WRITTEN ON December 14th, 2012 BY John Keating AND STORED IN Data Broker, Data Lists

Tags: data broker, data lists, databroker

Data Lists “guaranteed” to make you rich

Sounds good doesn’t it?  All you have to do is buy an off-the-shelf data list with “guaranteed results”, send out an email and then lie back in your faux-leather director’s chair and wait for the phone to ring with orders.  And wait………………………and wait………………… (Fast forward two weeks)………………and still waiting for the phone to ring.

Data Guarantees may sound great, but they are not all feasible or realistic.  I was out shopping with Missus Data Broker the other day for a new hoover and the salesman said that this particular hoover (which happened, by total fluke, to be the most expensive in the shop) was guaranteed to make the carpet cleaner.  My response was to offer my own guarantee to the salesman: “I guarantee you that if I buy that hoover and don’t use it, then your guarantee is hogwash”

At this point the salesman gave up and went to prey on a more gullible customer.  I felt my point was proven.

The same issue exists with many money back guarantees, which are only valid under certain circumstances, conditions apply.  Read the small-print and you’ll find out that you can claim your refund on the evening of a full moon, in a month beginning with N and only when you originally purchased the product from Woolworth’s in Basingstoke.

No data company can guarantee to put more money in your back pocket by just supplying you with data; there are too many other variables.  Campaigns must be accurately and realistically targeted, with relevant information and offer something which entices the potential customer.

At Databroker we offer guarantees which can be met.  All of our data quotes come with guarantees on the accuracy of contact details and these are real thresholds above which we will refund or replace.  Our expertise in sourcing data lists means we will find the right data source for your campaign, improving the number of quality conversations which you’ll get with potential clients.

This doesn’t guarantee that your campaign will work; but it gives it a far better chance than a random list, which isn’t targeted at potential clients.

One other thing, I guarantee you, that without Missus Databroker, that hoover would still me standing in the showroom………..but that’s a different story!

Trust the experts when it comes to sourcing your data lists, contact Databroker on 0161 941 5700 or email info@data-broker.co.uk  We guarantee not to feed you with sales bull & hype.

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WRITTEN ON December 12th, 2012 BY John Keating AND STORED IN Data Broker, Marketing Data

Tags: data broker, databroker, marketing data

Is your Data sales person always telling the truth?

We all know that honesty is the best policy, however if you’ve got the end of the month looming and that all important sales target to hit; what’s an odd white lie between salesman and potential customer?  It may seem innocuous at the time, but the net result could be the customer not getting the right marketing list for their campaign.   As Einstein once said (not all facts in this blog are 100% guaranteed)……..

“Bad Data + Marketing Campaign = Decreased Sales + Bad Brand Publicity ”

It is impossible for list owners to offer impartial advice on whether their list is the correct one for the customer’s campaign.  It’s the same in many industries, the next time you’re in your favourite supermarket; ask them to recommend which sausage roll you should buy….  A fiver says they won’t send you down the road to a different supermarket!

At Databroker, we don’t own any data, so we can offer impartial advice and source the correct list for your marketing campaign.  We are able to scour the market to find the right data for your company, giving you honest and reliable information about the list accuracy, quality and method of collection.

Remember salesmen are salesmen, Data Broker are endorsed by Einstein.

Databroker will help you gain more sales from your marketing campaigns, call us on 0161 941 5700 or email info@data-broker.co.uk

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WRITTEN ON December 5th, 2012 BY John Keating AND STORED IN Business Data Tips

Tags: b2b data, business data, data broker, databroker

Most people have never purchased data before, so when the need for marketing data arises it’s often a steep learning curve.  Databroker’s 5 tips for buying business data should help you make the right choices when buying b2b data and avoid costly mistakes.

Databrokers 5 tips for buying Business Data

1 ) Do your research.

If you just remember one thing from this blog, make it this one.  RESEARCH POTENTIAL SUPPLIERS!

Do not buy data from anyone who is NOT a DMA member.  The DMA is the direct marketing association and essentially members can be held to account by the DMA for malpractice, as some unscrupulous companies have found out recently, which is a very good thing.

