What other features are in a cross-reference directory?
What could I use a cross-reference directory for?
How frequently are cross-reference directories updated?
How does a cross-reference directory differ from a "City" directory?
Who needs a cross-reference directory?
How do I locate the publisher of the cross-reference directory for my area of interest?
What is a cross-reference directory?A cross reference directory is much more than the "phone book turned inside out." Cross-reference directories have evolved to include many information enhancements from other public information sources including the postal service, census bureau and government property ownership listings. Publishers identify new listings, note "year first listed" and assign economic status ratings to residential listings. Many directories include thousands of residential listings that will never appear in phone books by accessing government property ownership records and listing the owner-occupied residences.
Cross-reference directories endeavor to list all area addresses. Listings are arranged alphanumerically by address with the name of the resident or nonresidential occupant, when known. A number of additional useful references such as clearly identifying new listings, address changes, phone number changes and nonresidential listings as well as the year that each listing first appeared in the directory are included. Postal zip codes are shown for each street. A listing by telephone number is also included in numerical sequence.
What other features are in a cross-reference directory?
Hill-Donnelly directories also contain a Street Finder Guide which lists all of the streets within the territory in alphabetic sequence (with the ZIP code referenced). US Census Department maps and information are utilized to classify neighborhoods by affluence. Market Planning Guides are included to assist in target marketing to specific ZIP codes or census tracts.
What could I use a cross-reference directory for?
How frequently are cross-reference directories updated?
The second largest "City" directory publisher was purchased a few years back by one of the "Baby Bell" phone companies. The phone company was unable to operate that acquisition profitably so the activity was abandoned.
Cross-reference directories are usually the most current information source referencing most communities. All are published at least annually, usually shortly after each new area phone book goes into service.. The typical Hill-Donnelly cross-reference directory is published no later than the month following release of each new area phone book. Many are published in the same month the new phone book is issued. Some are published at six month intervals utilizing telephone company information reflecting changes that won't even be in the phone book for another six months.
How does a cross-reference directory differ from a "City" directory?
Cross-reference directories are compiled from public information sources such as phone books, postal service information, census data and government property ownership records. "City" directories are compiled by "enumerators" who actually go door-to-door obtaining information from residents and businesses. This approach has become particularly time-consuming and costly, particularly for resident information. The leading "City Directory" publisher has abandoned many of the larger cities as virtually "impossible" to compile and publish with acceptable accuracy in a reasonable period of time at a reasonable cost. That company is increasingly offering cross-reference directories as an alternate to or replacement for their "City" directory.
Who needs a cross-reference directory?
Credit and collections work can be greatly aided by a current cross-reference directory. A service station providing automotive service will be much readier to accept a check from a resident who (the cross-reference directory confirms) has been a resident (better yet, homeowner) in a nearby affluent neighborhood for several years. If the customer is not in the directory, he would seek further reassurance before accepting a check. Overdue accounts or bad checks from customers who do not respond to the address or phone number on file can often be located with information obtained from the current resident or neighbors of the address on file.
Law enforcement agencies and all emergency service agencies such as fire departments and ambulance services find cross-reference directory information invaluable.
We have found that virtually every non-residential telephone listing in an area phone book is a potential purchaser. Some businesses and government agencies use the book primarily as a reference to confirm or complete customer names, addresses and phone numbers. Others use the directories extensively for highly selective marketing. Realtors contact the neighbors of homes they are trying to sell (obtaining useful prospect leads and neighborhood information). They send mail to those same neighbors introducing the new family when they make the sale (earning future referrals and listings). They offer a "free market appraisal" to residents who have been in the same home for enough years to be approaching a lifestyle change with children grown and retirement approaching. Investment and insurance salespeople find the neighbors of their present satisfied customers to be good prospects with a ready endorsement. New families in neighborhoods where they have been successful in the past are probably the very best prospects for a mail or phone contact. Home improvement contractors of all sorts find it desirable to contact the neighbors of the homes for which they are doing work, again with an obvious endorsement of their reliability and work quality.
How do I locate the publisher of the cross-reference directory for my area of interest?
Hill-Donnelly maintains an extensive file of cross-reference directories published by members of the International Association of Cross-reference Directory Publishers and to the extent that information is available from other publishers not members of the IACRDP. Call, fax or e-mail your inquiry. We can provide details on any and all of the more than 200 cross-reference directories published by Hill-Donnelly; information on several hundred additional cross-reference directories published by other companies, along with the name, address, phone, fax and website information for your orders. More detailed information on bound volumes, CD-ROM (for individual directories or large territories) and selected listings on diskette or mailing labels can also be provided.
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