| Almost every business in the world | | | | Using this data, you can track what |
| nowadays makes use of a computer system | | | | marketing campaigns work and what didn't |
| in one form or another. So, given that | | | | work so well. By analyzing what worked |
| you are using a computer in your | | | | the best, you can easily repeat your |
| business, you might want to ask yourself | | | | success (and avoid your mistakes!). |
| if you are getting the most out of it. | | | | 3. Marketing Materials |
| 1. Make A Database Of Products and | | | | You don't have to buy a top of the line |
| Customers | | | | graphic design package if you don't want |
| Once your business grows to a certain | | | | to. Various pieces of software allow you |
| size it doesn't make sense to keep track | | | | to do just one thing, for example, |
| of everyone you do business with on | | | | create a business card design or a |
| paper. You will want to have a full | | | | brochure. You will still have to pay for |
| database of customer names, contact | | | | good card stock if you are making |
| details, addresses, and a record of | | | | business cards, however. You can even |
| their transactions with you. A number of | | | | design your own business card and have |
| cheap softwares are available that let | | | | it printed at your local printing shop. |
| you do just this, but it's also possible | | | | 4. Sell Over The Internet |
| to make your own database using | | | | You can use computers to set up a |
| open-source technologies like PHP and | | | | website that has an online store. You |
| MySQL. By having all of their names and | | | | can also open a merchant account to use |
| addresses on file, it makes it super | | | | as part of your home business over the |
| easy to print address labels and send | | | | phone or by post, by simply entering the |
| them flyers or specials or anything else | | | | card numbers and amounts into a website |
| that you might have going on in your | | | | to process the payments. |
| business. This allows you to increase | | | | 5. Back Up Records |
| the contact you have with your customer | | | | Sometimes, the importance of backing |
| which will inevitably increase sales. | | | | things up can only come from learning |
| 2. Graph Sales and Make Predictions | | | | things the hard way. Regardless, if you |
| Once you have your data all sorted | | | | are smart you will have some kind of |
| neatly, you can go a step further and | | | | system-restore software installed on |
| get your computer to produce charts, | | | | your computer. Better yet, make a |
| graphs, and even predict what sales will | | | | complete backup of your computer on an |
| be like in the months or years ahead. | | | | external hard drive. |