By Taannia Flahmeri,
Taannia Flahmeri Marketing Services
It’s hard to believe, but we’ve entered the second month of 2009! We started the New Year with some unusual weather right across the country but as always, we endured it knowing that within a few weeks, the snow would melt and things would get back to normal. Unfortunately, the same cannot be said for our current economic forecast. We’re still in a blizzard of uncertainty. With consumers and businesses hunkering down and overall spending being drastically reduced, it creates a rather adverse domino effect. However, losses for businesses can be minimized in the long run by utilizing the one thing that everyone has…a database!
Does “out of sight, out of mind” sound familiar? Is one of your company’s greatest survival challenges right now on how to maintain your customer base for the future of your business? In economically taxing times like these, it is especially imperative that your company keep its name, product and or service in the forefront of your existing customers’ minds so as not to get lost in the competitive mad scramble when the economic situation improves.
Keeping in touch with your customers – your database – on a regular basis not only creates a stronger rapport but builds loyalty and encourages referrals amongst those that use your product or service. Using electronic communication tools such as email or electronic newsletters is extremely cost effective and time efficient – there’s no postage, no printing and time-sensitive messages are received instantly! Letting your customers know about:
- New and improved products
- Services
- Reminders of products or services with an expiry date that require renewal such as house and car insurance; products that require yearly maintenance such as furnaces, fireplaces or dryer vents.
- Exciting new programs and promotions
- Upcoming trade shows or events
Or just provide them with a monthly or quarterly newsletter to keep in touch - it's a great way to market your message and keep your company’s name in the forefront of your customer’s minds.
Remember, your company’s database is one of the biggest electronic assets that you have and using it to communicate with your customer base on a regular basis is just the tip of the iceberg!
Taannia Flahmeri operates Taannia Flahmeri Marketing Services. She can be reached at info@flahmeri.com.