How to get a free zip code database

by Mark on January 21, 2010

my road map

Image by laurenmarek via Flickr

If you’re promoting anything online it can help your sales massively to localize your offer or the data on the page to the visitor.

An example of this might be some copy on the page dynamically generated for the visitor’s area – “Expert house painting in Seattle, WA. Click here for an instant quote.”

The easiest way to do this is if you have the searcher’s location already. For example: If you have a geolocated search campaign where the advertising network is providing you with zip and/or city data you can pass it through as a URL variable like yourpage.php?city=Seattle&state=WA

But there’s a sure fire way to make sure you’re localizing your content and offer to your visitors area; you can run a GeoTargeting PHP script in conjunction with a free zip code database.

I do this for certain things I promote on the internet such as auto insurance offers and other services that aren’t location specific but where I want the visitor to feel like they’re getting a localized result. It’s always resulted in a higher conversion rate when I’ve done that.

Instead of rewriting tutorials that already exist I thought I’d point you to a couple of resources that I’ve used.

Eric Nagel’s Geo-Targeted PHP script

Free Zip Code Database from the Zip Code Guy

Have fun and let me know how it works for you!

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How to get good at anything

by Mark on December 22, 2009

70/365: Can I Come Out Now?
Creative Commons License photo credit: Christine & Eric

If you want to be good at something, practice it until you’re good at it.*

Haha! Isn’t that hilarious? But it’s true. Here’s a conversation I’ve had too many times to count…

“Hey Mark. I want to start my own business.”

“Really? That’s awesome! You know what I think of that! It’s the best way to financial prosperity – Kapow! And now let’s do a dance of celebration!”

“Yeah,  yeah. Anyways, I’m kind of stuck. How do I start?”

“Well, what do you want to do? Do you have a product or service you want to sell? A unique idea that you’re not sure how to capitalize on?”

“You see, that’s the thing. I want to sell X but I don’t know how to do it!!”

“Ok. Totally. But why don’t you start by looking at where you want to go with X and then reverse engineer your success?”

“What do you mean ‘reverse engineer’ my success?”

“What I mean is, what’s your goal? Define what that successful business would look like and then deconstruct the steps it’d take to achieve it. Figure out what you need to know that you don’t know yet and then learn those things as you take those steps.”

“Yeah…I should go back to business school I guess. Get an MBA or something. Then I could start.”

And from there the excuses for not starting pour in. And they’re all very credible excuses at first glance. I’ve had many versions of the above conversation ranging from  “I just can’t learn how to use this program therefore I can’t do X therefore I’m a failure.” to “I need to get my sub chapter S Delaware LLC set up with my iron clad operating agreement in place before I can get started.”

You don’t have to have a degree, pedigree, trust fund, bank loan, bank account, advisor, mentor, board of directors, letter from your mom or have “The Secret” memorized to get started down the path towards success. What you do need is a determination to learn and practice. All of the other stuff will happen as it needs to happen.

*I realize this whole post is an over simplification of a process that has a thousand sub-components but it’s the truest thing I’ve ever written.

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Why Failure Works (and makes you successful)

December 16, 2009
thumbnail_cardcatalog

photo credit: amiefedora
One of my favorite blogs is Trizle. They have a unique and goofy way of communicating basic business truths. The topics they cover resonate with me because they are the foundational concepts that lead to success; just really good common sense stuff. Today’s post caught my eye though. It’s about failure and [...]

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Gaming the system – Why it doesn’t last

December 14, 2009
Get Rich Quick

There are many ways to make money without actually providing anything of value. Most commonly these “business” methods are known as get-rich-quick schemes but even the most reasonable business person will find their heart racing when someone outlines a sure fire way to make a quick buck by cutting corners using trickery of some sort. [...]

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Out of Control Social Media Marketing

December 9, 2009

If you’re one of those people who earnestly seeks to understand this whole “social media marketing” craze but is often left scratching their head, well then, this very funny article from the New Yorker speaks for itself. (and you!)
It’s a good reminder that although there’s always a new and innovative way to promote something it’s [...]

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Beware of Shifting Interests!

December 8, 2009
Shifting Phonebooth image

photo credit: Amy Rachel Photography
“Beware of shifting interests!” the wizened old businessman told me as he waggled his gnarled finger at me. “Beware of making changes too quickly, of throwing in the towel before it’s time! But most of all, beware of the siren’s call of new and exciting opportunities that will cause you to [...]

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Affiliate Summit West 2010 – Why I’ll be there

December 3, 2009

photo credit: Daquella manera
I‘m going to Affiliate Summit West in January
First off, I’d love to hang out with any readers of Vacant Desk who happen to be there. It’d be great to hear what you’re up to and how you’re finding success online. (Let me know in the comments if you’ll be there.)
The reason [...]

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I have three Google Voice invites to give away

December 2, 2009

I have a few Google Voice invites to give away to anyone who’d like them. I really dig Google Voice for a few different reasons. First and foremost is the ability to hand out a number that’s neither my cell phone or my business 800 number. This is convenient when you have a contact who [...]

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Build a business instead of just making money

December 1, 2009

photo credit: José Encarnação
I want to build businesses – not just make money.
What’s the difference? By my definition of business has intrinsic value. You can make money all sorts of ways but it doesn’t mean you’re building a business. My version of this is affiliate marketing.
I make 100% of my income from doing Internet [...]

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How to plan your work quickly

August 27, 2009

I start my day with the best of intentions. I know what matters to my bottom line, what I need to delegate, and what I want to accomplish. I’m locked, loaded and ready to go!
I march into my office eager to get started on all my predefined and important work and then…A fuzzy haze washes [...]

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