The portals we've talked about in this article are not the general portals we all know and use today, but rather vertical or specialized portals. This ability to provide access to key partnerships is going to be important in adding value to the process. At the corporate level, your company should pursue value added partnering relationships that benefit your customers. The idea is to be able solve not only the customer's problem and meet their need as related to your product or service, but also to be able to help the customer in areas upon which your product is dependent . For example, it's the software provider partnering with the hardware vendor in a way that benefits the customer.
Stickiness revolves around people and communities revolve around people with similar interests.
The opportunity to position yourself as the premiere provider in an industry or community because you share the same interests as your customers is equally possible offline as online. Work within communities and groups who have an interest you share or develop a true interest in something your customers have in common. The web is changing the way companies do business. Sales professionals are learning to change with the web. Ultimately, customers are looking for value in both the product or service they buy, and value from the buying process itself.