It's time to deep clean your house.
And by that we mean your database.
A deep clean feels good when it's done.
So we're pulling out the grout cleaners, Murphy's Oil Soap, and maybe even the power washer on this one. Maybe your data hasn't really been reviewed in a few months (or possibly longer). Maybe no one's paused to actually go through it and decide how to keep it updated and organized. Maybe you've never run an NCOA report.
If this is the case for you, it's possible that the database you built your fall campaign on needs a scrub before you trust it with a launch.
Here are three things to clean up now for a smoother Campaign.
Audit First, Clean Second.
Conducting a database audit is the first step in cleaning up donor data. An audit will assess the current state of your organization’s donor data and identify areas most in need of improvement.
Before touching records, get clear on what is actually in your database (duplicate records? Bad addresses? Missing data fields?)
Fix the Duplicates.
Scan for repeat records under misspelled names, nicknames, and varying addresses. Left unchecked, duplicates mean wasted mailing dollars and inaccurate donor gift records.
Standardize.
Good data hygiene involves standardizing your data so that information is consistent. Pick one convention (are you using St. vs. Street, or Apt. vs. Apartment?) and stick to it. Consistent formatting makes duplicates easy to catch as your list grows.
And we'll add a fourth point to this list: add this task to your calendar.
Monthly.
Quarterly.
Whatever cadence works for your team — just make it a recurring appointment, not a one-time event.
A little regular maintences goes a long way.
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