But what does this tell us about internet marketing?

Quite a bit actually, when I arrived I felt as though I was genuinely cared for, I knew that the staff of the restaurant was happy to see me and that they took the time to get to know their customers.

This is exactly what we are trying to achieve when we market our business (or our clients) on the internet. We want visitors to our site to know that we care about their experience, that we want them to return time and again. In order to achieve this, it is imperative to deliver genuine value.

When it was time to order dinner, Joseph catered to my tastes. “Hey I know you loved the seared tuna last time you were in, you should try the Sea Bass special it’s off the hook”…Joseph went on to describe the dish in tantalizing fashion. He knew exactly what I’d like. He had learned this by engaging in conversations about food and wine, in other words, Joseph has created himself as an expert on his particular subject and I have learned over the years to trust his judgment.

By applying this concept to internet marketing, we create a trust that cannot be faked. It is vital to deliver real value. Adding the following steps can help create a following of loyal clients…

• Get to know your audience. Learn what they like, what they hate and why.
• Use that knowledge of your audience to educate them and earn their trust.
• Offer products and services that will be advantageous to your clients (you are after all in this to make money), but do it by delivering real value. In other words, show respect for your customers.

When I write copy for a site, I’m not trying to appeal to everyone. I get to know who my target audience is. Once I’ve identified them, I deliver information that, in some way, will add value to their lives.

For years, people have been bombarded by marketing schemes delivering products that are under par to say the least. Customer service and high quality products have gone by the wayside, but it has gone too far. People today are far more conscientious, they’re not going to throw away their hard earned money on some piece of trash. By following Joseph’s example we can create loyal customers who return to our site time and again, who trust us and are happy to buy what we are selling.