Question

The Audio Version  - 4 mins

Word for week 43: Question
 
Meaning as noun:
1. a sentence in an interrogative form, addressed to someone in order to get information in reply.
2. a matter of some uncertainty or difficulty; a problem.
 
Insight: Comes from Mrs. Michelle Obama, who says: “Focus more on learning than on succeeding. Instead of pretending that you understand something when you don’t, just raise your hand, and ask a question.”

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So here’s a question…how does the word “question” fit into a database building strategy?
I can tell you, at every twist and turn!  Starting with the question: “What is database building?”
 
The briefest answer I can provide is: “It’s the system you use to build your client list.”
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Sounds pretty simple right? Old school methods (some still in use today) included business cards, telephone calls, flyers, and even door-to-door visits played a part in building your client list.
You’d take all of the information, whip out the paper and pens and spend hours trying to decipher various hand-written notes. Even later, when spreadsheets came on the scene, those who were not experts with excel had to hire an admin, or personally take on the challenging job of typing all of the information with accuracy and then managing it in ways that produced really useful results.       
 
We’ve moved ahead quite a bit, from the rather clumsy, time-consuming, uncertain methods of gathering and managing our client lists …so far ahead in fact, that the question I hear most often now is,
“How do I select a system that will help me build my client list?”
 
The answer of course starts with your individual business requirements, however, once you’ve identified your target audience, the tools we recommend are proven to help you attract more clients.

Most start-up and small business owners are short on time and money, so another question I get a lot is “How much is this going to cost me?”.  I like that question a lot because it costs nothing to learn more, a consultation is free, and it costs nothing to use the tools.
 
The final question I frequently hear is “Does it really work?”  To that question I’d point you to many of the clients we’ve assisted in growing their client list, but more importantly, if you’ll take an opportunity to chat with me, you’ll see very clearly, in just a few moments how well our guidance can work for your business or organization.
 
In the end, it is pretty simple after all …as an owner of a for-profit or the founder of a nonprofit, you need a system that will allow you to nurture your relationships, keep your audiences engaged, reach your target audience wherever they are, integrate with social media and provide you with the information you need to make better business decisions.   
 
Schedule a chat with me …get your questions answered,  and see how it all comes together, to help you grow your most valuable business asset…that’s your database!

Until next time … bye bye.