Every entrepreneur wants an explosive contact list. They may even go so far as to buy leads and lists. There are no shortcuts to creating a contact list. Customer contact lists are built by networking, business to business transactions, current customers, and through your advertising. Past clients are a great way to begin building. Be patient because building a good contact list takes time.

The first thing you should do is get your customer’s information into your system. Make sure you have their current phone number, mailing address and email. It is easy to get your customers to give their information to you. Simply tell them that they will get on the contact list for future coupons, contests, specials and deals. People love to save money, and this is the main way companies obtain their customer information. This is part of building your contact list based on your current customers.

What are some ways you can approach possible customers without being too pushy for their information? One of the easiest ways to target potential customers is by offering a discount or coupon with a form to fill out. You can collect your leads through your lead form. Lead forms are designed to get future customer information and make them your current customers. Some businesses choose to hold contests where there is a paper form to fill out and place in the cardboard box for a drawing. That is more tedious than running an online contest where people simply fill out a form and their information is skirted quickly to a lead list in your database.

Compiling different types of lists allow you to target specific groups of people with advertising, contests, coupons or specials. Creating separate lists allows you to know who a prior customer is, who a lead is, who is a hard sale etc. Targeting your specific groups allows you to sell more products and services. Offering specific offers to specific target customers gives you the precision you need to not only make the sale, but to create a new customer.

Contact lists are the best way to retain prior customers. Sometimes a prior customer just needs a gentle reminder that your business is still open for business. It doesn’t have to be an offer. It could be something new you are offering and letting your prior customers know about your new service or product. They will be included in any exciting launch of your new product or service. Sending your established customers an invitation to your business to try your new product or service is usually enough to get most of them back in the door. This is called customer retention campaigns. Once your business has a customer, you don’t want to lose that customer.

Networking is another way to get contact information from people who could be potential customers. There are many networking groups from Foodies networks to business networks. Make the most of your time when you are networking and get as much information from the people in your networks as possible.

Lists can be compiled simply by meeting new people. When you meet someone, get their contact information and place them in the proper contact list. Building your contact lists does not have to be complicated. Just be aware that it does take time and effort to compile a good contact list.