I was chatting to one of the members of my BNI chapter last week and during that conversation, I came to a realisation that not everyone understands what a database might consist of and how it can be used.

In particular we’d been talking about his database and using Send Out Cards. He is interested in using the cards for his business but didn’t know how he could use it in relation to the database program he is using. It was a program I’d not come across before. We’d also been talking about how I could enter business cards he’d collected into his database if I was doing it in my own office and didn’t have a copy of the program he uses.

I asked him ‘can you export in csv or txt format? If so, we can certainly import as well’. The light went on for him. He hadn’t realised that could be done and it was probably a bit of information I hadn’t shared previously (guess what I’ll be speaking about in BNI this week?).

Doesn’t matter whether they’re using a PC or Mac and if I don’t have the program. The reality is if they can import a portion of their database into a csv or txt file, then send it to me, I can use that as a template for future data entry, enter in new cards and send it back for them to import back into their database. What’s more, I can upload it to Send Out Cards for them and organise cards to be sent on their behalf.

So, if you have a collection of business cards sitting on your desk or in a drawer because you haven’t had time to enter them and didn’t know if someone else had the program you’ve got, why not look at the import/export function and then contact a VA to get started for you. You can send the cards to them by mail, courier, fax or scan and they can do the data entry. Makes sense that they do this so you can concentrate on the money earning aspect of your business. And let’s face it. Growing your database is important for the health of your business. If you’re not growing your list it can be hard to grow your business.