3×5 Contact Management System
Back in the good old days, before such things as computerized contact management systems, salesmen created a physical contact management system. I learned this system many years ago, while working in the Network Marketing world. For those of you who prefer the tactile sensation of a physical contact management system, but are finding that just having an address book or a notebook or a pile of papers isn’t working for you, try this:
Supplies (links go to the Amazon.com site for purchase):
- Index Cards (3×5 or 4×6)
- 2 Index card file boxes (also 3×5 or 4×6)
- 3 sets of dividers (size appropriate to the cards you choose):
Set one box up with the numbers in front and the months in back appropriate to the current date.
e.g. – Today is May 8th. You would have May, 8, 9, 10….31, June, 1-7, July, Aug…..
As each day passes, you put that number tab divider into the next month.
The second box is set up with the A-Z tabs.
For each contact, you make up 2 cards. One card just has name, address, phone number, and basic information and that card is filed in the second box alphabetically. (For easy access by name).
The second card is an ongoing tracking of every interaction you have with that person. So let’s say you meet someone at a networking meeting on 5/1. You make your first call with them today 5/8 to gauge interest in your services. They are going on vacation next week for 2 weeks. They are interested but could you call them back after 5/21.
You make a note of all the pertinent details on the card under 5/8 (where are they going on vacation, any personal details they mention, the fact that they are interested, etc.). You also make a note on the card “5/21 f/u call to pursue booking a gig (or whatever).” Then you file that card behind the #21 divider. If a contact says, call me back after the summer, you file their card behind the September tab. Always noting what the next action is on the card. Assume that you have no short term memory. Write everything down. Any information they give you about themselves, their circumstances, what they’re looking for, everything gets written down.
Each day you check that day’s divider and take any actions scheduled for that day. Every contact should have a future action scheduled unless they have unequivocally said, “No thank you.” Then you can decide to either toss the card (if they were a jerk about it), or clip it to their alphabetically filed 2nd card. You never know when they may call you in the future or send you a referral.
In this way, nothing ever falls through the cracks. Even if you only work your business 3 days a week, you just check the actions for the days preceding. Any calls you didn’t get to today, immediately re-file under a future date.
This system can be modified for 3 ring binders or accordion files. Whatever works for you. What’s nice about the index card is that it is incredibly portable. What’s challenging is the lack of space for copious notes. You can also get creative using colors. For example, venue owners could be one color, agents/managers another color, fellow artists yet a third color. Whatever makes you happy, helps keep you organized and supports you in taking action!
