Customer Databases for Small Firms: Maximizing the Power of Your Marketing
Abstract
This article describes how and why a small business can take advantage of the benefits which will accrue from the creation and use of a custon1er database. What information may be useful to capture (or buy) about your customer, and how that information can be used to improve your n1arketing efforts and subsequent "bottom line'' is presented How to create (or evaluate for purchase of) a database, and how to maintain your database lo preserve its accuracy and value is explained. Information technology is transforming the business game for small firms today. The importance of database marketing as a cost-effective tool which small firms should be utilizing cannot be understated or overlooked.
References
Baier, M. (1983). Elements of Direct Marketing. New York, NY: McGraw-Hill, Inc.
Baier, M. ( 1 996). How To Find and Cultivate Customers Through Direct Marketing. Lincolnwood, I L: NTC Business Books.
Brierley, H.M. ( 1994). The Art Of Relationship Management. Direct Marketing, May, 25-26. Cross, R. ( 1991). Profit ing From Database Marketing. Direct Marketing, September, 24-26. Dent, H. ( 1991). Individualized Marketing. Small Business Reports, 16(4) April, 36-45.
Dentino, K. (1994). Taking Privacy Into Our Own Hands. Direct Marketing, September, 38-40, 42, 72.
Direct Marketing. (1 994). 1994 Software G uide: A New Look. June, 52-63. Dowl ing, M. ( 1 993). When You K now Too M uch. Catalog Age, October, 73-75. Drucker, P.F. (1959). The Practice of Management, New York, N Y: Harper.
Francese, P. & Renagban, L. ( 1 991 ). Fi nd ing the Customer-- Database Marketing Can Give You A Critical Edge I n Customer Service. American Demographics, 13(1), January, 48-51.
Frigstad, D.B. ( 1995). Know Your Market: How To Do low Cost Market Research, G rants Pass, Oregon: Oasis Press/PSI Research.
Hendr icks, M. (1993). It's All Who You K now. Small Business Reports, 18(2), February, 21 -25.
lnfoBase ( 1 995). Consumer Info Base Spring 1995 Data Catalog. Conway, Arkansas. Katzenstei n & Sacks (1992). Direct Marketing. (2nd ed.) New York, N Y: MacMillan Publishing Company.
Kerwi n, A.M. ( 1 990). Starting A Database Marketing System: Don't Let the Com plexity Deter You. Editor & Publisher, (December 29), 25, 31 .
Loewe, P.M. & Hanssens, D.M. ( 1994). Taking The Mystery Out Of Marketing. Management Review, August, 32-34.
Morris, L. & Pharr, S. ( 1 992). Invasion of Privacy: A Dilemma For Marketing Research And Database Technology. Journal of Systems Managemen4 October, 10-1 1, 30-31 , 42-43. Newberg, J. & Marcus, C. (1996). Target Smart: Database Marketing for the Small Firm. Grants Pass, Oregon: The Oasis Press/PSI Research.
Peppers, D. & Rogers, M. ( 1 995). The End of Mass Marketing. American Demographics Marketing Tools, March/April, 42- 47.
Raphael, M. (1991 ). Stop Mailing to Everyone. Direct Marketing, February, 53.
Schultz, D.E. (1994). Some Comments on the Absolute Value of the Database. Journal of Direct Marketing, 8(4), 4-5.
Schultz, D.E. & Wang, P. (1993). Database Marketing Appl ications: An Ind ustry Survey of Traditiona l Direct Marketers in the U.S. The Journal of Database Marketing, 1 (2), 1 1 3-129.
Stevens, R., McConkey, C.W., Loudon, D. & Dunn, P. ( 1994). A Survey of Small Businesses' Use of Marketi ng Tools. The 18th National Small Business Conference Proceedings. February, San Antonio, TX, 65-70.
Stone, B. (1994). Success/iii Direct Marketing Methods (5th ed.) Lincolnwood, I L: NTC Busi ness Books.
Stone, M. & Shaw, R. ( 1 987). Database Marketing for Competitive Advantage. long Range Planning, 20(2), Apri l, 1 2-20.
Wheaton, C.B. ( 1 990). How to Create a Customer Database. Direct Marketing, 52( I 0), 34. Zikmund, W.G.& d' Amico, M. (1994). Effective Marketing. St. Pau l, MN: West Publishing Company.