At a networking event, during a business meeting, or even in the grocery store, we get business contacts.  The contact could be in a text, written on a napkin or copied on a post it.  There’s also that stack of business cards from years past too.  You want to easily store and access contacts for your business.  Organizing business contacts is a priority for your business.

 

Customer information and vendors are important contacts for all small businesses. When we meet with or receive a call from a potential client, it’s important to capture this information right away.  When we receive a recommendation for an outstanding vendor, we want to be able to keep this information until needed.

 

Quality contacts

There are lots of business cards we receive.   Not all are important to keep. Make a note and write the date on your cards so you remember the reason you found this contact valuable.  If its a recommended vendor, write the name of the person who recommended this service provider.  It will make it much easier to know which cards to keep.

 

A call or email from a client shows their high level of interest in doing business together.  Even if not ready right away to work together, you want to retain their contact information.  When a client contacts me, I record their name, cell phone, business phone, email and snail mail address on paper first.  As soon as possible I transfer this information to my smart phone and Outlook.  If I am contacted by email, I add this information with just a few clicks.  To me all clients who have contacted me directly are keepers.   It sometimes may require a little phone tag or 2 messages but we connect and set a plan in motion.

 

Database management

 

It’s important to choose one consolidated spot for your information.  There are lots of options, including Google, Outlook, Yahoo or a CRM (customer relationship management software.)  Your decision may depend on your tech savvy-ness and the number of contacts you have.

• You can pair gmail and google docs for a CRM system.
• You can sync your Outlook contact and email account with your smart phone to have consistent access to your contacts.  Remember to back up your Outlook regularly to keep up with your information.
• Yahoo offers an online contact manager you can use to store all your contact information about individuals and companies. It’s cloud based so accessible anywhere.
• Create an Excel spreadsheet with your contact’s snail mail address, email address, business phone and cell phone.
• Download an iphone app or android app on your smart phone.

Start with a good foundation for your contacts, but also use a solution that can expand as your business grows.

 

Consolidating all the data

 

You may have realized that you have several different places for contacts. Think of baby steps you can use to consolidate the data.

• Add contacts 10 at a time from business cards, other email address books, post it notes or other scraps of paper.
• Search your inbox and use signature lines to add contacts.
• Add clients and vendors one at a time as you are contacted by email.
• Enter vendors at the time you receive their reference from the person recommending.
• Use a NeatDesk (sponsored link) to add business cards quickly to your database.  It quickly scans and adds information.

 

 

Organized business contacts means more money for your business and less stress for you!  Take time this week to get started or keep organizing business contacts.

 

It’s time to think about going paperless!

 

More ideas on going paperless, getting organized and being productive?  Join my newsletter!