I’ve been saying for quite some time that every business, startup or established, must have a web presence. A website is the online equivalent of a business card, brochure, and yellow pages ad all rolled into one. No matter what your business is, you must have a web presence. There is one other thing that every business, big or small, just starting out or in business for years must have: a Customer Contact Database.

Now, don’t let the word database throw you into spasms of “not more software” and “it’s too complicated.” In its most simple form, your customer contact database could be a box full of index cards with each customer’s name and contact information. At least, if you decided to do a mailing or promotion, you would know how to contact people.

There are a number of slightly higher tech solutions available, and the more specific the software, the more features you are likely to have.

  • Keep contact information in your eMail software.
  • Keep contact information in a spreadsheet.
  • Use a contact management software such as ACT!
  • Use a commercial service to manage your list (such as ConstantContact or VerticalResponse).
  • Hire an outsourcer to manage your list.

I don’t care which method you choose to manage your customer contact information, but please choose one and start gathering that information now!

Starting a Business? Start Here. Go Far. LaunchX.com