Life, and work, has looked a whole heckuva lot different these past three years than it has in…well, a while.
For most of us, just surviving the workday each week takes more effort and brain power than we even thought possible. We show up, we work hard, and we never punch out thanks to Zoom, email, push notifications and that WFH lifestyle.
If you’re anything like us, your clients are what drive you. They become your friends – where their successes become your ultimate goals. Before you know it, you look forward to those blurred-out-background zoom calls and new project requests.
Your customers and clients are a big part of your life and your success. So, when was the last time you thanked them?
A Little Gratitude Goes a Long Way
This year, we’d like to challenge you to take that extra step to show your clients, consumers, partners, vendors, you-name-it – that you are appreciative of the work and the relationship you’ve developed.
And no, we’re not saying to just toss a mini-muffin basket their way and call it a day. Although, who has ever refused a basket of mini-muffins? But is it really the best way to let your clients know you appreciate them? The short answer is probably not. The muffins get eaten, the card goes in the trash, and ultimately the message of genuine gratitude gets lost.
If Not Mini Muffins, Then What?
Handwritten thank you notes are just retro enough to be cool. Do it right – use quality stationary, a personalized note to them letting them know how much you appreciate them and look forward to their next project. It doesn’t hurt to include a gift card. It can just be enough to buy them a coffee or a smoothie. It really is the thought and effort that counts here.
So, You Want to Make a Bigger Gesture
Maybe you did an exceptionally large project or want to recognize a long-time customer specifically. Don’t feel like you have to give the exact same “thank you” to everyone. Each client is different and expressing your appreciation for them can be different, too.
Setting up a time to have lunch brought in for your customer’s office is a big gesture. If you can coordinate it to a time that you know is extra busy for them – when you know they’re likely to work through lunch – all the better. It not only lets them know you appreciate them as your customer, but you recognize how hard they work doing their own thing.
Giving out your branded merchandise might seem a little ten years ago, but if you do it right it can be a great gift. The trick to it is an item people will use with a version of THEIR logo. So many times, businesses send gifts of their own merchandise – but really, a bigger statement is to have something made for your clients. It’s a little extra effort and takes away the soapbox and impersonal touch of sending your own stuff their way. Our recommendation? You can never go wrong with a custom YETI travel tumbler.
The important part is making sure they know how much you appreciate them. If you need some more specific ideas we can help with that!