Making Contact After Networking
As a small business owner, you undoubtedly know how important making contacts is for your business and networking is unquestionably the best way to make these valuable contacts; but what happens when you get back to the office? These contacts are vital to the ongoing success of your business and for marketing and customer relation purposes and if treated correctly they are cash in your hands. So why do most small business owners then dump them into a rigid, inflexible email database? They are worth so much more than this!
The problem with ‘databases’
Many programs referred to in everyday work are called databases but in fact fall far short of what a real database can do. For example, it is quick and easy to save a contact name and email address in many email programs but those programs will not tell you if you already have that contact or if it is part of a ‘group’ and if for some bizarre reason you need to add it to another group, you will need to re-enter all the details. Your email database will not flag up if you haven’t spoken to a potential client, are due to send an email or need to make that vital follow up call. In customer relationship (CRM) terms they are pretty useless. Databases that have been specifically developed to manage contacts will be fully relational and will overcome all of these issues immediately.
Treating your contacts with respect
If you respect something you look after it, you nurture it and you ensure it is in the best possible environment. The same values should stand for your contacts! They are, after all, the past, present and future of your business. It does not matter how many clients you have or whether you have just started in business, you need to look after your prospective and existing clients. So do it right from the start and it will save you a whole lot of time and effort later. A well-developed, fully-relational database will help you project an image of a professional business or organisation – after all, your contacts, clients and your business are only going to grow.
Fully relational databases
Investing in an affordable, fully-relational database is the choice of those who know. These databases guarantee that you only need to enter contact details once and they can then be assigned to many different groups. Fully relational databases make finding contacts easy and eliminate the risk of duplicate entries; they make mail out campaigns (online or offline) a very simple process. Tracking, setting tasks, follow ups, scheduling calls, invoicing and the general day to day management of your most valuable asset, your customers, becomes a pleasure rather than a task. This not only saves you time, but also ensures deadlines are not missed, This will project an efficient and well run organisation or business.
Choosing the right database for you
As a small business owner or the secretary of an organisation or group, cost is going to be your number one concern. The variety of databases on offer can be baffling, so setting your requirements before you start looking is always a good plan. Always look for a fully relational database as this will save you an enormous amount of time and give you complete control over your database. Other considerations are the support you receive during your purchasing and the aftercare service which can be a deal breaker. If you work from home or small office with no IT support you are going to need that support from your database provider and preferably in the form of a human!
Summarising your contact management needs.
So to summarise, a good database will save you time and money and be an invaluable marketing and client management tool, both of which are necessary to help your business grow. To get the maximum from your database it should be fully relational and within your budget. Research your options thoroughly and remember if you do not receive the support and advice you need before you make the purchase, you are unlikely to receive it afterwards.
Heather Godfrey owns Contactfile Database offering affordable fully relational databases that take the hassle out of managing your contacts. The databases are easy to use, they come with a variety of add-ons such as invoicing systems provide excellent customer support and aftercare servicing. For more information please visit www.Contactfile.co.uk
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