Without customers or clients, no business would be successful. This applies to all types of businesses, whether they are B2C (business to consumer) companies or B2B (business to business) companies. Those who choose to spend their money with your business rather than a competitor are your most loyal customers or clients, meaning that there’s something about your company that they prefer over other similar companies.
This can be the quality of your products or services, your excellent customer service, and/or your values as a company. While these are just basic things that can build a loyal customer base, you can take it a step further by showing your customers how much you appreciate them.
#1: Offer a Coupon or Discount
One of the best ways to show your customers/clients that you appreciate them is to offer them a way to save money the next time they do business with you. If you’re a business that sells products to customers, it’s likely that you’ve had your customers sign up for an email list to keep them updated with seasonal promotions.
Send out an email coupon to your loyal customers every so often to show them that you appreciate their business. If you’re a business that provides services to clients, you may also have an email list for your clients. Offer your frequent clients a discount the next time they come to you for a service to show your appreciation.
#2: Host a Social Event
A fun social event is a great way to show your customers/clients that you appreciate them, and just about any business can do this as long as it doesn’t violate any confidentiality agreements. For businesses providing products to customers, consider hosting an in-store launch party the next time you release a new product.
If you serve clients, you can host a field day or anniversary party complete with fun games and prizes. For online businesses, you can host a live stream on one of your social media channels to better interact with your customers and give them the chance to interact with you.
#3: Giveaways
Everyone loves receiving something they love for free, so why not reward your most loyal customers/clients with something for free? Businesses with customers can run promotional ads on their social media channels allowing their followers to enter a giveaway, while businesses with clients can hold a raffle for a customer to win a free service.
You can also reward your customers with custom items, such as gift sets, T-shirts, hats, water bottles, coffee mugs, and other fun items. If you choose to go with promotional items, make sure that the item is something that your customers/clients would want, such as a coffee or tea company giving away promotional mugs, or a tech company giving away promotional flash drives.
#4: Simply Say “Thank You”
Actions speak louder than words, but words are still important and can go a long way in making someone’s day. Always tell your customers/clients “thank you for coming to see us today” or something along those lines. If you’re an online business, try to engage with your customers as much as possible on your social media channels so they’ll know that they’re not just another follower.
All types of businesses will receive positive reactions from their customers/clients if they send them a hand-written thank you note, whether it’s directly through the mail, included with their purchase, or given to them at the time of service. This action shows effort and forethought, and your customers will really appreciate the gesture.
As a business owner, you can come up with your own unique way to let your customers/clients know that you appreciate them. It helps when you know the habits of your customers, and interacting with them in person and/or social media is a great way to get to know them better.
Also read: Business Secrets for Aspiring Entrepreneurs
