How often do you purge your mailing list?

[M C]

Curious how you determine when someone's not "worth" sending mailings to anymore(I'm speaking of snail mail- like promotional mailings, etc.).

 

[princess_amber777]

How often do you purge your mailing list?

I was kinda wondering the same thing, but I actually don't mail anything.

I do make the occasional phone call or email to clients that I haven't seen in a while and I was thinking of removing the 'non-responders' from my data base. Of course I'll keep the client intakes forms in my client file.

 

[kellywebb]

How often do you purge your mailing list?

We send birthday postcards each moth to everyone that has come in the past 10 years, until their address comes back returned for any number of reasons. But it is interesting that this post comes up, because I am thinking of sending a mail campaign to anyone that has not been in the past 5 years letting them know they will no longer be receiving mailings from us unless they respond. Then I will purge them from my mailing list, and list them as "inactive" in the system. We routinely get people that have not been in for 2 years and are surprised to find out how long it has been since their last visit, so I wouldn't purge any less than 2-3 years IMO.

Thanks for posting!

 

[enfriendemy]

How often do you purge your mailing list?

Kneadfulthings- wow. 10 years. You've been in business a WHILE! Congratulations!

And to think I was considering "booting" them after not having seen them for ONE year. Guess I need to re-think that strategy. Actually, we ran into a guy recently whom DH had worked on when we were doing that Farmer's market gig about 3 summers ago. He was thrilled to see DH, and remarked that he'd lost his contact info. Then just last night, I ran into another lady we'd met at that same time- she'd been a vendor there too. Turns out, she lives in this same community we do, and passes by our place all the time ("Oh, that's YOU? COOL!").

When I mailed off our Party Postcards yesterday, I did go through his older files (but only from up to two years ago) and his Horse client folks (who don't usually get mailings from us), and I also added a few local MT's who have been sort of mentors for us over the past few years. I am hoping they'll get 'warm fuzzies" seeing how one of their students is doing now. Huh- perhaps I should send one to the equine sports massage instructor in Florida, where all of this really started. I know he won't come, but perhaps he'll get a kick out of it!

One major reason why I didn't send to longer-ago folks is because he was working on his own back then, and under a different business name. I guess I should go back, tweak the postcards just a little (adding his actual name to "boost memory recall"- perhaps even adding his picture), and go ahead and send to those even up to when he first got his license. It can only cost time and printing/poseforum.xxxe (I have card stock and am printing and cutting them myself).

I am very much looking forward to getting our web site and blog sites up and running (we're going to have a blog for the horse people and one for prenatal/"mommy" stuff), and along with those I'll have e-newsletters I can send out rather than having to use snail mail. Save money and time. I have been looking at Constant Contact's web site and have been *very* impressed. As soon as I'm ready to start working on the web sites again (after the party and taxes are done), I'm going to sign up with them for the 60-day free trial- and use emails generated from our guest list at the party to get started!

I'd love to hear from others on this, too!

 

[ARok5]

How often do you purge your mailing list?

I'd say it's every 3-4 years for us.

I only do a mailing about once a year (sometimes twice). I admit I am pretty lax about that.

I do place the client as "Inactive" in my Massage Office program who have a bad postal address or after that 3-4 year span if I haven't seen them, and then put the folder in a "purge box" (which get's destroyed after 7 years). If they come back in after that, they have to fill out all new paperwork.

If a client returns, I will collect the paperwork from the box and add it to the existing clients "new" folder, but sometimes that is not right-away.

 

[GRACE Q]

How often do you purge your mailing list?

I'd say it's every 3-4 years for us.

I only do a mailing about once a year (sometimes twice). I admit I am pretty lax about that.

I do place the client as "Inactive" in my Massage Office program who have a bad postal address or after that 3-4 year span if I haven't seen them, and then put the folder in a "purge box" (which get's destroyed after 7 years). If they come back in after that, they have to fill out all new paperwork.

If a client returns, I will collect the paperwork from the box and add it to the existing clients "new" folder, but sometimes that is not right-away.

Sounds like a good system, pueppi (although I'd like to think that I'll be more consistent with mailings/emails- but we all know how that goes, LOL!). Only- aren't we required to have our clients fill out new paperwork "every so often" anyway ("if anything in lines 1-4 changes", or if the client's reason for seeking massage therapy changes")?

 

[mr p]

How often do you purge your mailing list?

Only- aren't we required to have our clients fill out new paperwork "every so often" anyway ("if anything in lines 1-4 changes", or if the client's reason for seeking massage therapy changes")?

I keep SOAP notes on everyone. So, if they haven't been in in a while, or they were in yesterday, I have the most up to date info on them in the chart - that can include new meds, conditions, etc., since most of my clients are always seeking massage for something that has "changed".

For addresses, I honestly am not my clients keeper. I expect them to provide me with new info and ask for a new address/phone update on everyone about every three years, where I have them actually fill out updated paperwork for that.

I am sure once a year would be better, but I do good to keep up with my life and everyone elses at about that rate of timing.....

 

[Tim S]

How often do you purge your mailing list?

lol.... I understand.... completely....

 

[Liquid Gold]

How often do you purge your mailing list?

We don't do direct mail, so no need to purge. E-mail is more cost-effective and efficient for us, and it self-purges when people unsubscribe or if e-mail addresses bounce back as undeliverable.

 

[geezer]

How often do you purge your mailing list?

We don't do direct mail, so no need to purge. E-mail is more cost-effective and efficient for us, and it self-purges when people unsubscribe or if e-mail addresses bounce back as undeliverable.

I've thought of this, as well. Some of our clients don't have email (gasp!). I am hoping to go more to straight email once we get our newsletter going; that's the main reason I'm working on that. I also need to make sure that the email addresses we have right now are current.

Jason, do you do specialized individual emails to, such as for birthdays, etc.?

 

[Moonlights]

How often do you purge your mailing list?

We do limited direct mail, but we have only had our spa for 3 years.

We have yet to purge anyone that was not a CofA notification.

This year we started sending $20 gift cards -- complete in a card holder as if you bought one -- to every client who has a birthday in the upcoming month. The response has been tremendous! Sure, it costs us about $2 each to mail, but some people who have not been in for 8 months or more show up and spend 10X their gift.

We probably won't ever purge anyone that does not have their mail returned.

 

[Eleanor]

How often do you purge your mailing list?

We do limited direct mail, but we have only had our spa for 3 years.

We have yet to purge anyone that was not a CofA notification.

This year we started sending $20 gift cards -- complete in a card holder as if you bought one -- to every client who has a birthday in the upcoming month. The response has been tremendous! Sure, it costs us about $2 each to mail, but some people who have not been in for 8 months or more show up and spend 10X their gift.

We probably won't ever purge anyone that does not have their mail returned.

How cool is that!

 

[B.E.inspired]

How often do you purge your mailing list?

We don't do direct mail, so no need to purge. E-mail is more cost-effective and efficient for us, and it self-purges when people unsubscribe or if e-mail addresses bounce back as undeliverable.

I've thought of this, as well. Some of our clients don't have email (gasp!). I am hoping to go more to straight email once we get our newsletter going; that's the main reason I'm working on that. I also need to make sure that the email addresses we have right now are current.

Jason, do you do specialized individual emails to, such as for birthdays, etc.?

We have that option, but don't exercise it because we don't have a way to automate that type of process yet, and there are too many names in our database to do them manually. If we were a smaller practice or could automate it, we would give that a try.