When was the last time you contacted your customers with the sole purpose of saying thank you? Not to ask them for more business or to try to sell them another product, but to just say thanks! They are use to vendors or suppliers calling them or calling on them and trying to sell them another product or service. However, I would say that it is far more infrequent for them to hear an out-of-the-blue thank you. This is such a powerful tool to keep in your sales tool bag but is often overlooked. This is also a great way to differentiate yourself and your company from your competition. This shows your customers that you truly value them and their support.
Here are some creative ways you can show gratitude to your customers:
1. Send a hand written Thank You card in the mail- Since most of what people receive in the mail these days are bills or ad’s, your card will stand out.
2. Place an out-of-the-blue Thank You phone call- Simply tell them how much you appreciate their support and how much you love having them as a customer. Don’t however leave a voice mail as it will not have the same effect.
3. How much do you know about your customers? Get to know their interests and hobbies- a great example of this when a vendor went to lunch with one of his customers and found out that his customer loved soup. The vendor out of the blue sent his customer a thermos with the customer’s name on it. The total gift cost only $1.59 but you can bet that every time this person sees it, he thinks of this vendor. How much is that worth?
4. Send a bouquet of flowers or balloons- an inexpensive way to show your customers that you appreciate them. It will most likely be the topic of discussion and will be remembered for a long time.
These two simple words can have a powerful effect on your customers and your success. When is the last time you told your customers thank you and are you sure they truly know how thankful you are?