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Internet Business For Newbies
Building A Customer Base
Navigation: Home - Home Business Courses - Internet Business For Newbies - Building A Customer Base Building a Customer Base
Let me ask you a question: do you think it is easier to sell your
product or services to a complete stranger or to a person you have had
contact before; whether it's an email conversation, forum participation
or even an existing customer relationship (i.e. He has bought something
from you). Without doubt, it would be harder to sell to a total
stranger who does not know whether or not you are an honest seller, and
whether or not they should trust your words and believe that your
product or services will truly benefit them.
This is precisely why you should build up a customer base -- a group of
people who trust you and will most likely buy a product that you offer
to them. This will ensure that you have a recurring and consistent
source of income. When you release a product or make an endorsement,
you have a group of people always ready to hear what you have to say.
There are several sources that you can tap into to start building a
customer base. For example, you can participate in an online discussion
forum and give advice and help for free. It won't be long before people
start to recognise your name and stop and listen everytime you have
something to say. You will become a valuable friend and teacher, and
gain the trust of these people. Would you buy something your close
friend recommends?
Another way to build a customer base is to build a mailing list. There
are a gazillion methods to collect subscribers, but when it's boiled
down to the very essence, it's all about proving your value to the
crowd and offering an incentive to make people become part of your
mailing list. A typical example would be a website choke-full of freely
available, helpful and quality articles on a certain subject plus a
"special report" that can be downloaded for free provided you give your
email address. The rich content provides value, and the "special
report" is the extra incentive.
Yet another source for your customer base, which is often forgotten, is
your existing customers. If you bought this product from this
particular person and he answered patiently to your every question,
would you buy from him again in the future? Definitely. When a customer
has given you his money, that's not the end of the affair because by
keeping in touch with him and developing a flourishing relationship
with him, you will have a lifetime source of income.
Imagine if 100, 1000 or even 10000 customers are waiting to grab your
newest products even before they are released! Hence, it's vital to
build a customer base because it simply saves a lot of time and effort.
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