Database Problems in Marketing
I have been working on a direct mail campaign for our team in many areas and we are finding that the yellow page listings and business list CDROMS contain so many closed companies that we are spending too much on the mailings, which are opened a little less because of the anthrax scare. Even customized lists are of little value. No one is keeping these lists fresh and deleting the ole data. Book of Lists are outdated as soon as they come out, CDROMS rip people off by disallowing lots of search downloads, yellow pages forget it. Phone numbers are wrong, addresses are wrong as a matter of fact most business parks are 30% unoccupied, downtowns about 15% and industrial areas about 28% nationwide, so with all these jobs and companies gone, there is no one keeping track of the data.
Yet we are told the recession is over? Whatever.
Are we judging by the stock market? Because it is not real either. T
he NASDAQ de-listed any company that might bring the market down over the last year and a half, except right after 9-11. It is a gambling casino anyway and the market always leads the real economy by 6 months. So if the market is just now going back up from its 9-11 average then we still have 6 months to get back to where we were then, which was terrible, remember all the lay offs before 9-11, starting back this time last year? Companies sell us lists all the time, the lists are wrong and rather than change the lists and update, they sell us old data and say we do not have the staff to fix the data more than once a year. Yet it needs to be changed every three months to even be + - 15% real. Yet if your Direct mail nets you only 1% we are really hurting. Direct Mail also termed junk mail is what pays for over 75% of the US Mail budget.
So if we lose the direct mail marketing technique we also raise our postal rates by that same percentage. Less mail means even higher prices. Big problems, since this is a major us infrastructure we need to keep civilization strong in America. If we replace the mail with e-mail then we will get tons of junk e-mail. Then important e-mails will be buried in 300 e-mails a day.
Why doesn't the FTC look into the list makers and their advertising, they are way off when they tell you that their data bases are updated and are (+) (-) 2%.
Small businesses are being hurt and that hurts America, since 2/3 rds of Americans are employed by small business and not by government.
"Lance Winslow" - If you have innovative thoughts and unique perspectives, come think with Lance; www.worldthinktank.net/wttbbs
local house cleaners Park Ridge ..Do you need grant funding for your nonprofit organization? If... Read More
If you've been considering incorporating your small business, you've probably... Read More
Concrete cleaning can be a lucrative business to start. Here... Read More
In franchising an individual desirous of their own business will... Read More
The Boston suburbs seem to be rich with possible locations... Read More
If you are the boss and you think your job... Read More
Last summer the FTC put forth a report and then... Read More
I have to admit, I was curious. When I saw... Read More
Q. I am a former pastor who left the ministry... Read More
In my previous article, Step 1, your challenge for the... Read More
Many job applicants want a job but often do not... Read More
-- The One Pager Shortcut Series --An effective and compelling... Read More
One of the hidden perks of raising six children is... Read More
Increase your profit potential by identifying ? and avoiding ?... Read More
What is in an information plan?Before you even meet with... Read More
While there are few career paths that some would call... Read More
Would you rather have one good client paying you five... Read More
So you think you're not justified in taking time away... Read More
Canon City, Colorado is known for it's 6 Prisons; State... Read More
Let me get right to the point. The single most... Read More
It's a commonly quoted statistic: 80% of all small businesses... Read More
Gather round while I tell you the story of Kennebec... Read More
The difference between rates and wages is not always clear... Read More
In the Truck Washing Business every single type of vehicle... Read More
Franchising has made the world look really small. The well... Read More
move out cleaning service Glenview ..One of the great challenges for independent professionals and small... Read More
Shipping materials can be expensive! Even the styrofoam "peanuts" can... Read More
When does your ego get in the way?Let's go back... Read More
Habit: A consistent behavior you perform so frequently that it... Read More
What is a Family Business? A family business is basically... Read More
We visited Lexus USA, home of the Lexus North America... Read More
Sexual Harassment is a disturbing part of employment life in... Read More
Administrative and clerical tasks are the bane of every industry.... Read More
Here are a few tips on how to hand out... Read More
-- The One Pager Shortcut Series --People do business with... Read More
BioTechs even with the latest news had shed over 1000... Read More
A Small Business Opportunities Magazine is one of the new... Read More
It's Monday morning and Connie the Consultant sits in her... Read More
Some things in business are relatively easy to measure ?... Read More
Having a successful business means also having a good working... Read More
When is advice free and when should you charge for... Read More
Remember the cleaning business is all about time ratio to... Read More
You'd like to go into business for yourself, and believe... Read More
In today's economic climate, the first priority for the small... Read More
There is much competition in the mobile auto detailing business.... Read More
Start thinking about buying an established business if you want... Read More
In your small business debt collection laws will eventually become... Read More
If you are a motorcycle detailer and need to expand... Read More
The last time I spoke and went into a bit... Read More
Q: I will be retiring this year at age 60... Read More
Small Business |