**A contact database is an imperative tool for any organisation looking to both retain existing customers and attract new business.**
There are plenty of programmes and software options out there that can manage your contacts efficiently, but an Excel document also does the trick – as long as it is filtered and the information entered is correct.
A simple spreadsheet, or a fancy online system, just remember that a data entry system is only ever as good as the person inputting it!
A complete database should house the contacts for everyone your business has communication with, and will help you to maintain an on-going dialogue with customers, suppliers and prospects. So, once you have the bare bones of a database how do you go about building upon and developing it? Here are four ways you can do so:
Networking
Networking events are fantastic for sharing details with other businesses and making new contacts. This is also one of the better ways to build your database, as it gives you a chance to put faces to the names on your list.
Your website
Your website is a great hub for gaining new contacts, you might not know it yet though!
Run competitions and offers where users have to submit their contact details to enter. Request contact details from people who wish to download any of your company brochures, or feature a small contact form on each page of your website so that visitors never have to go far to submit an enquiry.
Referrals
The best recommendation you can get is from existing happy customers. Feel free to ask your these people and friends of the business to spread the word, and hook you up with other businesses you could potentially work with. This all builds your database if you keep note of the people you meet.
Buying a database
You can buy an existing database from a number of legitimate companies, containing contacts specified by selected criteria. This method is probably the easiest and quickest way to build your database, but also the most expensive. You also can’t be 100% sure on the reliability and relevance of the contacts either, as you haven’t sourced them yourself.
A final piece of advice when building your database is in regards to the importance of cleansing. Whilst you are growing your contact list, don’t forget to be clearing out old ones – databases quickly age and yours always needs to be up-to-date.
Building your database will help you to build and grow your company because the more people you communicate with, the more business you are likely to get. Give just one of the above a go and you will see your database increasing almost instantly, and if you don’t currently have a database you will certainly benefit from starting one – it’s never too late!