| The rise of "cloud" based or on-line business | | | | information no mater how far apart you are in |
| information technology brings a new level of | | | | the world. Your sales people can be in San |
| affordability for small business customer database | | | | Francisco, New York and Houston, with your |
| solutions. The development of web-based | | | | support people in Seattle and all share the same |
| solutions such as Google docs is just the start of | | | | information and interact from desktop computers, |
| a new evolution in the way business people and | | | | smart phones or iPads. These database software |
| sales professionals interact. Now it's possible to | | | | solutions are frequently referred to as SaaS |
| keep your customer information at your fingertips | | | | (software as a service) or "Cloud" applications. |
| no matter where you are and when you need it. | | | | The key benefits of cloud based customer |
| Plus, affordable solutions bring even the smallest | | | | database software for small business are: |
| of companies the power previously reserved for | | | | Tracking customer information - Customer |
| large corporations. | | | | database information isn't limited to just contact |
| Having a customer database designed to meet | | | | details anymore. Sure everything can be included |
| the needs of small business is the cornerstone | | | | from their phone number to the date of their |
| that anchors all other customer interactions and | | | | daughter's birthday but you can also track buying |
| data management - without the right customer | | | | habits, budget dates, past purchases, relationships |
| database software, small business is still operating | | | | to other contacts and all activities any employee |
| with a mishmash of card files, email programs and | | | | has had through the relationships history. All of |
| spread sheets that leave money on the table and | | | | that data can be searched and available during |
| keep opportunities in dark. The resulting cost is | | | | every sales or support call to keep the customer |
| precious employee time, money, lost productivity | | | | engaged and demonstrates your level of |
| and often lost business. | | | | appreciation for their time and business. |
| Choosing the right customer database software | | | | Reporting: Reporting is no longer simply limited to |
| to match the specific requirements of small | | | | past performance and trends, customer database |
| businesses is a mission critical decision that will | | | | software brings you features like interactive |
| have immediate and lasting impact on your profit. | | | | pipeline and projections that let you see where |
| Questions to ask are: How much training is | | | | your future income lies. Reports can bring to light |
| involved in using the product and is it available as | | | | opportunities that otherwise may slip buy. |
| online video? How flexible is the access to the | | | | Reporting can also give you detail about the |
| data, does it work on any computer or browser? | | | | success of your email campaigns and more. |
| How quickly can you import existing customer | | | | Integrated Email Marketing Campaigns and Form |
| data and add new opportunities and activities? Is | | | | Letters - Online customer database solutions can |
| there a long term commitment or can you simply | | | | provide you with way more power than simple |
| subscribe to the software on a month to month | | | | email marketing services and keep you in |
| basis? Is there a free trial period and how much | | | | constant contact with your customers. The ability |
| of the software can you use during that time? | | | | to create mailing lists based on specific information |
| How current is the technology? | | | | about your customers such as location, last order |
| Even today the biggest customer database | | | | date and more, then send personalized specific |
| software products online are based on 5 to 10 | | | | email to those lists will increase your success rate |
| year old technology because large corporations | | | | with your message. Features to let you track |
| cater to the needs of other large corporations | | | | what types of email each customer tends to |
| and rarely push the envelope in terms of what | | | | open and respond to can increase your sales and |
| these larger customers are willing to except in | | | | make your current customers more loyal. |
| terms of change. Would you buy a VHS tape | | | | Affordable web-based customer database |
| player instead of a blue ray disc player just | | | | software is the cornerstone for any small |
| because you heard that large corporations still | | | | business to rapidly grow their income in today's |
| stuck with video tape? | | | | economy. Choosing a database that leverages all |
| Affordable web-based customer database | | | | of the current web technologies and is designed |
| software is now so sophisticated that even | | | | to work the way sales people work is key for |
| companies of 1- 50 employees can subscribe and | | | | small to mid-size businesses. The biggest |
| leveraging their information to grow their business, | | | | advantage you can have over your competitors |
| get more customers and turn existing customers | | | | is customer connectivity and constant contact |
| into increased sales immediately. Unlike in the past | | | | using email marketing and social services like |
| where software packages had to be purchased | | | | twitter. Above all else having access to customer |
| and installed on a series of computers, then | | | | data anywhere, anytime will deliver a return on |
| employees needed a week of expensive training, | | | | your investment at a low monthly subscription |
| now software can be accessed immediately over | | | | price that you can afford. |
| the web and each employee can sit through brief | | | | The only question is will you be the company who |
| training tapes or work with an online trainer to | | | | takes full advantage of these advances or will |
| learn quickly. Web-based or online software used | | | | your competition? |
| by groups gives you the ability to collaborate on | | | | |