There is no better time to express your gratitude for the business of your clients than to simply wish them well for the holidays.
Yet, surprisingly, sending a simple and direct message to your clients to let them know that you value the confidence they invest in you is an opportunity that is often overlooked.
Personal messages can cost virtually nothing. They take only a few moments. And the benefits can be immeasurable.
Here are a few ways to let your clients know you are grateful for their business.
The power of a personal note
When was the last time you received an actual hand-written note from someone?
Take five minutes to compose a short message that lets your client know you appreciate the business they have afforded you over the past year. The written word, in your own hand, is enormously powerful.
In an age when tweets, texts, and emails dominate communication, notes stand out. And all they cost is a few moments of your time and postage.
A phone call personalizes your gratitude
Just as simple as a personal note is a personal call to your client.
The act of simply picking up the phone and wishing your client a happy holiday is thoughtful and will stand out simply because you have thought of them.
Better yet, personalize the call by letting your client know you are generally familiar with their family or loved ones. Simply by extending the good wishes to one’s spouse or children in your call can let your client know you have their interests at heart.
What if you want to symbolize your thanks with a gift?
Everyone enjoys receiving gifts. But be careful. Gift-giving needs to be carefully thought through.
Who should you gift? Many companies forbid any corporate gift giving, or only allow employees to accept gifts valued at less than $25.
What should you give? The decision of what to give should comply with your client’s standards and directives on gift-giving and gift-receiving. Sending a gift to a client who’s unable to keep it is awkward for both parties.
The best solution? If you feel a gift is necessary, employ common sense and send a gift that is useful, not overly extravagant, and reflective of both your values and those of your client.
How do other organizations express their thanks during the holidays?
Want to explore more about addressing your client during the holidays, from contact to gift-giving?
You might want to glance at Do’s and Don’ts for Client Gifts Over the Holidays, authored by James Harris that first appeared in Entrepreneur Magazine in December 2017.
Harris’s article is loaded with tips and examples of approaching gift-giving and using gifts—and enhancing connections—with clients.
And thanks to you for taking an interest in Wellons Communications
As we approach the holiday season, those of us at Wellons Communications are grateful for your interest in us.
We value the responsibility and business our clients invest in us to address their public relations needs. We remind ourselves daily that if our clients succeed, we succeed, and without our clients, we do not exist. Best wishes to all for a Happy Thanksgiving and a wonderful 2019 holiday season.
