Distance learning courses are very popular and a natural way for you to market your other products and services. If you have expertise and like to teach, try this marketing tool. Don't try it if your intent is only to market; it won't work. Here are ten reasons why it works:

1. It gets your name out. Listing your courses on www.teleclass.com or www.blackboard.com will put your name in front of many new people.

2. It helps establish your expertise. If you're good at what you do, it's natural you would start teaching it.

3. Distance learning allows you to reach different demographics for potential clients/consumers. The people who take teleclasses are different from people who take computer courses, yet both may be interested in your services. Some may also just be looking around, and may click through to your website and get interested in something else entirely! They may decide what they really need is coaching, or a home treadmill, or a vacation, or an astrological chart. What's not to like about that?

4. There will be natural ways to promote your other products and services within course itself. How often has someone said to you, "Oh. I didn't know you do that too." In my Emotional Intelligence (EQ) course, it's quite natural for me to recommend assessments (I'm licensed to sell EQ-Map assessment), and opportunity for other courses I offer (on different competencies, such as resilience, intuition and creativity), and tapes and products I sell related to EQ. Once you know EQ, why not buy one of my mugs that says "EQ is better than IQ!" to help spread word?

5. Affiliate opportunities. My students are interested in learning all they can. I'm an affiliate for amazon.com. I recommend books and have link within course. When they buy through my link, I make money. EQ means developing neglected right brain, so I can also recommend "dummies" course in music appreciation, with links provided, and my own "Myths as Metaphor" course.

As a result, Internet has begun to get a reputation for being cold...lacking in personal touch. And it's this personal touch that forges a strong customer bond. Ignore this and you may find your customers drifting over to your competition.

You must give them a reason to stay loyal!

Did you know that sixty-eight (68) percent of customers who quit buying from a company do so because they feel that company doesn't care about them? Just their wallets?

And never assume that since you don't hear any complaints that all is well. Of above mentioned sixty-eight percent, 96% will not let you know how they're feeling...they'll just disappear.

And though they wouldn't tell you, rest assured that they'll probably tell their friends - statistically, one person usually shares a bad experience with nine other people. And 13% will even take this one step further - spreading bad experience to 20 or more.

Can you see, by not reinforcing customer satisfaction and loyalty, that this could become a costly business mistake?

Savvy marketers make sure to establish this human connection early...one of easiest (though often overlooked) tools to launch a strong relationship is a well-executed order confirmation message.

A well-planned confirmation message is often first contact a merchant makes with a customer after initial sales letter. It doesn't have to be elaborate...just make sure you're not missing basics.

For instance, does your message hit following ABC's? A - (A)cknowledge Their Positive Action.

By instantly reinforcing their wise decision to purchase your product, you may be able to head off a number of cases of 'buyers remorse,' thus cutting down on refunds.