Appreciate Your Customers
Written on June 4, 2009 by Susan Payton
Welcome to Spark an Idea Thursday’. Each week we’ll be sharing some great ideas for a topic of interest to our readers. We invite you to grab our image and carry the tradition through to your own blog! If you do, please link back to this post so we know where you were inspired! Sparking an Idea that Shows Appreciation.
I’m a big believer in showing my customers I appreciate them. I can’t always afford to send them lavish gift baskets, but I try to do so at the least for the Christmas season.
Why should you send your customers a token of appreciation?
It’s important to remember that your customers have a choice. They can buy from anyone, but they choose you. That might be because you have a superior product, or amazing customer service, or are convenient. Whatever the reason, be grateful.
Sending a little something can actually bring you more business! While it shouldn’t be your goal, often just by sending a gift or thank you card, your customers are impressed at your thoughtfulness, and are ready to give you even more business.
What should you do?
It all depends on your budget. Let’s start with a budget of $0 and go up from there.
No money
If you don’t have any money, you can still impress. Send a handwritten thank you card, or if you find a website or news article you think your customer would be interested in, send it with a note in an email. This lets them know you’re thinking of them.
A little money
You can get a bar of chocolate, candle or other small gift and send it to a customer as a small thank you. A Starbucks gift card (even for $5) is a great way to make someone smile.
More money
I like to send gift baskets of chocolate. Probably because I like to eat chocolate. Flowers or cheese baskets work too. Before you buy, search for coupon codes online to save money, especially if you’re placing a big order for multiple clients.
What about you? What do you do to show customers appreciation?
Great ideas – I like the different categories of financial investment. Many overlook the freebies that actually go a long way in customer appreciation.
It’s amazing how far even a cheap gift will go with good feelings in your customers. I wish more businesses realized that.
I’ve always like cards. One of my clients sends me flowers out of the blue – no particular occasion, just because. I love that and it makes me want to work harder for them because they thought of me even when there’s no reason to.
[...] says there are thank you gifts for every budget and she especially loves to give chocolate. (You can appreciate me anytime [...]
One thing that my customers always appreciate is free product. It doesn’t have to be much or expensive but just that they are getting something extra shows them how much I care!
My customers always seem to appreciate receiving free product as a thank you. It doesn’t have to be much or expensive – it truly is the thought that counts!
That is a great idea but I think that it would be better if I am just going to say thank you every time they buy some stuff.
Let’s face it that the world is in recession and we have save ever money we have. They would understand it.
This is very great idea that we should consider once..
I love your ideas. I try to send personal emails (not just the newsletters) to my customers to let them know I appreciate their business. I dont know if I want to do handwritten card though given I am trying to lower waste/paper.