Supplier checklist; Ask the following questions to make sure your supplier is credible:

Please show me your DMA directory page;  Its a sad state of affairs but some companies do use the DMA logo on their websites illegally.  Unfortunately we have seen this tactic many times.  However DMA directory pages cannot be forged, so make sure you check out their page.  FYI see Databrokers DMA page here

Whats your ICO number? Check it’s valid with ICO

How long have you been trading? Check out the Ltd company name on Duedil for finances and history.  If the company has had 5 names over 3 years – AVOID

Check out the account manager on LinkedIn – were they are telecoms engineer 12 months ago? Then do they have the experience and expertise to help you with data? Probably not. Only use companies with masses of experience. This seems obvious but you would be amazed at how many people just go to google and buy data from any Tom, Dick or Harry and then complain that they have had a bad experience

Has your account manager worked for 3 data companies in 3 years?  Why the constant job changes?  Alarm bells should ring, take all this into account when making a purchasing decision.

2 ) Use a list broker

I will try not bleat on about this.  Let me keep it simple.

You ring up every data owner and I guarantee that you will get a variant of the following:

“our data is brilliant, it’s the best in the UK because of X, Y and Z”

How can they all be the best?  Answer: they are not.  You are speaking to a salesperson who is paid and incentivised to make you buy the data they own.

I also guarantee that you will NOT get a variant of the following:

“You should speak to our competitor named X, their data is better and cheaper and will work better for you”

If you are speaking to someone who represents their own product, they are biased and will not be offering you complete and correct advice.

How do you avoid this?  Speak to a list or data broker who are impartial, not a data owner or reseller.  Brokers are the data experts but be careful here, only use DMA member brokers and again do your research as per point 1. You will have to trust your broker, so ask around for recommendations.

3 ) Don’t be wooed by offers which sound too good to be true.

They will be too good to be true.

Think about the cost of data.  If someone sold you a rolex for £10, what would you think?  You would think it’s either nicked or something is a bit fishy.  The same goes for data.

1m records for £300? Impossible unless something is a bit fishy…. Let’s go through the costs of building an opt-in email database….

On average, to gain an opt-in email address takes three telemarketing calls and costs approx £2 a record.

So the eagle eyed amongst you will realise that suppliers offering 1,000,000 records for £300 CANT be making any money.

This is aside from the fees for TPS/CTPS, directories, BT, Royal Mail, Companies House etc.  It costs over 800k pound a year to build and maintain a quality b2b database.

Do not subsidise illegal and unethical business practices by falling for too good to be true offers.  The data you get will be crap and will damage your brand and IT capabilities by potentially blacklisting your servers.  Once that happens, it can be an awfully expensive road back to credibility – that £300 suddenly seems very costly indeed.

4 ) Don’t pass the buck internally – a sure fire way to disaster.

Mr or Mrs Marketing Director asks a junior to get some data in for the sales team, as they are too busy to do it themselves.   Are you mad?   What are you expecting from this?  You are letting the fuel for your sales effort be researched and purchased off the cuff?  Would you get your junior staff to sort out your re-mortgage?

5 ) Not all data is equal

“Hi mate – this data quote says it costs £150 per 0000 and I have been quoted £20 per 1000 from somebody else.”

Sigh. Right. Ok.

So when you buy a Fiat Punto that is 10 years old, do you expect a new 2013 BMW to be charged at the same price?

No, because they are not same car and there are reasons why both are priced accordingly.

Data differs from supplier to supplier.  Data performs differently, put crap data in and get crap sales results.

So the short answer here is to speak to your list or data broker and get them to recommend different data sources and explain the pros and cons.   An experienced expert broker will show you the differences and help you get the best ROI and if that’s from the list which costs £20 per 1000 – great, but it may also be from the more expensive data too.

We hope that these business data tips help with your next data purchasing decision, let us know your thoughts.  Feel free to give us a call on 0161 941 5700 or email info@data-broker.co.uk for all of your b2b data requirements.

