In: Categories » Internet » Internet marketing and advertising » Internet Income Basics: Customer Base Development
| Here’s a question for you: do you think it is easier to sell your product or services to a complete stranger or to a person with whom you’ve had contact before; whether it's an email conversation, forum participation, blog interaction or even an existing customer relationship (i.e. an existing customer). Without doubt, it’s significantly harder to sell to a total stranger who has no idea about your credibility. Will your product or service truly benefit the buyer? This is precisely why you should build a well-targeted 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. This doesn’t happen by accident. Initially people “trust” you enough to give you an email address. A little later they subscribe to a free mini course or email series. Later they may respond favorably to a product recommendation. Soon after maybe a small purchase. There are several sources that you can tap to start building a well targeted 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 recognize who you are and value your comments. You become a valuable friend, teacher, and authority figure on a specific topic. Eventually you begin to gain the trust of these people. Would you buy something a 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 eventually, it's about proving your value and offering an incentive to encourage people become part of your mailing list. A typical example would be a website that’s full of freely available, helpful and quality articles on a certain subject matter. Maybe add a "special report" that can be downloaded for free that provides valuable content in exchange for an email address. Rich content provides value; "special well-targeted reports" provide additional value. When a customer finally commits to give you money, that's not the end of the relationship. It’s simply an elevation of the relationship. Keep in touch and develop what can be a flourishing relationship. Understand the lifetime value of each and every customer. This is a vital element of what may be a source of long-term 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 the best source of future revenue. Understanding this important concept will save you lots of time and effort. About the author - William Lockhart is founder of CyberIncomeSolutions.com
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