It's been said that it costs five times more to attract a
new customer than to keep an old one. Despite this, most
businesses spend an enormous amount of time and effort
chasing after new customers.

Why do things the hard way? It is far more lucrative to
reward good customers by simply encouraging them to
remain loyal to your business. The first step to achieving
this; is to build a good database and stay in contact with
your customers and potential customers.

Here are some no-cost/low-cost marketing tips
that almost any business can use to add customers to
a database and put dollars in the bank.

One idea is to build your customer database by
offering a prize draw. As an incentive, you could
give away a product or a special discount.



If you are running a retail store or office, you could
place a jar or fishbowl on the counter or reception desk
for business cards. Then at the end of each week or month,
draw a winner.

Some customers won't have a business card. So, it's a
good idea to have a stock of plain cards on hand for
those people. Use brightly colored cards as they will
add to the excitment and attract attention to the fishbowl.
A local printing company will probably have some free
off-cuts to use.

Another idea applies to when you offer specials to your
customers. Whenever possible, take a note of their name,
phone number and/or email address. The following month
you can make these people another offer as a reward for
taking up the original offer. You'll find you get a high
percentage of successful sales.

If you are operating over the internet, offer a free report
to build your database. Another idea is to offer a free
mini-course or newsletter ezine. Thanks to the wonders
of technology, these can be delivered instantly over
the internet using an autoresponder.

I use an autoresponder company called Get Response.
They have proven to be extremely reliable. You can
choose from their totally free autoresponder service or
their paid Smart Responder Pro service.
http://www.getresponse.com/index/41211
Both are good - which one you choose really
depends on your needs.

I personally use their paid service as it's ideal for
managing my growing ezine database. If you want to
see this service in action, you can subscribe to
my free mini-course and ezine using one of the special
email addresses they have provided for this purpose.
Simply send a blank email and your free mini-course
will be delivered almost instantly by autoresponder to
your email inbox. instantsellbusiness@ReportsNetwork.com

Building a database doesn't need to be difficult. The key
is to be organized and to be proactive!

When you sell to a new customer add them to your
database immediately. Then simply keep in touch with
them, or list a date to contact them. This might be for
a car service check, a haircut, a carpet clean, a pet's
injection or whatever makes sense in your business.
On the contact date send a reminder letter, email or
phone or call them to offer an appointment.

It's easy and a lot cheaper than continually chasing
after new customers. Build your database and you'll
build your profits!

© Market Leaders Limited. All Rights Reserved.

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About the Author

Noel Peebles has bought, developed and sold several of his own
businesses, and has been involved with the purchase and sale
of many others. He has fifteen years of 'hands on' experience,
directing his own highly successful' retail businesses, including
franchise marketing and business development. He also has his own public
self-storage complex.
And, he's traveled extensively to over forty countries.

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