Making your customers feel appreciated without sounding creepy and desperate can help your business stand out from the competition. According to research a simple “thank you” makes customers spend more and employees accomplish more. Vendors also pay on time if you thank them regularly. To Reference Gary Vaynerchuk’s acclaimed book, “The Thank You Economy”, “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 in business”.
So how do we harness the power of Thank You? Here are some great examples on how to thank your employees, suppliers and customers all year round:
Be Sincere
If you don’t mean it, don’t say it. Saying thank you after a purchase can make customers feel appreciated. The same is true when you say it to employees who do a good job. However, if you go say thank you to everybody over every little thing then it might sound phony. Customers and employees know when you’re being sincere or not. Your appreciation has to be heartfelt or else it won’t work.
Add Real Value
Customers are what make businesses successful. If you don’t have customers then you don’t have a business. To make them feel appreciated, thank them by hosting a customer appreciation day or something similar where they get big discounts or giveaways for loyal customers. This should not be your typical 5% off on selected items or free shipping for $50 and up. This should be an all out thank you event where you give big discounts or offer free shipping for all online purchases. Why? Because sometimes words aren’t enough.
Personalize It
Loyal customers should be appreciated personally. Sometimes, when you say thank you regularly, it becomes automatic so there’s really no distinction between your loyal customers and walk-ins. Make your loyal fans feel appreciated by saying thank you personally. You can send them hand-written thank you notes instead of the usual thank-you-for-patronizing-us-email. A personal touch says that you took the time out of your busy schedule to write them a note to convey your sincere appreciation.
Think Outside The Box
Sometimes, a note just won’t cut it. You need an edge not only to show appreciation but to differentiate your business from other businesses that say thank you too. Instead of sending them the usual thank you note or package, think outside the box by sending them geo-specific gifts. If you’re from Wisconsin for example, send them a selection of your state’s fine cheeses for those in California, locally grown wine from Napa Valley. When you send unique thank you gifts, your customers will remember you when it’s time to take out their wallets.
Thank Angry Customers Too
Angry and disgruntled customers took time to call you to complain and tell you why they’re angry or dissatisfied. You can either feel embarrassed because you were unable to satisfy them or take their complaint as feedback so you can do better next time. Some customers who complain mean that they are still willing to do business with you if you are able to fix the problem. Therefore you should thank them for the feedback and their input on how you can avoid making the same mistake in the future. A complaint is an opportunity to improve relationships and win your customer back. Instead of looking at complaints as something negative; look at it in an opportunity to make things right.
Some of your most loyal customers are not only customers. They are also your brand ambassadors, online sharers, followers and fans. They have the power to recommend your business or tear it down. Showing them appreciation no matter how small can go a long way and can help you interact with customers and get to know them better. Saying thank you can help you stand out and get repeat business.
