{"id":10731,"date":"2022-02-07T21:41:04","date_gmt":"2022-02-07T21:41:04","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/mailinvest.blog\/index.php\/2022\/02\/07\/prehistoric-shouldnt-apply-to-your-database\/"},"modified":"2022-02-07T21:41:04","modified_gmt":"2022-02-07T21:41:04","slug":"prehistoric-shouldnt-apply-to-your-database","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/mailinvest.blog\/index.php\/2022\/02\/07\/prehistoric-shouldnt-apply-to-your-database\/","title":{"rendered":"‘Prehistoric’ shouldn’t apply to your database."},"content":{"rendered":"

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Stay current with DemandScience.\u00a0<\/h2>\n

Who hasn\u2019t been frustrated by contact databases that aren\u2019t up-to-date or are generally unreliable? We\u2019ve all been there\u2014finally diving into our contact databases for that big marketing or sales campaign only to find that it\u2019s a small percentage that\u2019s actually workable. The rest are either\u00a0no longer in use or no longer relevant to your goals. It happens. People move on, business models change\u2014but is there really any excuse not to be up-to-date?\u00a0<\/p>\n

Well, no! Not at all. The fact is that your work doesn\u2019t end when you build up a database. There are seven key steps that you can and should take to ensure that your\u00a0database is always accurate, on-point, and updated.\u00a0<\/p>\n

The Seven Steps to Keeping Your Contact Database Updated<\/strong>\u00a0<\/h3>\n

Step 1: Centralize Your Database<\/strong>\u00a0<\/h4>\n

Think about your contact database. If what pops to mind isn\u2019t\u00a0a single file or location<\/a>\u2014you have a problem. This is a far more common problem\u00a0than most people think.\u00a0Particularly\u00a0if you don\u2019t utilize contact management software\u2014or go low-tech with just an Excel sheet. The\u00a0greatest\u00a0difficulties\u00a0of having a scattered database\u00a0are\u00a0that no one person knows which\u00a0one\u00a0is up-to-date, problems with redundancy\u00a0of contacts\u2019\u00a0information, and verification\u00a0can be very difficult to accomplish.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Step 2:\u00a0Be Organized<\/strong>\u00a0<\/h4>\n

No matter which system or content management software you use,\u00a0it pays to be very organized. Firstly, make sure you always have a clear overview which covers how naming is handled and how the other details are organized. Secondly, you\u00a0want to\u00a0create clear segments based on parameters that matter to you. Some ideas include segmenting by job role, by product and service relevance, or even by specific marketing and sales campaigns.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Step 3: Develop Clear Processes<\/strong>\u00a0<\/h4>\n

From incorporating new data and contacts, to verification, to segmentation, make sure that you have very clear and easy-to-follow processes for each action. This should include determining who is responsible for one or all of these actions all the way to documenting that these actions, in fact, took place. You\u2019ll be surprised how much easier it is to keep your contact databases updated when you inject a little clarity\u00a0in terms of process flow<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Step 4:\u00a0Have a Verification Process<\/strong>\u00a0<\/h4>\n

It\u2019s worthwhile separating verification of your contacts and leads from other related processes. This verification process can be as simple as a warm hello\u00a0sent\u00a0ideally a few days after the capture. You could eve do a soft sell script to\u00a0remind\u00a0the prospect about why they gave you their details, but the main point is ensuring that you\u2019re talking to the right person. Of course,\u00a0if you source leads from a reliable and proven provider, verification is likely already part and parcel of what you\u2019re getting.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Step 5:\u00a0Syndicate Your Most Relevant Content<\/strong>\u00a0<\/h4>\n

One way to make sure that your contact database is not only up-to-date but also relevant is through content syndication.\u00a0This is all about placing your best content in front of those most likely to be interested in what you have to offer\u2014where they need to input contact details to access that content. This ensures that you\u2019re talking to people who\u00a0are clearly\u00a0interested and leads\u00a0toward\u00a0making sure that the contact details they give are accurate. This affords you greater control over who gets into your database, minimizes the problems of relevance, and even sets the stage for effective nurturing.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Step 6: Track Key Metrics<\/strong>\u00a0<\/h4>\n

Another way to clean up your contact databases is to look at the performance metrics as they relate to ongoing campaigns.\u00a0For email campaigns<\/a>, bounce rates and opt-outs are great indicators of whether or not a particular contact is still worth keeping. For other campaigns, you can look at engagement and even\u00a0whether they actively reach out for further information or not. The key idea is to incorporate verification, in a sense, to your actual campaigns.<\/p>\n

Step 7: Double Down on Your Opt-Ins<\/strong>\u00a0<\/h4>\n

Finally, you could also integrate verification in your lead capture process by doubling up on your opt-ins. The first opt-in is when your prospect provides their contact details on any of your lead capture forms. The second opt-in is when you send a follow-up email asking to confirm their opt-in. This is common practice\u00a0with\u00a0e-commerce sites that ask visitors to verify their registration prior to allowing them to shop. You can even do this with follow-up calls that ask for an opt-in with the same end results.\u00a0<\/p>\n

You can\u2019t be complacent with the management of your contact databases if you want to ensure they\u2019re updated and relevant. Applying these steps will allow you to exert due diligence and control over your databases which, in turn, will play into ensuring that your sales, marketing, and nurturing campaigns flow more smoothly and talk to people that matter. Keep your contact database in order and it will save you time, money, and effort.\u00a0<\/p>\n

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Looking to revitalize your contact databases with only relevant, accurate leads? Do you want contacts that are genuinely interested and easier to work with, DemandScience can help.\u00a0Talk to\u00a0us\u00a0today<\/a>\u00a0and we can get your content in front of the right people as well as organize your lead capture efficiently. We can\u00a0even\u00a0provide you a free demo of what we offer. Want to learn more?\u00a0Check out our website<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n