3 Ways to Say Thank You to Your Customers

Ben Chodor

Two words that I think should drive any business: “thank you.”

When it comes to my team, I take every opportunity to say thank you for their commitment, hard work and great ideas. And when it comes to our customers, our teams go above and beyond as often as they can with words and actions that say, “thank you.”

Do I love getting new customers? Absolutely. But signing new customers is just the start of our relationship.

The sales process might be over, but it’s time to build trust. It can be easy to lose focus on existing customers when we’re obsessed with filling the sales funnel. Both actions are important; my point is that customers are the lifeblood of any business and you must never, ever, stop thanking them.

Here are three ways to say thank you to your customers:

1.    Remember that small gestures can have big impact. Sometimes, it’s best to keep things simple. Take your customers to lunch, bring lunch to their offices, or grab a drink in the local pub. Often, easy is best and pulling a group together for a great conversation (that may or may not include business) is time very well spent.

 Don’t forget how easy it is to pick up the phone or send a personal note―small but genuine gestures that won’t go unnoticed. It’s easy to hide behind emails and sometimes we forget to engage in a conversation with our clients. Simply picking up the phone is one of the keys to creating a relationship. Another simple gesture is a handwritten note. It’s sort of a forgotten way to engage someone, since we get such little mail at work these days. But sending a note is something that I believe really strikes a chord with your partners.

Also—don’t forget about your clients’ events! Reaching out to them before a big event reinforces your commitment to them and their company. Trust me, this one makes a difference. I personally reached out to many clients after their quarterly earning events, thanking them for their business and letting them know that we’re here to support them. I got fantastic responses. More recently, I reached out to a group of clients before their earnings events and I received even more responses! I think it was because my simple gesture helped them realize I knew their event was happening and I would be watching for them.

2.    Solicit input from your customers. Formal, structured events like focus groups, think tanks, and customer advisory boards can be excellent opportunities to bring your customers together for their ideas and input. While this might not sound like a traditional kind of thank you, consider this: the chance to help play a defining role in your business and inform your product roadmap proves to customers how valuable their time, experience and contributions are.

3.    Build events around your customers. Instead of just going to the same conferences and events as your customers, consider creating events that are focused on your customers―even exclusive to them.

When you build an agenda and content with input from your customers, and you directly involve them in the activities, you demonstrate your appreciation for their expertise.

Our West Digital Media Solutions Client Summit is a great example of this. It’s not about selling products and giving demos; it’s a curated agenda of interactive panels and discussions that not only feature our customers but are put together with their input and expertise.

One last tip: don’t wait to thank your customers―DO IT NOW! Never let your customers forget how important they are to your business.

Ralph Waldo Emerson said, “You cannot do a kindness too soon, for you never know how soon it will be too late.”

I couldn’t agree more. Do you Agree?