Five Creative Ways To Thank Your Clients For Their Business

“We’re living in what I like to call the ‘Thank You Economy,’ because only the companies that can figure out how to mind their manners in a very old-fashioned way — and do it authentically — are going to have a prayer of competing.” – Gary Vaynerchuk

A simple way of doing this is to make your customers feel valued. It’s best to do this right from the beginning, building up a positive momentum that will carry your brand forward as you grow. But it’s never too late to start!

“Research suggests people often underestimate the impact of showing their gratitude to others,” writes Deloitte’s Suzanne Vickberg, Ph.D., a social-personality psychologist, public speaker, and co-author of Business Chemistry: Practical Magic for Crafting Powerful Work Relationships.

Here are some ideas that you could implement to show customers your gratitude for their business.

Start small

Many business owners tend to think that they’ll need to spend an extravagant amount of money to thank their clients for business – a challenging feat if you’re just starting out. But thanking people doesn’t have to cost a lot of money.

Tailor your thank you’s to the products or services that you offer. If you have a pet grooming parlor or doggy-day car, post your furry clientele on your social media or send photo updates to their owners. If you supply a product that gets delivered to your customers, slip a hand-written, personalized thank-you note into the packaging. It doesn’t have to be an expensive gesture to be valued.

Support your customers’ businesses

If you’ve grown to build a relationship with customers that have their own small business ventures, one of the best ways to say thanks for their support is to support them in return. Buy their products or use their services whenever possible; it will go a long way to building a lasting relationship.

Include a free package

If you’ve grown to a phase that you can afford to offer free products or services to your customers, then it’s an easy way to both thank them and keep them coming back for return business. After all, who doesn’t like getting something for free?

You could slip sample products or small additions to existing orders - you’re already paying for the packaging and delivery, so why not take advantage of that! Or offer them a discount or free access to some of your services depending on what you offer, e.g. graphic designers could include an additional design for free in a brand-design package.

Refer your clients to other clients

 Anyone that’s started a business venture knows that word-of-mouth can play a massive role in building your customer base.

If one of your clients has their own business that you feel another client would benefit from, pass on the word! Referring your clients has got to be one of the most powerful ways of sharing gratitude and letting your customers know that you value them enough to send your own clients to them.

Host a customer appreciation day

If your business is booming and you have the funds available, why not invite the customers who have supported you from the beginning for an appreciation event.

It could be anything from snacks and drinks, to a meal or a full-on event with activities. Being invited to an event that shows how much a business values your support is an honor to most people and shows that their support hasn’t gone unnoticed.

Whatever your business or budget, there’s a multitude of ways to share your gratitude to your customers - including easily managed online gifting from market leaders gifted.co. Being genuine about your intentions is an essential part of building long-lasting relationships.

“Gratitude is not only the greatest of virtues, but the parent of all the others.”  – Marcus Tullius Cicero