Where do record client contact info for marketing?

[NotAnApple]

I don't have any clients yet (well, not any paying ones) but I don't officially start working until January.

I am trying to set up my home office so that I can stay on top of things. I want to record client contact info for future marketing and so I can see how far they travel/ where they come from for future developments.

Shall I just use excel and type names in their? Where do you record client contact info to make most efficient use of it?

Microsoft Access is I think good for this sort of thing, you can record various info you choose, would be worth a look

You will need to register with the ICO if you are collecting information for such purposes.

After a quick look at the ICO website, I think you only need to register if you are marketing by electronic means.

I didn't dig that deep, but that's what it seems to say. So mailings wouldn't require registering.

And certainly all businesses hold databases on their customer/clients and I would think most, if not all, of the smaller ones don't register.

I am wondering how they 'police' this. Interesting.

It's cheap and easy to register - they walk you through it online then give you something to print out and send in. No reason not to do it.

Thanks for this. I had planned to do email marketing but only occassionally. Though, like you say JJ, no reason not to.

DH says we have MS Access and I have used it before so don't know why I didn't think of it.

Thanks so much for all your help and Merry Christmas!

No, in most cases you don't need to register with the ICO for these purposes.

Work through the online self assessment, but note the trick question where it asks you "ARE YOU PROCESSING PERSONAL DATA FOR ANY OF THE FOLLOWING PURPOSES? - Accounts and Records" there is a footnote which says you don't have to answer 'yes' to that if the data does not include data which has been processed by or obtained from a CREDIT REFERENCE AGENCY.

However as JJ says it is relatively cheap to do and can make you look more professional if you can quote your DPR reference.