It’s all about who you know …

We all know that the best way to get business is through who you know. And the good news is we all know lots of people. Here’s the challenge: Can you quickly and easily locate the contact information for all those people? Most likely you already have some sort of master list of your contacts. But is there only one master list and does your master list include all your handwritten notes and business cards?

Having an up-to-date list is so important, and as nerdy as it sounds, once you take the time to make your list current, you also need a process to make sure that there is ongoing maintenance to it. And a simple and easy process means you are more likely to keep up with it. Remember, too, if there is more than one person who contributes to your list or who needs access to your names, you need to make sure that your process includes these people, which also means that your list needs to be easily accessible.

Maybe a way to be inspired to update your list is to come up with a fun way to use your list. I’m sure you must have put together your original list for some sort of communication. In the world of marketing, though, one communication is just not enough. In fact, some people say you need to see the same thing in the same way four to six times before you know you’ve even seen it once. Obviously seeing the same thing up to six times may be a bit tedious, which is why you need to be a bit more creative. So why don’t you put together a plan of a few communications similar to your original one(s), which you can distribute on a regular basis to remind everyone that you are out there. And as you get your returned emails, postcards, etc., make sure you update your list in a timely way as part of your list maintenance process.

For some of you, this may sound a bit overwhelming. Remember that many people have done this before you. So when you are ready to update, maintain, and distribute to your master list, rest assured that there are many user-friendly options based on your needs and budget. And please don’t overthink this and procrastinate. Just make the best decision you can at the time, take the plunge, and get started. It’s easy enough to switch systems, and you’ll be surprised at how establishing this process will influence other areas of your business and help you grow your business.

- Aruna Inalsingh