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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 recognize your name and stop
and listen every time 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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