If you can’t jump it, go around it

Everyday business owners and executives face all sorts of obstacles.  From low sales numbers, HR challenges, customer service issues, to managing growth, legal burdens, and cash flow shortfalls.  Marketing tends to be seen as another wrench in the cog.  It’s easy to put marketing off, or make up reasons why it’s too difficult, time consuming,…

6 Keys to Mining Your Database, Part 6

Perpetually Communicate with Your Contacts Alright, I’m almost finished with filing taxes this year.  Which means that I can get back into posting blogs more consistently.  Today I’m going to talk about what perpetually communicating with your contacts.  Of course what’s the purpose of maintaining a customer relationship management tool if you don’t plan on staying…

6 Keys to Mining Your Database, Part 5

Create Alerts and Notifications Have you ever heard people say, “If it’s not on the calendar, then it will never get done?”  I know I hear my wife say that all the time. :o)  The saying holds true when it comes to managing your pipeline.  The best way to manage your pipeline is through creating…

6 Keys to Mining Your Database, Part 3

Keep it fresh & relevant! I’ve always said the most important field to update in your CRM database, regarding your contacts, is the note section.  Why?  Whether or not an opportunity becomes a paid client, you and your sales team members have to massage those opportunites down the pipeline.  It’s a relational thing… and a CRM…

6 Keys to Mining Your Database, Part 2

Keep Looking at it! I know this point sounds so obvious, but when was the last time you looked at the contacts in your database?  Ran reports? Updated contact statuses or notes?  Most likely your answer is not positive.  Similar to looking at the scale every day if you’re trying to lose weight, you’ll never…

6 Keys to Mining Your Database

If there is one consistent problem that I see over and over again with businesses/organizations regarding their marketing, it’s their lack of utilizing their customer relationship management (CRM) database.  I blog about this several times a year, because it’s so fundamental and paramount to good marketing.  If you are not mining your database, then you…