As we prepare for the Labor Day weekend, I am reminded of how hard people in the list business are working these days. It’s getting harder every day to make a buck in the business. Clients are demanding more service while order sizes are declining.
Don’t despair! Every industry shift holds great opportunity for those who capitalize on the changes.
The current demand trend is away from clerical services and towards consultative services. In the past, a list company could make a lot of money simply acting as an order taker. You will lose your shirt with that attitude today. Now you need to be a strategic consultant to your client whether you are a list broker or a list manager.
Here’s some good news: consultants get paid a lot more than clerks!
The problem is that many firms are having difficulty moving from clerks to consultants. The reason is they are handcuffed by old technology and old processes that require a lot of manpower, time, and attention. Those firms devote a large percentage of their staff hours to clerical duties and don’t have anything left for true consulting. The only way to break away from this is to step back and think, "There’s got to be a better way. Do we really have to scurry around like that?"
Yes, there is a better way.
Technologies exist today that enable you to streamline list research, order entry, order transmission, finance, and just about every other aspect of a list business. In fact, it’s NextMark‘s mission is to provide these solutions. We want to streamline your back-room operations.
Once freed from clerical duties, you can focus your time and attention on serving the needs of your client. Acting as a strategic consultant. Helping them grow their business. You will have more job satisfaction knowing your efforts are appreciated and — best of all — you will make more money!
Give yourself a Labor Day gift: get the tools you need to move you and your company from clerks to consultants!