 If The Money Is In The List, The BIG Money Is In The Database!Published Date: 2008-04-02 10:58:27 WorkOnInternet.com
That's called a clue. Don't believe me, just take a trip to your local supermarket. Chances are your local supermarket is part of a national chain. There are very few local supermarkets left due to global competition. When you reach the supermarket, grab some items and head over to the checkout area. The cashier will likely ask you if you have some type of "advantage" card. If you did not have the advantage card, you would not be able to receive the same discounts and other special opportunities like you would receive if you had it. For the supermarket, the advantage card gives the supermarket the ability to store your identifying information into a database so that they can use it to market better to you. Not only do they have the basic information, such as your name, your address and your telephone number. They also have your shopping habits, because remember, before you complete your purchase, you have to swipe that advantage card. This is a classic example of database marketing at work. Even though you are not a multi-million dollar national supermarket chain or retail store, you can still employ database marketing in your business as well. The key is to develop a system to gather the information and then develop a system to store and use the information. How do you gather the information? One strategy that you can use is the same strategy the supermarkets use. You could build yourself a "preferred buyers" club so your consistent customers can receive special opportunities and discounts that "non preferred buyers" do not receive. The only requirement is to sign up for the club by providing some simple information, such as your name, address and telephone number. Employing this ONE strategy would put you light years ahead of much of your competition, ESPECIALLY if you are running an internet business. Do you realize how much of your competition isn't gathering any information about your customers besides a name and an email address? If you take it one step further and are able to get an address and a telephone number, that opens up the door for you to use TWO additional means of getting your offers in the face of your prospect. So decide today to develop a plan to employ database marketing into your business model. This one step could literally triple your annual revenue for your business! ------------------------------ Mark Garland is the owner of Anayzed Marketing Solutions located at http://www.AnalyzedMarketing.com . He is the author of "The Total Marketers Handbook" marketing eCourse. If you are wanting or learn how to effectively market your website or small business then you will definately be interested in it: http://www.analyzedmarketing.com/handbook.php
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