I’ve written about this before, but it bears repeating. Before you can go to advanced work like marketing segmentation and “big data,” you have to be able to manage the fundamentals. And what are the fundamentals? Things like: proper procedures and documentation in place for managing your data data integrity reports to ensure you have clean data …
I recently heard the author James Altucher make this statement, and a subsequent google search attributes it to the author Jodi Picoult. Regardless of its origins, I think the formula is very accurate, and can be easily applied to how happy associations are with their database systems and the effectiveness of their data management. The key to the formula …
I recently moderated a keynote presentation at ACGI’s Knowledge Days in Baltimore. The session, entitled “How to Keep a Healthy Marriage with Your Technology Vendor,” covered the five elements that I believe constitute a good marriage, and will serve you well in relationships with your technology vendors. Those five elements are: You have the other party’s best …
The Five Elements of Healthy Vendor Relationship (plus a bonus!) Read More »
Several years ago, I suggested to a client of mine that they needed to add a new position to their staff, a position I called the data records manager. What I meant by this was someone responsible for making sure all the data within the organization was being managed appropriately. Interestingly, since that time, the …
Many years ago I coined the Rule of 100 and 1,000, as it pertains to data conversions. (Click here to read about it.) As it happens, a similar rule applies to ongoing data management. In a nutshell, if you’re managing under 100 records (e.g., small trade association with few members), you may not need to automate …
Rule of 100 and 1000 for ongoing data management Read More »
I while back I recorded a webinar on database training called “Don’t Waste Another Dollar On Training: How To Ensure Your Training Dollars Are Spent For Ultimate Effectiveness.” This recording has been available for sale on my website for $49. Because I believe so strongly in the need for good training, I’m making this recording FREE to …
One of the more common requests I hear from my clients is that they’d like to be able to compare year-to-year membership data (e.g., current number of members vs. same time last year or same time three years ago). What they often find, however, is that pulling historical data from their primary transactional database can be …
Take snapshots of your membership data for historical review Read More »
Every time I call my haircut place to make an appointment, I have the same experience. The person taking the call can’t hear me (because it’s so loud in the salon) and they have to ask me to repeat everything I say once or twice. It’s incredibly frustrating, like I’m talking to a three year …
I often hear from my clients something along these lines: “We’d like that data but we don’t have it.” I always respond with “Do you not have it because you’ve never collected it, or because you have no way to collect it and store it?” In other words, are you NOT doing something because you …