When someone chooses to work with you, it’s a big deal. Especially when there are more options than ever before for customers and clients alike to pick from.
That’s why showing those you serve that you appreciate them is so critical for ongoing business success.
While there are dedicated “holidays,” like Customer Appreciation Day, that offer a hallmark opportunity to host a customer appreciation event, send customer appreciation messages and more, I’m here to tell you that waiting for the right moment to express your gratitude, well, isn’t the right thing to do.
Customer appreciation day should be every day. (Corny? Sure. Impactful? Absolutely.) Here’s the low-down on why it’s so important to prioritize the heartfelt side of your business — and 4 ideas to help you do just that.
Why Customer Appreciation Matters
Most companies know customer experiences matter. In fact, the majority prioritize it over other significant factors like revenue generation and product/service quality. Further, more than half of consumers will switch to a competitor after just one poor experience with you. Yikes.
Whether you’re a service- or product-based business, taking care of the people who invest in you should be one of your biggest focuses. In addition to it being something customers expect, it also means those who purchase from you will be more forgiving when (not if) you ultimately do unintentionally provide a less-than experience.
4 Customer Appreciation Ideas
When it comes to making customer appreciation a routine part of your operations, here are a few ideas to start implementing today:
Recognize Company Milestones
From typical anniversaries to achieving specific business goals, such as reaching a certain sales metric, locking in a sought-after business deal, launching a new product line and more, celebrate your customers and clients’ professional wins alongside them.
In business, we tend to gloss over successes and over-analyze failures. By taking a moment to celebrate both big and small wins, whether through grand to-do’s or simple customer appreciation messages, timely recognition always goes a long way.
Acknowledge Personal Accomplishments
Even the most prominent business executives are people too, with families, hobbies and engagements outside of their professional roles.
Stay on top of what’s going on in the lives of those you work with by checking in at the start of meetings and prioritizing regular coffee meet-ups or happy hours to simply connect. Knowing your clients on a personal level only enhances the working relationship.
Pro tip: Knowing what’s going on in your clients’ personal lives starts by being a good listener. People like to talk about themselves. Ask! Active listening will help you understand who your clients are (and give you something to follow up with them about!).
Engage in Thoughtful Acts of Kindness
Just as people like to talk about themselves, they like to be appreciated, too. Acts of customer appreciation can include sending a client an article you read that made you think of them. Or surprising them with a gift card from their favorite restaurant and a handwritten note just because.. For those in product-based businesses, this could look like an insider-only sale, or giving back to a local cause your people care about.
In life and in business, the little things are the big things. What separates you from your competition isn’t necessarily what you do — the reality is, there are a lot of HR companies, painting professionals, IT pros and financial advisors out there. The differentiator is often the way you treat your clients and the way you go above and beyond in small ways. How are you making yourself remarkable?
Be Authentic
However you show customer appreciation, do it in a way that feels right for you — and do it consistently. If robust customer appreciation events aren’t your thing, don’t engage in them. Your customers chose to work with you because of your unique way of showing up in your business. Straying from that results in an inauthenticity that others can easily pick up on.
Closing Thoughts on Customer Appreciation
Being in business isn’t all about the business. It’s about building relationships and serving others. By prioritizing customer appreciation, you turn customers into fans who want to continue working with you, who refer you to others, and who make doing what you do meaningful and enjoyable.
Customer appreciation goes a long way with clients. Thoughtful retention tactics do, too. Learn more about client retention strategies that keep clients engaged.
