Zurich Insurance has recently been fined £2.3m by the Financial Service Authority (FSA) for losing personal details of 46,000 customers.

According to the BBC report, the information went missing during a routine data backup to their data centre, and the company was ‘oblivious’ to the loss until a year later.

The FSA stated that Zurich UK had failed to oversee the outsourcing arrangement effectively and did not have full control over the data being processed by their data centre.

Your data is one of your most valuable assets. Having it fall into the wrong hands could have devastating consequences, particularly if it contains confidential customer information.

Many companies now use some form of web-based CRM system to manage prospect and customer information. But who else can access this information, or what happens if the provider goes out of business?

As more prospect data suppliers move to online systems, some of them are putting their customers at serious risk by having their prospect software written and managed by third party companies, who can easily access confidential client data. What’s more, what happens if either the data provider or the third party software company goes out of business, or the two companies have a trading disagreement? Suddenly your business could be left “high and dry”.

Customers who subscribe to the Insight database access data via Salestracker, Insight’s own web-based CRM software. The software is written and managed by Insight’s in-house software team under strict security guidelines, and customer data is stored separately within a high-security data centre in London, with a mirrored back-up system for disaster recovery purposes. The database is protected by a host of security and firewall systems.

Protecting your data is a serious matter. You don’t want it to fall into the wrong hands, and you don’t want to be left exposed if your data supplier or their software provider have a disagreement or cease trading.

Choosing a financial strong and stable company such as Insight Data, who have developed their own software in-house and who take your data security very seriously, will ensure your data is both secure and accessible at all times. Other data providers may provide a cheap solution, but is it worth the risk?

For more information on Insight Data visit www.insightdata.co.uk, call us on 01934 808293 or follow us on www.twitter.com/insightdata

Increased volatility in the window and conservatory market in the last year has led to a surge in the number of companies changing their details, swapping suppliers and changing staff.

“Last month alone 1,090 companies changed some element of their business and the rate of change is accelerating. Keeping your finger on the pulse in this fast-moving market is essential.” explains Insight’s Data Analyst David Lewis

To cope with this increase, Insight has now expanded its research team to eight staff, all of which have intensive telemarketing and product training. “It is no longer possible to maintain the level of detail and accuracy of the window industry database with just a few researchers, and by expanding our team we continue to research and update our database more frequently that other data providers, ensuring our clients have the very latest market intelligence.”

Clients access details of 14,000 fabricators and installers online in real-time using Salestracker, Insight’s web-based CRM system. As a researcher updates or adds new records clients can act on this information instantly. The research team uses a sophisticated Voice over IP (VoIP) phone system linked directly to Salestracker with capacity for some 500,000 calls per annum, while a system to monitor data accuracy ensures records are updated correctly.

“With so many window companies changing their details every month, it was essential we invested in the latest technology as well as new staff. We now have 20 people at Insight Data engaged in helping our customers find and win new customers, and this number is expanding as we launch new databases for the building industry” concludes David.

For more information contact Insight Data on 01934 808293, visit http://www.insightdata.co.uk or follow us on Twitter: www.twitter.com/insightdata

Specialist prospect data supplier, Insight Data, has turned its attention to the Irish market with the launch of a new Republic of Ireland window and conservatory prospect database.

Helen Costeloe-Hughes, commercial director at Insight Data, explains why the company has developed the new database; “The Irish market is seeing a resurgence of interest amongst suppliers. Forward thinking companies such as Edgetech are active in Ireland as demonstrated recently by their Journey to C seminars, while events such as the G10 Regional Exhibition in Belfast attracted significant interest from suppliers. One of the barriers to trading successfully in Ireland has been a quality, reliable prospect database, which is why Insight has now addressed this problem.”

The Republic of Ireland database consists of 814 fabricators and installers updated live in real-time. Client’s access data via Salestracker, the world’s first online prospect database developed for the window industry. Users simply log-on, create a target list by county, product, or size, and instantly create a mailing or telesales list. Salestracker also incorporates a CRM system so that users can track leads, manage prospects and drive sales activity.

Helen continues; “Composite windows and coloured frames are particularly popular in Ireland, and the adoption of the Building Energy Ratings (BER) scheme – similar to the UK’s Window Energy Ratings – means energy efficiency is also a hot topic. Our new database allows clients to market energy efficient products to Irish fabricators and installers and turn them into new customers.”

Insight Data has continued to expand its range of databases and now employs 20 staff across research, software and marketing services divisions. “We have invested over £150,000 to develop Salestracker and have over 250 users subscribed to the system. The Irish database is the latest in a range of new databases for the window industry designed to help clients find and win new customers” added Helen.

For more information contact Insight Data on 01934 808293, visit www.insightdata.co.uk or follow us on www.twitter.com/insightdata

The Direct Marketing Association represents companies involved in database marketing and provides the quality standards, compliance and best-practise across all aspects of data and direct marketing.  It is also the Governments enforcement arm, and has powers to impose large fines on companies who breach regulations.

Membership of the DMA requires a gruelling application and assessment process of quality standards, procedures, customer satisfaction and financial standing, followed by a regular audit process and compliance with the DMA codes of practise.

The DMA awarded Insight Data membership a year ago, and our data analyst, David Lewis was appointed compliance officer.  David has done a great job in the last year, we are delighted to announce the DMA has just renewed our membership for another year.

