Give Them What They Want

So, your Internet business is up and running. You’ve carefully
chosen and researched a niche, selected and displayed products to
your customers, processed their orders, and even generated some
new visitors. It looks like all the basic small business website
design principles are in place to build your online business.
You’ve seen others make amazing profits in their online business.
What do they know that you don’t? What are you missing?

I’ve worked hard to build a successful online business. I’ve
succeeded where others have failed through one simple principle
– I give my customers what they want. In return, they keep
coming back.

My customers, like you, appreciate what is familiar and
comforting. Everyone does it. You see a new book from your
favorite author, a new CD by your favorite singer, a new movie
starring your favorite actor, and you can’t wait to experience
it.

You loved the last book (or CD, or movie) and wanted more. They
offered more, and generated more sales. Its much easier to sell
your product or service to people who already know you.
Hopefully, their purchasing experience was a pleasant one, so
they like and even trust you. People prefer to buy from those
that they like and trust, those that are familiar.

If they drove past your store every day, they would constantly
be reminded of your presence. The Internet doesn’t work that
way. You need another way to market to them. Start by capturing
the e-mail addresses of all the visitors to your website. Once
they leave, there is only a 1% chance they will ever return (even
if you’re bookmarked, or in their list of favorites). How will
you get them back?

You must do two things. First, always look for new products to
offer to your clients. Second, stay in contact with your
customers constantly. Give them the option of driving past your
website to check out the specials. No, you’re not intruding, and
you are not being rude. Just the opposite, in fact. If I invited
you to my home and then never spoke to you again, that would be
rude! Yet business owners make this mistake every day.

Spend some time developing your e-mail list. Offer your
customers a special deal – offer a free article, mini-course, or
newsletter in exchange for their first name and e-mail address.
This is a quick and easy way to develop a healthy e-mail list.

Your e-mail list is where the money is. Large corporations like
Amazon.com use their lists to advertise special offers, new
products, and more directly to customers. You can easily use the
same technology. Keep doing this, and you too can make an
amazing profits with online business!

In the spirit of giving your customers what they want, keep this
in mind. Let’s say you have developed an e-book. By selling it
for $27, you hope to eventually become a millionaire. Imagine
how much easier that journey would be if you sold $97 e-books,
complete with audio and video. Perhaps your customers will come
back for a $447 home study course. They tell their friends, and
before you know it, they are all clamoring for a $5,500 workshop.
That’s a great way to build a successful online business!

Give your customers what they want, and they will always
return. Some customers will want more – more information, more
attention, more products and services. Offer them quality
information, and keep them informed of everything you offer. You
and your customer will enjoy a long and happy relationship.

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© Stephen Beck, 2008
You have permission to reprint this article, as long as you don’t make any changes and include the bio below.
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Stephen Beck teaches 7 simple steps to starting a home business. For a free CD explaining those steps, visit Work at Home right now.