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WRITTEN ON December 3rd, 2012 BY John Keating AND STORED IN Data Broker, Data Lists

Tags: data broker, data lists, databroker

Finally the Leveson inquiry is over, and a new dawn for quality British reporting has been promised.  Although I find it hard to be sympathetic towards bleating hard-pressed minor celebrities, the Leveson inquiry highlighted some truly disturbing practices that were conducted (and possible condoned) in the name of press freedom and the general Public’s interest.

Will press regulation make the world a better place or just give those with access to expensive lawyers something else to hide behind?  Who knows?  However what we at Databroker do know is that integrity does not come at a price.

Databroker; Direct Marketing and Data List Advice from the Experts

A dictionary definition of integrity: “The quality of being honest and having strong moral principles; moral uprightness.”  Not because someone may be watching but because it is instinctive in your nature and your actions.  Doing the right thing, first time and every time.

With over 30 years combined experience impartially sourcing the correct data lists for our clients, with no ties to any data owner, and with the reassurance of membership of the DMA,  Data Broker are here to help any business owner who needs data that can help them do the right thing also.

Databroker, direct marketing, mailing lists and honest impartial advice.  The original Data Broker. Give us a call 0161 941 5700 or email info@data-broker.co.uk

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WRITTEN ON November 30th, 2012 BY John Keating AND STORED IN Data Broker

Tags: data broker, databroker, Direct Marketing

“Data” caught with his trousers down!

Round One: fingers on the buzzers……Panorama, Donal MacIntyre, Watchdog and Dispatches, they’ve all got something in common?  And it’s not just the fact they’re on the TV!  They expose the truth – often the hidden or unwanted truth.

Granted, these guys can deal a little bit too much in sensationalism, but it comes down to what the public should know and what certain people try and hide from us.  The direct marketing data world can be seen in a somewhat murky light, especially by people who have had their fingers burnt previously, however it’s about getting to know the industry and gaining trust in the good guys.

First of all, follow some simple guidelines, buy data from DMA members, do your background research and don’t always assume that everything is true.  If something seems too good to be true – it probably is!  It’s like buying a holiday.  When we search for hotels, we all read the reviews, check the ratings and look for ATOL approved logos.  Millions of us every year trust the world’s biggest travel site, Trip Advisor, why?  Because the information on this independent website is more likely to be true than information on the individual hotel sites, and thus we form a certain level of trust.

If you like, Data Broker are the Trip Advisor of the data world.  We don’t own any data and we don’t represent any list owners.  Instead we use our 30 years combined experience to impartially source the correct data lists for our clients.  Over the coming months we shall continue to catch “data” with his trousers down – keep an eye out!

And of course if you want to chat about data in all it’s guises give us a call 0161 941 5700 or email info@data-broker.co.uk

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WRITTEN ON November 27th, 2012 BY John Keating AND STORED IN Data Broker, Direct Marketing Expertise

Tags: data broker, data lists, databroker, Direct Marketing

Data Broker’s favourite news story from the last week: Dundee man accused of ‘recklessly producing household electricity’

“Charles McKenzie is alleged to have rigged up a “dangerous transformer assembly” at his flat in Dundee’s Dudhope Court to generate power.  Mr McKenzie, 55, was not at Dundee Sheriff Court to face the charge of culpable and reckless conduct.”

The title of this news items says it all.  Charles McKenzie is clearly a man of vision, a man of action, a genuine Scottish entrepreneur.  Unfortunately the law does not agree, and he has an appointment with a Judge.

The point is simple: Danger High Voltage.  Just because it has been done before, usually by an expert it does not mean that it is safe or even legal for the amateur to follow.

Databroker; Direct Marketing and Data Advice from the Experts

The same applies to data and direct marketing.  There are many companies out there flogging data that shouldn’t be.  Hell, they may have only been doing it for less than 2 years – are they qualified to give you the right advice and list?  Of course not.

Where has your data come from?  Does your data supplier actually have the right to sell you the data?  Does it belong to them?  Has it been TPS, CTPS and MPS verified?  Does your data have the “Power” to generate new leads or will it just create “Resistance” amongst your target customers?

