Email Change of Address

Email change of address, sometimes noted as ECOA, is used to find the most recent mailing address for an individual. This is a process technology that is designed to update bouncing emails or inactive email addresses in a mailing list. Email marketers and other mass email senders can leverage this to keep their mailing list up-to-date and to reach customers who have begun using a new account more regularly. Successfully reaching previous customers can strengthen a customer-base and update information for users who may not remember to re-subscribe to a mailing list.

ECOAs sorts through a database which includes old to new email addresses. Many of these databases are opt-in or opt-out permission managed, so that email users are not forced to reveal new addresses if they do not want to. In fact, customers and users are able to easily provide their old email address along with their new address so that they can be found, much like the change of address form at the post office.

Email marketers benefit greatly from ECOAs. Reconnecting with lost customers by finding their new email maximizes the deliverability of email messages. It also reduces the marketing cost from bounced emails and avoids ISP blacklisting. Also, reconnecting with lost customers is more cost effective than reaching new customers. While marketers should strive to attract new customers, reconnecting with old ones will strengthen an existing customer base.