Address Verification

The alternative is you don't have to ask for an address? Do you even actually need it if they give you an email or phone to contact them with. You can set Tessitura to allow you to save constituents only with first name, last name and email. We're thinking of removing address from being asked in most sales, except for large donations.

Controversial subject I know, someone is bound to disagree. :)

The alternative is you don't have to ask for an address? Do you even actually need it if they give you an email or phone to contact them with. You can set Tessitura to allow you to save constituents only with first name, last name and email. We're thinking of removing address from being asked in most sales, except for large donations.

Controversial subject I know, someone is bound to disagree. :)

Hi William

Controversial indeed and a debate I am not going to touch. Without judgement either way, I am curious about your pros/cons for this and how you are getting buy-in from all departments?

Cheers, 

Michaela 

Will,

We don't require an address and as far as data cleanliness I LOVE IT! Especially for those instances when we reserve comp tickets for a performer's friend, we don't end up with dummy addresses cluttering up records. We do still expect subscribers and donors to provide an address, but that's about all.

The pros are mostly for the customer; sharing less data makes them feel better, being in the EU the GDPR is important but also after recent events with Facebook etc. people are worried about the data they provide and where it is stored. It also makes the purchase path simpler as it is one less step to fill in.

For Gift Aid purposes we need an address for donations over £20 I believe so we will need it for that, and for anyone who wishes to get printed material but if they are keen to get this then they are happy to share their address.

Cons are obviously you have less data about a customer so you can't work out where they live to build up a geographic map of your customers. I'm sure others will have more!

I think how we're going to do it is simply make address optional for the most part so there still is an easy option to add one but it is the customers decision as opposed to forcing them.

Most of our communications are via email now anyway.

I feel that sometimes we simply ask for the address because we've always asked for it, and not necessarily asking why.

Ah yes there is definitely the argument for keeping things clean and tidy. Those that are really engaged in your organisation will happily hand over more details, those coming to a one off performance because they are in the area or because they want to give it a try shouldn't be put off by a barrier like 'give us all your details'

All valid, and things to keep in mind the next time we have a conversation about this at the ballet.

Thank you!

Unknown said:

Especially for those instances when we reserve comp tickets

In the case of comps for people we'll never market to or communicate with, we add orders to a Marketing account, and use the special request notes field to add a "hold under name". No clutter...