Whats in a name?

A: Profit.
If you know exactly who your customers are, and have their name and address, then you can use this information to help both your customers and yourself.

You can:
use incentives to encourage them to come in again
ask for referrals from friends
tell them about sales and new products or services
remind them when a service is due to be done
keep in touch between purchases
find out what they want you to provide
track their purchases

You can also develop a profile of your customers and then look for more people like them.

But first…to manage all this information you'll need to put the data in a spreadsheet or database. This can be done simply using standard software programs, or even with old-fashioned paper records. Data security is always a priority, whether you have a web site or not, so use plenty of common sense with where and how this information is stored.

Then decide on what you want to achieve and structure your communication activities to suit.

Remember:
1) Have a reason to communicate.
2) Keep it simple and timely.
3) Always respect your customers privacy.

So get hold of this valuable customer data and get the jump on your competitors


Whats in a name? - To learn more about this author, visit Stuart Ayling's Website.

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