Your customers keep the wheels of your business turning, so ensure you don’t neglect them. Take a look at these 5 ways to say thank you to your customers.
Spring is officially upon us, and this time of year is often when we start getting organized. Whether you’re crunching the numbers or revising your marketing strategy, there’s a trick you shouldn’t miss this year: saying “thank you.”
Thanking customers for their support should be an annual task. Unfortunately, it’s easy to put this to one side when schedules start to fill up – but the importance of making your customers feel valued should never be overlooked. After all, they are the center of your business’ operations – without customers, your business is nothing. What’s more, customers like to know that their patronage is welcome – it helps to increase brand loyalty and ultimately improves return on investment.
There are lots of ways to show your appreciation; let’s take a look at five simple steps you could take to let your customers know that they matter to you.
- Exclusive discounts
Nothing says “thank you” quite like the opportunity to access your products and services at a special discounted rate. There are several ways your business can implement discounts, including:
VIP club/loyalty cards
Allow your customers to access special tiered pricing on goods and services. You can do this by offering them a physical loyalty card that entitles them to a specific discount level, or by simply implementing a system on your website that allows certain users to access products at a discount. The more loyal the customer, the bigger the discount. This provides customers with an additional incentive to use your company.
Product-specific discount voucher codes
Everybody loves a bargain, so why not offer discounts (such as 10% off) on best-sellers, or experiment with the popularity of new products by offering your regular customers the opportunity to access the latest lines for less?
- Free gifts
Who can resist a freebie? That’s right – nobody! It’s easy to say thank you to your customers by offering them free gifts on an annual basis, and you can be as simple or as creative as you want. Some businesses choose to offer industry-specific freebies (like a guitar shop giving away free strings or plectrums, for example) whereas other companies like to mix things up. Items that are useful are more likely to be appreciated, such as stationery, promotional clothing or customizable coolers. When it comes to getting your business noticed, coolers are perfect because customers will likely make use of them in a variety of places, such as the beach, during a picnic or at the big game. Personalized coolers are affordable, easy to distribute and always appreciated by customers.
- Hold an appreciation event
A customer appreciation day can work wonders for local businesses, although it can prove tricky for companies with national or international customer bases. You don’t have to get be too complex – a simple meet-and-greet with entertainment (think live music or comedy), food and drinks can work wonders. You could even distribute your free customizable coolers at such an event, allowing your customers to keep their supplies at a comfortable temperature.
For those with an international clientele, don’t be afraid to harness the power of social media. Host an event and live-stream it to your far-flung customers to help them feel included, wherever they are in the world.
- Make a charitable contribution
Show your customers that you care about making a difference by offering to make a charitable contribution on their behalf. By allowing your customers to choose from a number of charities, it helps your brand to engage with beliefs they’re passionate about and shows that your company is much more than a simple money-making machine.
- Add personal finishing touches
Things like birthday cards, a handwritten “thank you for your custom” message or even a simple congratulatory email for reaching a particular milestone (such as ten orders in one year) can work wonders for cementing company/customer relations. These personal touches help to communicate to your customers that they’re more than numbers on a screen and that they matter to you. This is a sure-fire way of retaining existing customers. In the age of social media, if they feel valued, and then chances are they’ll share this experience with their friends and family, which could even bring in new customers.
