Not Call files: Florida, Oregon, Arizona, Georgia. Alaska, and Arkansas.  We will flag the customer’s record when it matches one of these files and the telephone number is suppressed.  We will still, however provide a verification code. For verified phone numbers, this lets the customer know when their existing telephone number matches the Do Not Call file.

Does Telematch provide confidence codes on phone appending?

Telematch typically does not provide confidence codes because we have developed our matching logic and algorithms to provide exact matches along with matches with only the highest probability of accuracy as our standard level of matching.  However, to accommodate the special requests and needs of our customers, we will apply a confidence code of 9 to 5, with 9 being an exact match.  To go below a level 5 would be applying  looser matching criteria than our standard level.  If a looser match is desired, we will provide confidence codes 9 to 1. 

What are your data sources?

Telematch houses two consumer databases which reflect the white page telephone directory information nationwide.    The two databases include 140MM+ records.  Our business database of 10MM records reflects the yellow, blue and some white  pages of the telephone directories.  We recommend matching against our business database during a residential phone append to pick up professionals such as doctors, lawyers, etc.  Our Newmatch database consists of three million recent new movers whose numbers have not yet been published and is compiled from various sources.

How often are your database updated?

Our consumer databases are updated bi-weekly as the various telephone directories are published. Newmatch is updated monthly.  Our business database is updated quarterly. EDA is updated daily at midnight.

What is your average hit rate and accuracy on phone appending?

Our average find rate is 50 to 65%, depending upon the content and nature of the file.  The accuracy rate is 98% with a 2% error rate. We consider that a telephone number we provide is accurate if it reflects what is currently published in the telephone directory for that individual.  Changes and moves that take place prior to this information being received as an update are not considered inaccuracies.  The workable rate will depend upon many variables, such as the geographical area and the timing in regard to the phone append process and the start of the telemarketing campaign.  The unworkable rate can typically range from 10 to 15%. 

What is your turnaround time?

Telematch recently transitioned from our main frame to an open system which has enhanced our capacity to process files very quickly to accommodate requests for an accelerated turnaroud time.  Telematch can process your files for a same day turnaround or within 24 hours, depending on the quantity of records.

What sets you apart from your competition?

We have specialized in computerized telephone number appending for over two decades, longer than any other organization.  We are confident and take great pride in the products and services that we have developed with our customers’ needs at the forefront.  We continually modify and hone our services to provide solutions, which will address these needs and challenges.

We set ourselves apart from our competition through a simple and honest commitment to offer our customers the most solid, workable solutions and complements to their products and marketing efforts, using the most innovative technology and system applications.  This commitment is reflected in our customer service and every aspect of our interaction with our customers.  At Telematch, the Business Development Specialist who initially analyzes your needs, and makes recommendations to help you build your business remains your primary contact, stays involved in your account and works with a team consisting of a client services representative and designated programmers who will process your projects.  This facilitates communication, continuity, and quality control and makes for a smooth operational flow.