Answer these questions:
- How many records do you have in your database?
- How many customer records?
- How many prospects?
- How many records have you added in the last week?
- How current is the information you have on file?
So many businesses neglect this most valuable and important part of their business – the database! Yet, without one, you have no business.
I’m here to tell you first hand that maintaining and growing your database is laborious and not work that turns me on. However it’s vital work if you’re serious about expanding your business.
So here are some tips I’ve applied and found useful in keeping my database up to date and growing.
Get the right software – take a look at some Customer Relationship Management (CRM) software like Salesforce, ACT, or Gold Mine to name a few. This software will make your marketing activities more effective and efficient. By the way, a spreadsheet is not a database!
Outsource the cleansing function of your database – cleansing is about making contact with the records in your database to verify that the contact information is correct and complete. It’s not glorious work which is why I’m happy to outsource it to someone else and pay them for it. It’ll get done that way!
Set a growth target for the number of records you add to your database each month. Whether it’s 50 per month or 20 per week or 10% per annum, you need to be adding to your database all the time. There will always be attrition for various reasons so it’s important to increase the size of your database so that you have more prospects to market to. Everyone I meet and speak to ends up on my database. You just never know where a lead might come from!
So here you have three key tips on developing your database and enhancing the value of it to your business. Make sure you have a focus on your database and it will yield lots of opportunity for your business.
Your database is the most important asset you have that’s not on your balance sheet. Look after it!
Build massive momentum!