Let us at Databroker  “transform”  your marketing,  and “generate” news leads  for your business.  Don’t take any risks and speak to the original DataBroker with over 30 years data experience between our directors.

As members of the Direct Marketing Association, we are advocates of professionally sourced legally compliant data.   Impartial expert advice, nothing reckless and no need for a Judge.

Call Data Broker today on 0161 941 5700 for impartial advice, free database audits and data support info@data-broker.co.uk

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WRITTEN ON November 19th, 2012 BY John Keating AND STORED IN Data Broker

Tags: data broker, databroker, Direct Marketing

Are your direct marketing campaigns flagging?  Are bounce and unsubscribe rates increasing?  Is your campaign running out of steam?  If so let us at Data Broker put the wham back into your marketing.

Last week I the DataBroker Northern Delegate upgraded an old laptop.  There is nothing wrong the machine, it still works, the hard disk is in good condition but compared to modern Laptops it had a low level of RAM.

For all you non geeky PC users, the RAM is the part of the computer that makes all the calculations that drive your applications or programs.  When your RAM is low these calculations take longer, and your laptop runs slow.  As programs are continually developing what was sufficient RAM five years ago is no longer suitable, and over time it appears that your computer has slowed down.

However upgrading your RAM is simple; It is one of the IT world’s best kept secrets.  It takes two new chips, a screwdriver and about five minutes of your time. Childs play  my 4 year old Scottish daughter McDemon McPest, actually inserted the chips).  Total cost £15.  Most of the time when you think that you need a new laptop what you actually need is more RAM.

The parallels to the jab and thrust of customer interaction via direct marketing are obvious

Databases are continually evolving as people change jobs, responsibilities or as companies change their IT structures, or premises.  Over time these changes can give the impression that your direct marketing strategies are no longer relevant and that customers no longer what to speak with you.  When in fact the problem is as simple as an ageing database.

Let us the Data Geeks top up your direct marketing RAM, and but the wham back into your marketing.  Call data broker today on 0161 941 5700 for impartial advice, free database audits and data support.

Data Broker experts on data, computer chips and proper chips (with gravy, is there any other way?)

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WRITTEN ON October 26th, 2012 BY John Keating AND STORED IN Data Broker, Direct Marketing Expertise

Tags: databroker, Direct Marketing, DMA

Coventry in the West Midlands; A recent destination for yours truly the Data Broker Northern delegate.

I arrived at Coventry Railway Station at approximately 10:00 pm in the middle of a downpour and staying true to my principles, upon arrival in Coventry City centre I headed into the first pub that I found.

DATABROKER NORTHERN DELEGATE (DND)
“Hello, a pint of bitter please”

CHEERFUL BAR CHAP FROM COVENTRY WITH A STRONG MIDLANDS ACCENT (Benny)
“Al-right mate, we don’t do bitter, but we have this stuff in a bottle brewed by a local brewer which is a bit like bitter”

“Good I will take it”

“That will be £3.50”

“£3.50, I wanted a bottle not a barrel.”  Cough splutter, (grasping chest to simulate cardiac failure brought on by the price of beer).  “Do you take cash or just transfers from Solicitors?  Oh my gawd…£ 3.50 does that include a room for the night?  Where are the mortgage forms?  Stand and Deliver, what about your mask?  In my day a pint was 85 pence, and £3.50 was a night out at the Regal TwinScreen Cinema, popcorn and a, Fish Supper….etc etc.

“Very droll mate”

“Excuse me, can I ask, is there a good restaurant where I can eat around here?”

“No mate, this is Coventry mate, its s**t.  There are no good restaurants.  The place was bombed during the war and when they rebuilt it, they made a right b_llocks of it”

The barman was in his twenty’s and from the gist of the conversation I concluded that he had never worked in the tourism industry, nor had he ever felt the need to shout about the virtues of Coventry.  Virtues such as the fact that Coventry City football club, used to have Jimmy Hill as a manager (who famously let Kevin Keegan go because he was too short). 

Or that in Coventry they make tanks (hence the bombing in the blitz), or that around the world the phrase “sent to Coventry” is used when we are ignoring someone, or when they are ignoring us.

