How Appreciative Are You? 5 Easy Ways to Stand Out and Say Thank You: Part Two

It’s the time of year when you may be thinking about gifts of appreciation to send to your clients. Rather than show your appreciation once a year, I believe, in order to stand out in today’s highly competitive business environment, you need to show your gratitude year-round. Remember, it costs far more to acquire a new client than it does to keep an existing client loyal and happy.

In my last post, I shared five easy ways to show how much you care. Today, I’m going to share five more ways to stand out and by saying thank you.

1. Celebrate All Year. Send holiday gifts at times other than Christmas. Any promotional product distributors can get a head start on the holiday gift-giving season by sending out gifts at Thanksgiving. After all, isn't that an appropriate time to thank your customers? Also, consider send¬ing small gifts at other times during the year. For example, one creative distributor I know sends fresh flowers the first day of spring to all top accounts. Naturally, the flowers are in a vase tastefully imprinted with the distributor's logo.

2. Send Congratulations. Keep informed about what is happen¬ing with your clients and prospects. Many are being promoted or have changed company positions. They also may have been appointed to a board of directors. Not sure? Much of this infor¬mation is published in the business sec¬tion of your local paper or on LinkedIn. This is a great way to keep in contact with clients—especially those who may not have purchased in awhile.

3. Make a Donation. Send promotional items to your client’s favorite charity. Once a year, I give away my samples to charity. I make it a habit to ask my clients if they have a favorite cause that would appreciate these gifts. It’s a great way to show you care and keep in contact with current and past accounts.