Every business owner is aware that customers sign his paycheck. Customers are interesting individuals. They look for what business owners offer, and then they recommend it to their friends and family all over social media. Additionally, excellent customer service keeps them returning time and again. That requires sincere thanks. While pens, key chains and a dozen other little goodies are nice for customers to have, customer appreciation takes a little more than that. We’ve compiled a list of eight ways to show your customers that you care. We hope it helps.
One: Contact Them
Every business owner has software recording their customers’ names, addresses, email addresses and in some cases their birthdays. Talking to them often unearths some extra facts that come in handy when business owners want to thank them:
- Send them e-cards on their birthdays
- Send their children a birthday card (they cost a dollar at any dollar store)
- Send them a balloon on their wedding anniversary (again, they cost a dollar at the dollar store)
- Write them a hand-written note on the occasion of celebrating a raise or a promotion at work, celebrating weight loss, or celebrating a milestone in their education such as a Master’s degree
Two: The Truth Shall Set You Free
Being honest with customers shows respect. Tell them what they want to know about the product or service you provide. When you hold an event such as a sidewalk sale or a special discount on a new shipment, let them know by email or a hand-written note. Offering your wares without hoopla or misrepresentation when that is so prevalent these days will gain their undying gratitude.
Three: Thank Them for Growing Your Brand
You aren’t in business for your health. You are making a name for yourself as well as branding yourself and your product or service. Focus the brand on thanking the customers that made the brand recognized:
- Name a special or discount after them (“The Maggie Newman Discount, for example)
- If the service or product you provide can be personalized, then ask the customers what they would like to see produced next and name it after the one who suggested it
- Your brand will naturally have a social media page or several. On that page, offer a special or service for the brand fan who picks up on the answer to your favorite riddle. Free stuff works wonders in customer appreciation.
Four: Feedback
Social media is so important in our lives, it would be a shame to use it less wisely. It is there that customers share their experiences, praise or disenchantment with brands or companies and products. Make sure your page is well monitored, posts answered almost immediately, and those customers’ comments are put to good use in the company you run. Knowing they are paid attention to and their suggestions are actually used is some of the best customer appreciation there is.
Five: Video Reaches Everyone
Want to blow the competition out of the water? It only takes ten minutes to shoot a video on your smart phone. Have one of your family or employees hold the phone and shoot while you read off the name of the customer of the month. Call them by name and celebrate the fact that they are an excellent customer and that you sincerely thank them. Upload it to all of your social media accounts, and your competition’s jaws will be on the floor!
Six: Music Soothes the Savage Breast
While everyone’s taste in music is different, everyone loves it. It doesn’t cost much to buy a gift card to iTunes or some other kind of music service. Send them through the mail to your customers to thank them for being the best customers ever.
Seven: Food Works, Too
A gift card to a local restaurant or a coupon for dollars off the bar or a course at a local restaurant, Starbucks, or perhaps a small business that offers ground gourmet coffees or homemade breads and other bakery items go a long way to thanking customers. After all, we have to eat, right?
Eight: Everyone Has a Sweet Tooth
What do chocolates, yogurt bites, hand-made packages of trail mix and cookies have in common? Everyone’s mouths water when they are presented to them for being excellent customers. You just plain can’t go wrong with sweet stuff, because everyone loves it.
Thanking customers is a vital part of business. Without them, your dreams and goals wouldn’t manifest. You’ve put in a ton of work getting your brand into the public consciousness using social media and other types of advertising. Now that customers are coming to you with credit cards clutched in their seeking fingers, it’s time to thank them. We can help. Everyone loves gift boxes. When they’re filled with gourmet cookies, you’ll have a “thank you” for which they’ll return time and again. Contact us to learn more about our personalized gifts in addition to some outstanding cookies!