Use GeoCoder to Build Store Lookups

Want to build a “dealer locator” application into your Web site? It’s easy to do if you have the right tools. A dealer locator is a nifty application that shows Web visitors the location of your nearest store, car lot or service center, among other places.

CNN, for example, used a locator-type application when the network covered the last election. A person visiting CNN’s website was able to plug in an address and determine who their senator and local politicians were and the nearest voting place.

All you need to do is create a form and invite your Web visitors to enter their ZIP Code information.

Melissa Data’s GeoCoder Object is the tool to use to build a dealer locator application. GeoCoder Object is an add-on to Melissa Data’s Address Object development tool. In simple terms, GeoCoder helps determine where your customer base is. GeoCoder works by appending the latitude and longitude coordinates to the given ZIP + 4 code. GeoCoder also appends county name and other geographic data.

GeoCoder has many uses beyond finding store locations. It can also be a big bonus for direct marketers or sales managers who want to zone customer clusters or map out sales territories. Then again, you can also use it to calculate the distance and bearing between ZIPs to give people directions.

GeoCoder Object can be used with programs written in many different languages including Delphi, C, C+ +, Visual FoxPro, Oracle, Power Builder, Visual Basic, J Script, VB Script and more. GeoCoder Object also will run natively on Linux, Solaris and Windows and share the same set of functionality. This means incorporating them into your programs need only be done one time even if your business platform changes.

Learn more about GeoCoder Object or download a free trial here
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