Database Marketing

DEFINITION: Database marketing is a systematic approach to the gathering, consolidation, and processing ofconsumer data (both for customers and potential customers) that is maintained in a company's databases.Although databases have been used for customer data in traditional marketing for a long time, thedatabase marketing approach is differentiated by the fact that much more consumer data ismaintained, and that  … 
Definition continues below.

DATABASE MARKETING DEFINITION (continued): … Database marketing is a systematic approach to the gathering, consolidation, and processing ofconsumer data (both for customers and potential customers) that is maintained in a company's databases.Although databases have been used for customer data in traditional marketing for a long time, thedatabase marketing approach is differentiated by the fact that much more consumer data ismaintained, and that the data is processed and used in new and more sophisticated ways. Among otherthings, marketers use the data to learn more about customers, select target markets for specificcampaigns (through customer segmentation),compare customers' value to the company, and provide more specialized offerings for customers.