Maintain Your Databases People

Having relevant and up-to-date information in your database is essential people. Our company has just been bought out and letters were sent to customers in our database. I received a phone call from one such customer who was a little upset that two letters had been received by her company - one was for a person that nobody knew anything about and the other was for a guy who passed away five years ago!

I didn't ask her how he died or tell her that it was most inconsiderate for not telling us of his death such a long time ago. No, I maintained a level of dignity. My tongue hurts a bit though.

I also sent out an email to clients that I have dealt with personally informing them of my departure from the company and if they had any business with me that they had a month to sort it out. Some of the personal responses have been lovely and very gratifying. People have even called me up to have a chat. I have some fond memories of projects discussed and implemented over the nearly three years that I've been with the company. There must have been 100-150 email addresses that bounced or timed out but I received some 400 read responses. I emailed everyone that I've had contact with over the past eight months and for that to total about 500 different people is astounding. At least I have a good idea of who is alive or not. He he.