| One of the most challenges faced by many of | | | | the names of people you need to contact for a |
| our clients is what to do about their | | | | specific reason. Outlook and other email |
| ever-growing collection of business cards. | | | | programs come with several default |
| Should they be organized by business name, | | | | categories, but you may want to create some |
| industry, or by the individual's first or | | | | of your own, based on your individual needs. |
| last name? How can they do make good use of | | | | |
| all these contacts they've made? And who are | | | | Set automated reminders for client birthdays |
| all these people, anyway? With today's | | | | and other important dates so you can |
| technology we can enter all the data into | | | | acknowledge these occasions. |
| customer relationship management (CRM) | | | | |
| software and not have to deal with those | | | | Keeping track of your clients' purchasing |
| issues, and this article offers tips on | | | | habits or other information specific to your |
| making the best use of your CRM software. | | | | industry will enable you to send out targeted |
| | | | promotions. |
| Contact management software allows you to | | | | |
| search on any field, so you don't have to | | | | Use an automated follow-up system to avoid |
| rely on remembering the person's name or | | | | missed opportunities. |
| business name. | | | | |
| | | | If you often attend conferences or trade |
| When entering contact data, keep track of | | | | shows where you collect a large number of |
| where and when you met the person and why you | | | | business cards, consider purchasing a |
| are saving their information. | | | | business card scanner for entering |
| | | | information directly into your contact |
| Learn as much as possible about your contact | | | | management program. |
| management software, so you can take | | | | |
| advantage of any features that will benefit | | | | Keep your contact list up-to-date. |
| you in your business. | | | | |
| | | | Be sure to perform regular back-ups. |
| Assign categories so you can easily locate | | | | |