Happy Thanksgiving to our friends visiting our website! I listened to a very informative and interesting podcast called "Stay Paid" from our partners at Reminder Media, who are in the process of creating our first issue of our digital magazine and weekly virtual events newsletter to send out to our customers on our email list. I am so excited to share it with you all!
They talked about how 64% of Americans surveyed preferred a handwritten note over an email. Being that my love and passion for writing by hand is also my business, I thought I would share what the hosts Josh Stike and Luke Acree had to say about that plus other tips to create a meaningful relationship between businesses and their customers. Even though their podcast is geared toward business owners, you can also adapt these tips to show your gratitude toward your friends and family as well.
As I mentioned in my previous blog post, "Welcome Back to Vegas Fine Pens and Gifts", a personalized, handwritten note, card, or even a letter is so valued and treasured today in the era of social media and electronic communication. They mentioned how they kept their handwritten notes and greeting cards, which is something I do as well. It always puts a smile on my face to read my old handwritten correspondence from years ago, to reminisce about that person and the memories associated with him or her.
They also said that donating to your customer's favorite charity is another way to pay it forward and do a good deed. Not only does it show an active interest in what organizations your customer cares most about, but it's also a way to be a philanthropist and help worthy causes in need. Some of my favorite charities are The Shade Tree of Las Vegas (to help survivors of Domestic Violence), Alex's Lemonade Stand (finding a cure for childhood cancer), and St. Jude's Ranch for Children (home for abused children), to name a few.
Making unexpected phone calls to your customers is also a way to reach out. Of course customers are going to expect an email or even a call after you close the sale, but how many times will they get a phone call just to say thank you? I can't recall if I've ever had a business, big or small, do this for me. This will make your business stand out in your mind.
Because of the pandemic, we have had to rely on virtual forms of communication. Invite your customer for a Zoom or Google Meet call, or even better (socially distanced, of course), have a cup of coffee with them. Add your customers on your social media and follow them, like their posts, and their videos. I've already been doing this with the followers on my social media, especially on TikTok and Instagram where I've seen the most engagement. And finally, sending them something of value like a heartfelt thank you gift will make your connection even more personal so they're not just another name and number.
Thanks so much to Josh and Luke for this great podcast and I look forward to listening to more helpful tips that I can pass along to my customers again in the future!
You can listen to this particular episode of "Stay Paid" here: https://staypaid.libsyn.com/198-how-to-give-thanks-to-clients-all-year-long