Ok so it’s a long way from Christmas (unless you are in retail!) but how many of you are planning to send Christmas / Season’s Greetings cards / e-cards to your customers this year?
As a small business operator – seasonal cards are a great idea – but only if it’s part of your communication plan for the year. If the only time your customers or leads hear from you is a piece of cardboard once a year then don’t bother!
Telling customers you value them and building customer relationships is something you need to work on all the time.
Perhaps it’s time to reframe your relationships with customers considering them to be partners in your business rather than people who buy your products and services.
This is about developing opportunities for two-way rather than one-way engagement. By regularly engaging with your clients you will be the one who is top of mind when they need you.
You have time to do make a change before you send out a Christmas card. Here are 3 things you can choose from to do now and can incorporate into your planning for 2017.
- Make a Phone call
Pick up the phone! Most communication these days is through texting, email or social media. So when you get a call, you feel really special.
Which of your clients do you want to make feel important and valued?
If you make a call and then schedule regular calls for your clients, you can make it part of your routine. The more you call the more your clients will expect you to call and they may have a sale waiting for you!
These conversations will help uncover opportunities. A problem that needs solving, some information about your competitors or new leads. The phone is also a great way to uncover some personal information.
Your calls may help you to add a personal touch to your cards that will ensure yours stand out from others.
- Make it personal
We buy from people that we like and trust. The best way to develop trust is to share personal information about yourself and enquire after your customers.
When you have information about your clients have a way to remember these details. If you are having a conversation, ask questions referring to prior conversations. “How did you go with… what ended up happening when…Did you try…”
- Share knowledge
People like knowing that you care. If you come across an interesting article or something that would benefit your client, send it along to them. Any information helps.
You don’t have to be the initiator of all the information relevant to your customers – when you see something you couldn’t have said better – pass it on.
So go ahead and plan your Greeting cards, but not before you have made meaningful contact with your customers in the lead up to the end of the year. If you do that your card will feel more meaningful to your client rather than tokenistic.
There’s nothing wrong with a Greeting card. But you can do more. If you put the time and effort into making sure your clients are taken care of, then that Card will feel infinitely more valuable, rather than tokenistic.
What are you planning this year?
