10 Ways Showing Gratitude Now Can Increase Your Future Income

As we head into the season of giving, now is a great time to show appreciation to your clients and customers. Taking the time to give thanks to your clients will set you apart, increase loyalty, improve retention, inspire more sales, and deepen relationships that last long after the initial sale.

Here are 10 easy ways you can say thank you to your clients:

1. Greeting Cards

My husband often teases me that I should own stock in Hallmark for the amount of money I spend a year on cards. I love to send cards, for a specific reason or for no reason at all.

For business, you've probably heard of SendOutCards (and no, I'm not an affiliate or a distributor). I get a lot of cards this way, from colleagues, and it definitely deepens the relationship for me. And it is a super-easy way for you to do that with your customers too.

2. Personal Notes

I love to send personal notes too. I have specially designed notecards that I send when I just want to connect with someone after a particularly powerful coaching call, when someone makes an investment in Platinum, when I've made a special connection with someone in person, or when a client just needs a little cheer.

3. Invitations

One of the things you can do for your top clients is to invite them to a special event just for them. It can be a lunch or dinner at an event you'll all be at, or carve out a portion of your own live event to spend time just with them.

You can also invite them to special teleseminar or webinar where you offer them free content just for being your top clients.

4. Small Gifts

Flowers, books, a mug, or something more specific are all thoughtful gifts for clients. They can be sent for certain occasions or just because (that's actually my favorite way to send a gift).

5. Gift Cards

These days you can get gift cards for almost any product or service. Some companies, like Starbucks, offer having your logo or business name imprinted on them. Other ideas besides coffee include restaurants, movies, bookstores, office supplies and online vendors like Amazon.

6. Referral and Affiliate Rewards

Even if your referral or affiliate programs offer a commission on each referral, sending a personalized note along with it will go further in encouraging your network to continue to promote your offers into the future.

7. Reverse Referrals

Whenever appropriate, refer your clients and customers to others whom they will benefit from. Making this a part of the way you run your business will come back to you ten-fold as it shows the Universe your belief in abundance.

8. Customer Appreciation Days

Pick one day a year to designate as a Customer Appreciation Day to celebrate your clients. Make a special offer only to them and make a lasting impression.

9. Host Events

Host a gathering at the next event where your clients and customers are likely to gather. A Tweetup is a popular way to connect with both current and prospective clients and they are super-simple to set up and cost you nothing but a bit of time. You can also hold a virtual event anytime you want to bring your clients and customers together.

10. Life Events

Weddings, baby showers, major moves, book contracts, big speaking gigs, TV spots, or any other major event warrrants an acknowledgment. A nice card or personal note, or even a quick phone call, will make you memorable for sure.

In what ways are you showing gratitude to your clients and customers? Feel free to share below!

(c) 2009 Alicia Forest

About the author:  Alicia M Forest, MBA, 6-Figure Business Breakthrough Mentor, teaches self-employed professionals how to attract more clients, create profit-making products and services, make more sales, and ultimately live the life they desire and deserve. For FREE tips on how to create wild abundance in your business, visit http://www.ClientAbundance.com

Comments

[Shelley-Ann West]

Hi Alicia,
Great posts. I've been thinking alot about this topic. I send out hand written thank you notes. People are happy to receive them and I've gotten great feedback.
Thanks for the great ideas.
Shelley

[JOHN WRIGHT]

ALICIA:I THANK GOD I RAN ACROSS YOU. IT IS SO GREAT THAT THERE ARE PEOPLE LIKE YOU IN THIS WORLD. EVERY DAY I LEARN MORE NEW AND VALUABLE THINGS FROM YOU. YOU ARE A WOMAN OF GREAT INSIGHT, WITH A GREAT HEART. THAT IS A GREAT QUALITY LACKING IN THIS WORLD TODAY. BEING A CHRISTIAN, I FEEL SORRY FOR THOSE WHO DO NOT WANT TO BELIEVE IN GOD AND HONOR HIM,WITH ALL THE ABUNDANCE OUT THERE FOR US.
HOW CAN ANYONE NOT BELIEVE IN GOD? I HAVE LEARNED TO HATE RELIGION, BUT LOVE MY RELATIONSHIP, WITH MY CREATOR.

[Jill Annis]

Great article Alicia! I enjoy surprising my clients with a bouquet of fresh flowers. The smile on their face is priceless.
Jill

[Candace]

This is an excellent article Alicia. Like you, I enjoy showing my clients how much I appreciate them and their time and nothing gives me more satisfaction in knowing I have made a difference in their lives.

Candace Davies
http://resumes-for-teachers.com

[Deb]

Hi Alicia,
Your article today struck a cord with me as I am passionate about loving my clients and loved your tips. One thing that I do is when a new client begins working with me I provide them with a journal for our time together.
Deb