The latest figures for UK consumers and business which have chosen not to receive unsolicited mailing or phone calls highlight the need for businesses to screen and clean their data on a regular basis.

Case studies show a direct link between direct mail and increases in restaurant visitors, according to a postcard printing company in the US.

The mailings carried out in Florida and other regions of the US show how restaurants can get more footfall and trade when they need it, through regular direct mail.

Following our recent post about the danger’s of buying dodgy data: those cheap lists from unknown sources that seem too good to be true – we thought it would be a good time to remind you of your obligations in maintaining the quality and accuracy of your data.

Information collected on your website is far more likely to be inaccurate or go out of date quickly, so how can you keep it up to date as easily possible? The Easycheck desktop application from Selectabase helps you clean the address and telephone data you’ve collected online.

In his recent book ‘Adapt’ the economist Tim Harford suggests that solutions to complex issues can only be identified if you are willing to risk failure.

Harford believes that success almost always follows a failure, so it’s better to fail early and fail small first, to avoid greater risk and safeguard growth.