To even begin the process of developing consumer evangelists, electronics makers must a relationship with their customers. The relationship must be based on trust and perceived value. Consumers must think they’re getting far more for their money from you than your competitors’ products.

Apple has a relationship with it customers, a very positive one. Blackberry users perceive a relationship with RIM. It’s a big commitment to use a Blackberry instead of an iPhone. It takes a lot of loyalty. It takes a relationship.

Google has relationships with its customers.

Facebook has relationships with its 300 million users.

Twitter users are in a relationship with the social networking site.

The vast majority of HDTV Web sites do not have a relationship with their customers. (Vizio does. But Sony, Panasonic, Toshiba, LG, etc. do not.

Video game console makers typically do have relationships with consumers. With video games, particularly the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3, people are making a choice about which device they’ll use.

Amazon has relationships with many of its Prime users, who pay $70 per year to get free two-day shipping. Customers trust Amazon to get them their products in two days. And they perceive the service as a huge value.

Trust and perceived value. Develop both, and you’ll develop relationships with your consumers.