Are your messages getting ignored by your customers?  Have they sent you to Coventry?

Communication is a two-way process, but to engage in a conversation you first need to ensure that your messages are getting through to the right people, and this where we at Data Broker can help.

As the original data broker, we supply quality direct marketing lists that can help you communicate with key decision makers in your sector.  We are regulated by Direct Marketing Association, and uniquely we provide impartial data consultancy and direct marketing data advice.

If you are sending out thousands of emails or letters and no one is talking to you, give us a call.  Let us talk to you with free impartial direct marketing advice or perhaps provide you with a data audit of your existing databases.  Whatever your data needs, Data Broker, can help your business grow through cost effective direct marketing support.

Databroker for data, Coventry for comedy, Tescos in Coventry for your tea, Data Broker Northern delegate for touring, tact and diplomacy.  Call us today on 0161 941 5700 or email info@data-broker.co.uk

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WRITTEN ON October 15th, 2012 BY John Keating AND STORED IN Data Broker

Tags: data broker, databroker

Sharks eat people, but only people who end up in the sea. 

As British citizens we have all smugly assumed that the man-eating shark is a resident of a warmer climate, but having seen a very large toothed mean looking shark on the back of a flat bed truck in a British port Data Broker can confirm that Sharks are here in the UK too. Big sharks that eat anything, people, seals, fish, yellow barrels, car number plates and boats (Ref Jaws)

You are probably wondering where I saw the shark, and assuming that I saw this beast somewhere warm, i.e. Cornwall, Dover or the Irish Sea just downstream off Sellafield.  Not quite.  I saw a very large shark that was landed by a fishing boat in ABERDEEN.

Sharks are everywhere and they want to eat you.

Data Sharks are everywhere and they want to rip you off. 

You’re looking for data, you are in his water, and the data shark is in for the kill.  He has all the patter, he is hungry for business.  He knows you won’t be back for a repeat order and he does not care.  He probably will not be in the same job this time next month, and by the time you suspect that you have been bitten it will be too late.  The data shark will have moved onto his next victim. 

So when it comes to databases for direct marketing avoid the sharks.  Work with a company who understands what it takes to achieve the best results and that can provide you with genuine impartial advice on what data will best support your company’s commercial objectives.

A company that is a DMA member and a company who you can trust.

We at Data Broker are the original and best data brokers and if you want to achieve more through direct marketing we can help.
Databroker for data, Sharks for your soup. (Although, we advocate cream of tomato instead!)

Databroker can help improve your direct marketing, call us today for a free data quote 0161 941 5700 or email info@data-broker.co.uk

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WRITTEN ON October 9th, 2012 BY John Keating AND STORED IN Sales Director Database

Tags: sales director database

The UK Sales Director File – where a client has a problem, Databroker has the solution!

Wouldn’t it just be perfect if every time a client called you with a problem, you could research the issue and find the perfect solution? Of course, in reality we’re not all perfect!

A few weeks ago, a client called requesting a list of Sales Decision Makers within UK companies, with the aim of offering their services to the Sales Directors, Senior Business Development Managers and Commercial Managers of Britain.  The data industry has strong and weak areas, however accurate sales decision maker contacts can be tough to acquire.

Databroker UK Sales Director Database

Prepare the red carpet……………..drum roll please……………..fireworks and a Stars in their Eyes style smokescreen……………..
Introducing the Databroker UK Sales Director Database, a nationwide file giving you access to the people running Sales Teams in companies employing at least 50 staff.  The file contains up to 7,500 records, depending on the contact mediums you require.
In brief:

• Around 7,500 records of Sales Directors, Sales Managers, and Sales Decision Makers in the UK
• Companies employing more than 50 staff
• Postal, telephone and email records (where available)
• All outputs are TPS, CTPS and FPS clean
• Emails are all opt-in (90-95% of the emails are personal)

For the first 3 months after release, we’re offering 10% discount on the UK Sales Director File, contact Databroker on 0161 941 5700 or email info@data-broker.co.uk  now to get your copy or for more information.

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