The holidays will be different this year and for many of us, that’s uncomfortable. While we are all facing challenging times, we can take this opportunity to focus on what matters most :our clients.
Your clients have invested a lot in you. They have trusted your business to provide exceptional service, quantifiable results, and improve their bottom line. And you’ve delivered. While this is certainly the start of a great relationship, why not step it up a notch?
Client appreciation is a way to go above expectations to keep your clients engaged, excited, and committed to your company. It shows your most valued clients that their relationship with your brand is more than just a transaction. It’s a reminder that you care about your clients on a personal level, and that they are important to you.
As we enter the gift-giving season this year, make sure that your clients are at the top of your list. There are many ways to show your clients that you appreciate them. From simple tokens of gratitude like ecards or virtual meet and greets to custom gifts and bonus features, our client appreciation guide will help you find the best way to make your clients feel extra special.
What is Client Appreciation?
“It’s easier to love a brand when the brand loves you back.” — Seth Godin
Everyone wants to feel appreciated at some point. Showing your appreciation enables you to connect more deeply with your clients. Deeper connections can lead to increased retention and a level of value that will be hard to find anywhere else.
At its core, client appreciation is your opportunity to express your gratitude to clients. It’s selfless, giving, generous, and can be done at any time of the year. Just like with any relationship, it’s important to show gratitude as a reminder of exactly how important your clients are to you.
People naturally gravitate toward places where they feel welcomed and appreciated. If you create a culture of expressing gratitude, you will stand out in your client’s memory when the time comes to renew contracts, refer business, or simply discuss their favorite partners.
If you’re more of a numbers person, there are plenty of statistics that back up this point. Here are a few pertinent ones:
- 65% of customers find a positive experience with a brand to be more influential than great advertising.
- 93% of customers are likely to make repeat purchases with companies who offer excellent customer service.
- 68% of customers leave you because they perceive you are indifferent to them.
6 Ways to Show Appreciation for Your Clients
Showing client appreciation is a delicate process. You want to make sure that your gesture is sincere and personalized, since anything generic has a high chance of coming across as gimmicky.
Luckily, we’ve put together a list of our favorite ways to show appreciation to clients. You may have even received one or two of these small tokens of gratitude from us! Showing our appreciation for our clients is one of our favorite things to do, and we’re excited to share this list with you.
1. Virtual Meet & Greet
Who says you have to host an in-person event to make an impression? A virtual meet & greet is an easy way to connect with your clients and offer them time to share their experience with your company.
Remember that this is a chance to truly give your client the floor. Don’t waste time trying to make a sale or talk too much about project details. Instead, use this time to learn more about your client in a casual setting.
Virtual meetings don’t have to be stuffy, either. You can turn a virtual meeting into an experience by sending fun add-ons to mimic an in-person experience. Think ‘coffee on us’ or a small ice breaker game. Make it fun!
2. Interesting Gifts
Surprise gifts can instantly brighten someone’s day. Maybe not a coozie or logo’d pen (although even swag like that is often well-received). But a thoughtful gift will leave a bigger impression.
Find ways to think outside of the box. Send gifts that support your clients’ interests or businesses. Don’t feel like you have to plaster your company name or logo on the gift, either. A meaningful gift is far more memorable. You can even utilize companies like Sendoso or Snappy Gifts to elevate your gift-giving with customized or brand name options. Make that gift extra special by including a handwritten note.
Here are a few gift ideas to make an impact:
- Gifts for life events: If your client just had a baby, you can send them a cute onesie or a baby blanket. Did they just move? Send them a coffee table book or a bottle of wine.
- Gifts for productivity: Gifts like notebooks, planners, or productivity app subscriptions are great options for any self-proclaimed workaholic.
- Gifts for hobbyists: Does your client love gardening? Send them a succulent arrangement or a nice tool set. Are they outdoorsy? Consider sending a hiking guidebook or a new set of trekking poles.
- Gifts for philanthropists: If your client is involved with a particular charity, consider donating on their behalf. Charitable contributions are also a great gift idea for people who don’t like or need gifts. (Yes, they exist!)
3. DIY Holiday Party
Large parties and gatherings may be a thing of the past, but we can still hold “parties” for ourselves and the people we live with. Spice up your clients’ quarantine with a custom gift basket. Sending a themed basket can help break the monotony of staying at home.
Here are some custom gift basket ideas:
- Movie night with the family: Include your favorite family-oriented DVD or gift card for a movie rental, popcorn, boxes of movie candy, and even personalized movie tickets to mimic a night at the theater.
- Pizza party: Send everything needed for a DIY pizza night. Include crust mix, a jar of pizza sauce, assorted cheeses and toppings, and a recipe book.
- Game night: Family game nights can be a great way to pass time during quarantine. Send your clients a couple of board games, cards, puzzles, or magic tricks.
4. Personalized Holiday Video Card
This holiday season, remind your clients how much they mean to you by creating a special video card, just for them. Include your CEO and find ways to make it funny or heartwarming, (and all you need is a laptop).
It doesn’t have to be very long, but it does have to be unique to your client’s interests. If your CEO and your client have shared interests, this is the time to mention them.
5. Free trials and “bonus features”
If your company offers premium services or features that are beyond your clients’ membership tier, why not unlock them for a free trial? Spontaneously offering bonus services or add ons is a great way to build excitement about your products.
It can also be an easy way to offer a helping hand if you know that one of your clients is dealing with a short-term problem that a free trial might solve.
6. Industry subscriptions
Give the gift of knowledge with industry subscriptions, quarterly magazines, or even The New York Times. This is a chance to support your clients’ interests while not only helping them to stay on top of industry trends, but also keep your brand in their mind every time they read their subscription.
Conclusion
The best part about showing customer appreciation is that it’s hard to mess up. Any token of gratitude, no matter how small, is sure to deepen your relationship with your clients.
We hope the ideas listed in this blog have inspired your holiday gift lists. But remember that gratitude doesn’t have to be reserved for a specific time of year. Sending your clients random tokens of appreciation reminds them that they are an integral part of your business.
For more ideas on how to improve customer engagement, check out our blog post: How Not To Ignore Your Biggest Fans.
