7 WAYS TO SHOW YOUR APPRECIATION TO YOUR CUSTOMERS
It is November. It’s that time of year where expressions of gratitude and appreciation are everywhere. During the current Thanksgiving season, you cannot walk into a retail store without seeing products that express this or eat at a restaurant without enjoying Thanksgiving decorations. As a business owner, one of the things to appreciate the most is our customers. Businesses couldn’t survive without customers! Now, more than ever, customers have many choices of where to get products and services. So, business owners, need to be grateful for their customers and express that gratitude.
Showing your customers your appreciation is one of the best ways to build loyal customers. And, your customers may never know that you appreciate them if you don’t tell them and show them. You definitely want to build a loyal customer base for a number of reasons including these:
- If a consumer is loyal to your business, he or she will spend an average of 66% more than customers who aren’t loyal.
https://www.accenture.com/us-en/insights/strategy/brand-purpose - 75% of loyal customers will recommend a business to friends and family.
https://inmoment.wpengine.com/blog/earning-and-destroying-customer-loyalty-retail-cx-trends-you-need-to-know/ - 80% of consumers indicated they are more likely to do business with a company if it offers personalized experiences.
https://www.slideshare.net/EpsilonMktg/the-power-of-me-the-impact-of-personalization-on-marketing-performance/1
It is crucial to show your customers how much you appreciate them and, by doing so, you can create personalized experiences that they’ll value.
Here are 7 effective ways to show your appreciation to your customers:
1. Send “Thank You” Notes
To stand out from your competition you need to do what other businesses aren’t doing. Whether your competition is a locally owned business, a chain, a big box store, an online business or a combination of all of those, they’re probably not sending thank you notes to their customers. If they are, they’re probably not doing it consistently or adding a personal touch. It can be as simple as a postcard or as elaborate as a custom-made folding card. No matter what type of card you send, the most important thing is that you SEND it!
You can send them periodically to your top customers or for customers who spend over a certain amount. Whatever criteria you determine is best for your business, make sure to be consistent.
For more ideas on sending “Thank You” notes, go to “WOW” YOUR CUSTOMERS WITH THANK YOU CARDS.
2. Offer Loyalty Points
If you don’t have a Loyalty Program, consider implementing one. Whether it’s a simple punch card or point system based on purchase amounts, a loyalty program will help build what the name implies: loyalty! (Funny thing to mention – I’m surprised I haven’t written an article yet on the importance of Loyalty Programs. I guess this is just one more thing to add to my to-do list!)
If you do have a Loyalty Program, giving EXTRA LOYALTY POINTS is another great way to show appreciation to your most loyal customers. Depending on how your program is structured, you may want to give your best customers enough points to get a reward. Or, you may offer them extra points for a specific period. You may send them a postcard and simply give them FREE POINTS for bringing in that postcard.
3. Hold a Customer Appreciation-Themed Promotion
One simple way to show appreciation is to have a customer appreciation-themed promotion. You can do a number of things including:
- Customer Appreciation Sale: You’re probably going to have a sale anyway. Why not call one a Customer Appreciation Sale? For example, a store-wide “XX% OFF Customer Appreciation Discount” can not only strengthen your support of your current customer base but could also add more customers.
- Exclusive Promotion: Instead of having a sale for everyone, make it exclusive. Only offer your sale to your best customers and the customers you want to develop into your best customers. Whether you have the technology to personalize emails and offers or simply want to mail a flyer or postcard, sending something to your VIPs that are EXCLUSIVE will make your customers feel special and strengthen their loyalty.
4. Share a “Thank You” Video on Social Media
Videos continue to gain popularity and increase engagement on social media. So, take advantage of that. Create a simple “thank you” video and share it on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter or whatever social media platforms you use. It doesn’t have to be perfect or professional. You can simply have all your employees saying “thank you” into the camera. You can have everyone saying it at once. Or you could have each person saying “thank you” individually. Either way, it will be very personal and make an impact.
5. Send Gifts
Want to do something unexpected? Send gifts to your top customers. It can be as elaborate as a gift basket or as simple as a gift card to your business. If you send a gift basket, include at least one item that has your Company logo printed on it.
6. Offer Sneak Peaks
Another way to thank customers for doing business with you is to give them an exclusive sneak peek at your products or services. Are you planning on offering new products or services? Then, invite your best customers to a special presentation or event. Are you having a sale? Invite your best customers to an exclusive pre-sale event the night before or early before your business opens to the public. Who doesn’t want first dibs on special offers? This can really build loyalty!
7. Say “Thank You” in person
While everything mentioned so far are terrific ways to show your appreciation, nothing beats saying “thank you” in person. You can invite them to a special event with refreshments and walk around and talk to them all individually or give some type of “thank you” presentation. Or, if your business serves other businesses, you can visit your customers at their businesses to simply say “thank you” and drop off a card or gift.
Expressing your appreciation to your customers is so important. It will not only set you apart from your competition, but it will build loyalty. By exceeding customer expectations, customers will share their memorable experiences with their family, friends, and co-workers. Who knows, they may even share them with strangers. The more positive word-of-mouth you can get, the better. So use these seven ways to express your appreciation and watch your business grow as a result.
If you’d like to share any experiences that you’ve had with either THANKING your customers or BEING THANKED by a business, please do so in the comments below.
If you received any value from this article, you may also find value in these articles:
“WOW” YOUR CUSTOMERS WITH THANK YOU CARDS
MAKING A GREAT FIRST IMPRESSION IN BUSINESS
7 THINGS THAT WILL INCREASE ENGAGEMENT ON YOUR FACEBOOK BUSINESS PAGE
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