The simple act of thanking your customers can go a long way toward building loyalty to your business and your brand. Research from Zendesk found that two-thirds of consumers who believe a business cares about their emotional state will likely become repeat customers. Customer appreciation is fundamental to building customer loyalty. Here are some simple, effective ways to say thank you to your customers.
Handwritten notes are a proven way to impress customers and show that you care. A thank-you card for those who placed an order online personifies your brand and lets the customer know there’s a human side to your brand. Service providers, too, can send thank-you notes to repeat customers and long-tenured clients. This outreach can encourage people to speak positively about your business to others.
People love free stuff. And giving gifts doesn’t have to be expensive. In fact, giving away unsold products is a great way to upsell. Gifts can also take the form of free services, like gift wrapping or upgrading a subscription. Or offer free shipping to those who have spent over a certain amount. Look for opportunities to offer freebies to those who seem like they could use a little extra help—not just those who spend a lot at your business.
Give your customers the VIP experience as often as possible to say thank you for their patronage. It’s not every day that most people get to experience premium service. An unexpected upgrade builds a ton of goodwill and makes your brand stand out the next time your client or customer is asked for a business recommendation.
Many businesses celebrate their thousandth sale, their tenth anniversary, or their one-hundredth employee. Flip this model to recognize customer-centric milestones. Show your appreciation when a customer reaches their one-hundredth purchase, celebrate five years of customer loyalty, or provide a thank-you gift for referring more than ten customers. Or keep it really simple and just celebrate birthdays.
Consider inviting your best customers to an exclusive event to show your appreciation. This could take the form of early access to a new product launch, an anniversary happy hour, or simply an end-of-year party where they can shop and enjoy food and drinks. You could host a cooking class, a pop-up shop with products from other local businesses, or a themed event around the holidays. Just make sure to keep the focus on showing your appreciation for your customers, rather than closing a sale.
Here at the Emporia Area Chamber of Commerce, we are thankful for you, our Chamber members and community members. We’re here, every day of the year, to support local businesses and help you grow.
The Emporia Area Chamber of Commerce offers many resources to help you start, run, and grow your business–including our annual Leadership Emporia Academy, monthly Group Lunches, Ribbon Cuttings, Business After Hours events, Legislative Dialogues, and more. Stop by the Trusler Business Center at 719 Commercial St., call 620-342-1600, or visit our website at www.emporiakschamber.org to learn more.
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“Let’s Talk Business” is a weekly column of the Emporia Area Chamber of Commerce and Visit Emporia. The mission of the Chamber is to be proactive in creating an environment for business and community success, guided by the vision that positive attitudes promote positive actions. Contact us at 620-342-1600 or chamber@emporiakschamber.org and visit our website at www.emporiakschamber.org.