Everyone expects a little lovin’ on their birthdays and holidays, but the notes of affection and gifts of gratitude that really hit home are the ones that come on a random Tuesday in August. Yes, it’s those unexpected moments that surprise and delight that truly make for a memorable and impactful impression. And isn’t that the whole point of client appreciation anyway? It’s to let our best customers know we think they’re amazing (and to remind them, hey, by the way, don’t forget about us either!).
What is Client Appreciation?
Client appreciation is not some shady sales strategy to bribe customers into buying from you. When done right, and by that we mean genuinely showing your customers you care about them and understand their needs, client appreciation can boost your retention rates and increase your ROI.
When is the Right Time to Show Appreciation?
There’s no right or wrong time to celebrate your customers. While National Customer Appreciation Day is April 18, you don’t need to wait for a holiday to show your appreciation. You can make a big deal out of any day of the year!
The choice of when to show gratitude can be random or planned, but keeping your sales cycle in mind when selecting a date may improve its effectiveness. One idea is to choose a day during a traditionally slower time of year to boost sales. Alternatively, you could offer discounts during an already busy time of year to further augment a sales boom.
Ways to Show Appreciation
Get clients excited about client appreciation day by slathering on as much fun or oozing out as much cheese as appropriate for your brand and story. Let them know the day is coming by whipping together a fun marketing campaign to build suspense. Here are some ways you can show clients how much you love them:
- Offer a free gift with purchase (maybe it’s a personalized gift?)
- Share discount codes or gift cards
- Write an old-fashioned thank you card
- Spotlight customer success stories
- Consider philanthropic opportunities
As you develop your client appreciation strategy, consider your business, your brand and (duh!) your customers. Put yourself in your client’s shoes to determine what token of appreciation you would most enjoy and use that as a starting point to build out your marketing campaign. If you’re at a loss of where to start, fear not. Just give us a call today. If there’s one thing we love more than showing our customers a little love, it’s helping our clients do the same for theirs.