The size of your database holds all the potential for continuous sales. It’s hard to look at the size of our databases if we are so focused on an end sale. We see selling as an event rather than a process. It’s not good thinking or strategy for the long-term. When times are dry, the lack of a system will show.
Unless you are in a transactional business where you do not necessarily know your customer, consider focusing heavily on growing your sales database. It is a key asset for your business. It provides the flexibility to make your inbound marketing strategies work.
Here are some ways to get the ball rolling:
- Subscriptions. This means you have ongoing content in your corporate blog or newsletter. Make it valuable and enticing to where someone wants to subscribe. Put the names in your CRM system as well as your marketing system.
- Calls to action. These are resources that visitors can download. Help people with the problems they are seeking to solve.
- Contests. Entice people with something of value that they care about.
- E-courses. Provide drip training that teaches on a specific topic to help your subscribers apply something technical or learn something new.
- Social media. Make it easy to connect and use it as a seque for taking a next step to email you or opt into other inbound marketing processes.
- Networking. Every business card needs to go into your CRM and labeled. Use good segmentation to reference later.
- Forums. Be helpful and provide specific value on your main site or by email. It is making a connection and a difference.
If you do not have a database, then there is not opportunity to be creative with nurturing or engagement later with your marketing.
What are some ways you can apply this or you are applying it?
