How to Develop a Contact List

When developing a business, one of the first things you must do is to develop a contact list. You're going to need clients, and the only way to acquire them is to know where to go to get them. A variety of people can be included in your contact list, but it's important to develop this list and maintain it for the good of your business.

Instructions

1. Determine the best way to keep track of your information. Perhaps, you are old-fashioned and not particularly technology-savvy. That's alright; you can keep track of your information in a notebook, a file folder or in an address book. For those who are more accustomed to using computers, you may want to keep track of your information with a spreadsheet, your email contacts' list or with a combination of your email and PDA contact information. Select whichever method will work best for you to add, edit and remove entries.

2. Create a list of family and friends for your contact list. Typically, these are numbers and/or addresses you have handy, anyways. However, it's essential to have this information included in your contact list because these may be your first clients or customers.

3. Add your business contacts to this list. Anyone you do business with from your postal carrier to your grocer should go on this list. Additionally, anyone related to your business should go on here. If you've used an electrician to wire your office, list him. If you have an office machine supplier, include this business as a contact. Add anyone you do any type of business with, whether it's personal business or business through your new business.

4. Ask those on your contact list for referrals. Often, your contacts may know of other people who might be interested in your goods or services.

5. Keep all business cards. Purchase a notebook for this purpose. Keeping this information is an important part of developing your contact list.

6. Add to your contact list continually. With each day, you come across someone new. Include them on your list. Not everyone on your list will become clients or customers, but you can never have too many people on your list.