A millionaire recently told me:
“you don’t really have a business if you don’t have a database”.
As a marketer, I know the importance of lists and lists building, but I still didn’t take it seriously until it was put in this context.
Don’t get me wrong, I have contact lists in my gmail, yahoo, social networks and website’s subscribers, but I really don’t have it together as far as utilizing them to the fullest. I don’t have a data base. I don’t even know exactly how many names I have in various places.
I realized when I decided to “sort it out” that the reason, I haven’t really confronted putting a database together is the fact that I don’t know how to.
Basically here’s the problem:
– I want to identify these people and put them in categories or separate LISTS
– I want to be able to connect any conversation or connection with these identities
– I want to find out if they are a prospect
-and I want to have a system to manage, cultivate a relationship, follow up or contact them
How do I do all that?
First, I need a database system that I can sync with my e-mail so any conversation with these people is noted.
Then I need to have a mailing or newsletter provider where I will have the ability to export my lists to and send them newsletters or updates.
I also want to be able to somehow sync this lists or customer database to all social networks so I can really get to know these people and connect with them.
In order words, I need a solution to help me do the above seamlessly, efficiently and cost effective.
And while typing this, I realized that if I have this problem, how many other entrepreneurs or solopreneurs are facing these same problems.
UPDATE:
I haven’t found the perfect solution but I have
