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