Step Three – Develop and Send Out an e-Course

By Bruce · Saturday, September 26th, 2009

This is one of the most important parts of developing a strong customer relationship. Most businesses fail because of not following up with quality content to their customer list. This especially holds true for “brick and mortar” businesses. Even if it is a postcard mail out of some educational information sprinkled with a special on some product or service in the store.

When making an e-course from your business blog, make sure you give the best of your knowledge that benefits the customer. Don’t worry if you feel that it may your best of the best, your customer will sense your integrity on truly helping them. When you reach out to help someone, there is a feeling on behalf of the customer to “reciprocate” by buying your product or service in the future. Dr. Robert Cialdini’s book, “Influence: The psychology of persuasion,” has described the “principle of reciprocity” as a very strong device of getting and keeping a devoted customer base.

The typical e-course is dispensed as a series of emails to your list of customers and prospects. Previously, we mentioned how you develop your list in the first place, with an opt in box displayed prominently on your blog, preferably on the upper right corner.

Benefits of an e-course:

It can deepen the relationship with your customers
Gives more perceived value to your business
Helps in getting referrals from your customer base
Leads to future sales and profits
Builds a stable, long term customer base

We are in the process of developing a “how to” course in making a simple e-course that anyone can implement at a very reasonable investment. We are sure it will help you in adding to the value of your business blog.