If you're a marketer, your number one concern is customers. You've probably read and heard a million and one ideas about how to build relationships, retain customers, create a list of potential customers, and inspire consumer loyalty. But the tough question is, “How do I convert prospects into customers?”

There are many people out there who see your ads, think about them, and maybe even say, “I ought to...” They're just waiting to be convinced to do something about it. There is something you can do to get them moving!

How would you like to increase your sales by more than 50 percent? There's really a simple tactic that you can implement... follow-ups.

Chances are, prospective customers aren't going to buy your product the first time they see or hear about it. Maybe it will be the third or fourth, but they have to hear from you that third or fourth time before they actually become a customer. Do you have a follow-up system in place?

Simply contact the “almost customer” every month with a new offer, or provide them more information about the product they are showing interest in. It doesn't have to be an intricate process. Keeping the contact there goes a long way toward building trust... the key to finding life-long customers.

Internet Marketers experience a high number of customers who browse their site, then click away. You can't follow up without some form of contact information. A great way to gather the info you need is to offer a free e-book or informative report that consumers will find of interest. Once they've provided you the information to email them the product, you have what you need to keep in contact, and work on converting them into loyal customers.

Personalize as much as possible. If you can get the first name of your customer... great! Personalized messages have greater appeal than “addressed to occupant” messages.