There are two people in front of you; one you have never met before, one that you have had contact with, be it conversing thru email, participating in a form or even an existing customer. Now, which one is going to be easier to sell a new product to? The answer, for most people is obvious. The person with whom you have had contact with is going to be easier. They know the product, they know you are an honest seller and are trust worthy and whether or not your product is worth purchasing.

This is exactly the reason you want to build up a good customer base. A customer base is made up of the people who know you and know they can trust you and are likely to buy the product you are offering. Having a good customer base will help to ensure that you have a constant stream of income. Also, when you have the opportunity to make an endorsement, you will have a solid amount of people who will listen when you speak.

Fortunately, a customer base can be built in several ways as there are a lot of recourses available. One option is to give free advice and help thru online forums that you participate in. And, since you will be frequenting the same sites or type of sites, your name will soon become familiar to the readers of the forums. You will become a friend of sorts and when you make a recommendation, it will be more likely to be followed up on.

The use of a mailing list is another way to build a customer base. There are a ton of ways to get subscribers. However, when it comes right down to it, what you need to do is prove that you have something of value and the use of an incentive will make people want to sign up for your mailing list. For example, if you have a very informative website, people will check it out. However, if you also provide a free weekly newsletter or a free special report just for providing an valid email address, they may happily sign up for it.

Don't forget about your existing customers as another source of a good customer base. For instance, if you bought a product from a person who answered all you questions and took time to make sure you are happy with your purchase, wouldn't you buy from them again? Of course you would. So, keep that in mind when you are doing business. After you have made the sale, follow up to make sure the customer is satisfied. This will build a relationship and you are more likely to get a referral.

Now, imagine if you had hundreds or thousands of people waiting to buy your latest and greatest product before it is even available for purchase! That is why it is so important to have a solid customer base.