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November/December 2008
Use IT to increase revenue
Whether you're looking for some quick campaigns to send to
existing customers or implementing a business intelligence
system, your IT system can provide you with real results.
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Quick emails campaigns - Keep in
touch and make a special offer using an online email
tool. We use Constant Contact for this newsletter which
offers a free trial or you can use a number of tools
including Microsoft Outlook to launch your campaign.
Make the format short and sweet or long and flowing
depending upon the needs of your customers. Use emails
to show potential customers your value and interest.
Always be sure that you follow anti-SPAM rules.
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Printed campaigns - Although email is a less expensive
way to contact customers, it may not meet your goals.
When you decide to send a printed campaign, be sure to
use tried and true strategies but don't skimp on your
creativity. Design your own campaign using the desktop
publishing built into your IT system. Your choice of
fonts, colors and graphics are limitless. The USPS has
great tips on direct mail at:
www.usps.com/directmail/welcome.htm
or try
HP Marketing Impressions
for lots of free advice and templates for your own
campaign.
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Capture customer data - Whether you use an enterprise
CRM or a home-made spreadsheet or anything in between,
use the date to determine customer needs, buying
patterns and trends. Try to consolidate data and
eliminate duplication by using the tools bundled in
software packages. Often you can use an accounting or
contact management package as a foundation for your data
and export into a spreadsheet for campaigns or updates.
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Keep track of sales efforts - Again whether you have an
enterprise or your own custom system, use your IT tools
to track your sales efforts. Be sure that you have a
strategy for follow-up and meeting commitments clearly
documented. Use your system to record activities and
schedule tasks.
At
LAN Systems, we use a variety of tools ...
read more
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