Build a List; Rule the World

Back in the 80s and 90s, keeping a customer database was optional. (Well, not to me. As a mailing list broker, I always thought it was mandatory.) Now? All three of the top marketing mediaemail, web, direct mailare entirely list driven.

List building has become a coveted marketing discipline. The number of new names added to your list in the past week, month and year, is an important KPI. Whoever has the most names wins. With a passionate following of buyers and inquirers, you can reduce your marketing expenses with email and target niche and micro-niche markets with relevant offers to increase revenue.

What do a Emily, Angie and GroceryLists.org have in common? Their growing lists helped them leverage influence and build nationwide reputations. Leverage opens more doors than an individual has time to do on his own.

So how do you build a list?

First, you have to change your thinking. A list is not something you build when you have time. Theres never time. A list isnt something you hand off to I.T. You dont delegate relationships.

If you want the benefits of leverage, you must put skin in the game. From today on, marketing yourself at chamber meetings, networking events and leads groups must be filtered with this question, How many net names will this activity add to my list? Youre not attending an event; youre list building.

Lets start with an easy first step: The business card piles on your desk. Invest in a business card scanner. Once scanned, throw the cards away! (Yes, just do it.) The database you create can by synchronized to your PDA phone with a $49 piece of software. Now when you think about someone you need to talk or send an email to, youve got contact information at your fingertips¬ back at the office. Leverage.

This may seem like a simple step, but&have you done it yet?

Ive got dozens more list building strategies. If youre interested, attend the City of Experts teleseminar where Ill be the guest expert speaking on The Top 10 Ways To Build Your Marketing List. Its coming up on July 9th.

You can also follow me on Twitter as I organize and post my thoughts for the interview.

About The Author Lori Feldman is The Database Diva, www.TheDatabaseDiva.com. She helps business owners and sales professionals squeeze every drop of profits from customers they already have using proven database marketing principles. She is a recipient of the prestigious Direct Marketer of the Year Award from the Direct Marketing Assn. of St. Louis. Lori is a nationally recognized speaker on database marketing, mailing lists, CRM and drip marketing.