Andrew Buffrey from the DMA said “Membership of the Direct Marketing Association is only available to those companies who demonstrate the highest professional standards. Insight Data has continued to drive forward with its commitment to raise standards and we are delighted to award DMA membership for another year.”  Andrew Buffrey, DMA.

While other data providers churn out PR puff and miss-truths, Insight has continued to invest in people, resources and systems to improve every aspect of our business and the databases we supply, to ensure our customers really do have the best data available. David commented “Insight is the only database company in the building industry to be awarded membership of the DMA, joining companies such as Yellow Pages, Sainsburys, HSBC Bank and BT and I am delighted they have appointed us full members after our probationary first year.”

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In his second article on InsightLive, Neil Roberts, Account Director for Purplex Marketing discusses the influence PR has on the window industry.

Mention the term Public Relations or PR to companies in the window industry and you are likely to get a mixed a response. While some individuals love seeing their face plastered all over the trade press and online E-zines, others would rather keep a much lower profile and prefer to shy away from the limelight.

But while everyone has their own opinion on the merits of seeing their company splashed all over the media, done correctly PR really works.

What do the companies you see regularly promoting themselves in the trade press have in common? Aside from being the most easily recognised, invariably they are the most successful.

Without naming names, the reason some companies significantly out perform their rivals is not because their products or services are much better, it’s because they have built a good reputation through the media.

Imagine two fabricators based on the same industrial estate. For arguments sake let’s call them Company A and Company B. Both are of a similar size, use the same profile and offer similar products, yet Company A starts winning orders over the Company B. Why? 

The difference is PR. Company A has been busy getting exposure all over the trade press and online E-zines and as a result, installers would now rather buy their frames from Company A. Tales like these are happening all throughout the supply chain, with the most successful systems companies, fabricators and sealed unit manufacturers all using PR to their advantage and stealing ground from their competitors.

So how can you go about getting your press releases published in the media? In fact it is not as difficult as you might think. There are some excellent print and online magazines operating in the window industry and the editors are eager to receive your news items.

A good example is Fenestration News http://www.fenestrationnews.com/news/news.aspx Fenestration News a well established online portal that contains press releases from all the major players in the industry. If you have written a story, you can email the editor at news@fenestrationNews.com and if approved will be uploaded for free onto the relevant news section within a day or two. Every Thursday, the week’s news is emailed out to over 20,000 industry contacts, making it very likely your press release will be viewed by your prospective customers. The site is updated daily and it allows people in the industry to catch up with the latest information as and when it happens, making this site ideal for keeping up with the fast paced window industry.

There are several other online E-zines including;

The Gl@zine (http://www.the-glazine.com/ )

Bullseye http://www.ggpmag.com/index.asp

Glasswire (http://www.best-show.co.uk/page.cfm/link=95/)

Some of the best print magazines include

Glass and Glazing Products (http://www.unity-media.com/ggp.asp)

Windows Active (http://www.windowsactive.co.uk/)

Glass Times (http://www.glasstimes.co.uk/)

 Window Industries (www.turretgroup.co.uk)

….which are widely circulated among the industry and will consider running news-worthy press releases for a small printing fee.

So what happens if you haven’t got the time to write your own press release in a way editors will be interested in running them?  The simple answer is leave it to the experts and appoint a PR agency.

Purplex has a dynamic and hugely experienced team of writers that will stream powerful PR and make your prospective customers sit up and take notice. The Purplex team knows the window and building industries inside out and will immediately begin to position your company as the one of the leading players in your specific field and make a real difference to your bottom line.

In conclusion, while you may not think PR is for you, ask as yourself why all the major players in the industry invest in it year-on-year. While it may seem like an ego trip for some, the novelty of appearing in the news would quickly ware off if it didn’t get results and improve profits.

Purplex can help you unlock the power of PR and use this weapon to your advantage and if you would like to know more, please don’t hesitate to get in touch.

To find out more about the PR services offered by Purplex please call Neil on 01934 808 132 or visit www.purplexmarketing.co.uk

Brands looking to improve their search engine optimisation (SEO) performance should try using blogs as they generate a lot of interest, according to an expert.

Nick Baggott, founder of Navigate Consulting, said that blog content tends to get more comments and be linked to by other sites as it is less sales focused than other types of online marketing.

“Blogs are about creating content that other people are going to link to and because they tend to be about your opinions they generate more links and can become link bait for other sites, so they work very well in search engines,” he added.

Mr Baggott also said that from a search point of view, businesses which have not got a huge budget can often get their blog higher up the rankings than their website.

These findings are backed up by Helen Costeloe-Hughes, Commercial Director of Insight Data, who notes that blogging is a great way for companies in the window industry to engage with new and existing customers. “Blogs generate interest as they are less about sales and more about informing or sharing thoughts and ideas with the reader” Helen comments.

“This means you can build more meaningful relationships with customers and they wont feel like you are pressuring them into a sale. Also, companies in the industry are increasingly turning to the web to research potential suppliers or to place orders. Blogs will push your website higher up the Google rankings and drive more potential customers to your site.”

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If you would like to discussing blogging or any other aspect of your marketing with Helen or another member of the Insight Data team, please call 01934 808 293 or visit www.insightdata.co.uk