Erika Giles December 2, 2020 As marketers, we talk a lot – almost every day – about building brand relationships.
But here’s the plain and simple truth: The average buyer doesn’t want a relationship with the average brand. If you’re lucky, they want what you have to sell. For most, that’s the end of it.
You can cultivate a relationship with your customers by offering them expressions of gratitude. Saying thank you goes a long way.
Let’s explore some of the best reasons and ways to say thank you to your customers for your business, with examples.
Why You Need to Know How to Say, “Thank You For Your Business”
The impact of saying thank you to your customers has long lasting effects that your customers won’t soon forget.
Here are some of the awesome benefits of saying, “Thank you for your business.”
It Sets You Apart From the Competition.
Distinguishing yourself from the competition is a good way to capture and keep more customers. Many businesses today forget to find personal ways to say thank you.
The better you are at offering gratitude, the more you’ll set yourself apart from the competition.
It Creates a Reminder of Your Business.
Sending messages of gratitude in any form help your customers to keep your business in mind. For instance, a handwritten note may often be placed on a fridge or in a desk.
Every time your customers comes into contact with the note, they’ll think about your business.
It Builds Connections.
Most customers are used to buying a product or service and having little to no connection with a brand. Thanking your customers for their support is a good way to establish a connection with them.
Good connections offer great opportunities to create lasting relationships with clients.
It Provides You With Financial Benefits.
Thanking your customers generally provides them with a good customer experience. Shoppers are willing to pay more money for a good customer experience.
Happy customers are more willing to provide good reviews, come back to your brand, and tell their friends and family members about your brand.
All of these things can help you to boost your revenue in the long run.
It Makes Your Customer Feel Valued.
No one wants to be in a one-way relationship. The same holds true for your customers’ relationship with your brand. They want to feel valued when they are committed to your brand community.
This means they want to know that you value them as an individual, and continually thanking them can be a simple and easy way to do this.
Customers who feel valued are less likely to leave you for your competitors.
15 of the Best Ways to Thank Your Customers
1. Give a Charitable Gift.
When features and price point no longer serve as real differentiators, buyers of all backgrounds look toward shared values to make a decision.
A charitable donation in the name of a business associate can highlight the ways in which you strive together to make the world a better place.
2. Offer Special Discounts.
Discounts can go a long way for your customers, especially when they frequently purchase or subscribe to your products and services.
Provide them an above average discount on a specific product or service that you know they like.
3. Launch a Reward Program.
A reward program is a structured, strategic way to reinforce relationships by offering customers greater incentives the more they do business with you.
Make sure the reward you choose for your customers provide them with value. They must be motivated to care about receiving the reward. They must also believe the reward is somewhat attainable.
4. Give Recognition.
Providing customers with prominent recognition in some enduring way can make a great impression on them.
Anything from a dedication page on an upcoming publication to a small plaque or monument that will stand for years can put real feeling behind your relationship.
5. Share “Behind the Scenes” Materials.
Everyone wants to feel like an insider, and this is even true of savvy B2B decision makers.
Your most valued customers should have the chance to see what you‘re up to and even sample your latest offerings before anyone else.
6. Share Their Business and Products.
If you are a B2B business, you have a great opportunity to connect with businesses of all types. Saying thank you to other businesses could be as easy as sharing their products on your website, on social media, or to other clients when the topic arises.
You can also take a reciprocal approach to sharing information about other businesses you work with. For example, you can offer a discount to your customers’ business and they could offer one to yours
7. Hold Annual Customer Meetings.
Larger enterprises show appreciation in part by ensuring they can reconnect with customers each year. This isn’t feasible for everyone, of course, but it works like nothing else.
There’s just no replacement for face-to-face meetings for building rapport and loyalty!
8. Make Phone Calls.
Most of the time, saying “thank you for your business” should stand on its own. If you’re making a call, though, it’s a good idea to have a secondary purpose so the conversation doesn’t stall out.
For example, you can check in to be sure the solution is working as planned.
9. Celebrate Anniversary Dates.
The biggest date in your customer relationship is the day the agreement was signed, so why not celebrate?
Send them something special to celebrate your business relationship each year to show you value them. If anniversary dates aren’t your thing, you can celebrate customer birthdays or send an end-of-year thank you gift or note.
10. Schedule a “Lunch and Listen.”
If you have the opportunity to visit a customer site, it’s a great time to listen to their needs. Schedule a lunch meeting with your customer and order in for everybody who’ll join the conversation.
Then, simply listen to their concerns, take those on board, and take action.
11. Provide a Meaningful Gift.
Knowledge is power, and continuous learning has never been more important for business than it is today.
If you’re not quite sure what small gift will work for a customer, try sending your favorite business book. Bonus points when you include the audio version for those on the go!
12. Meet Up for Coffee.
Many sales pros deal with customers from all over the United States and even the world. If you find yourself in the neighborhood, it’s always a good idea to set up a half hour lunch meeting.
This shows you are always thinking about your customers, even if you don’t see them often.
13. Set Up a “Customer Spotlight.”
Here’s a secret: Customers love to have their egos stroked. So, if you’ve had great success with a particular customer, you could say “thank you for your business” by offering to include them in a case study.
This reflects well on them, boosts your marketing, and brings you closer together.
14. Send a Small Treat.
Sure, everyone’s tastes are different. In general, though, a small tin of cookies will not go amiss – especially if you take the time to choose something personal.
Gourmet treats will not go to waste even if the customer doesn’t like it, but always try to align with their preferences!
If you don’t know what they like, send them a gift card to a local ice cream shop, donut shop, or bakery. This way they can pick their special treat.
15. Write a Thank You Note.
A simple card or letter is a very effective way to say thank you. A handwritten message is much more powerful than an email: It is more personal and simply takes more effort. Using a photo or a postcard can add extra flair.
How to Write a Thank You Note
Here are five easy steps you can take to write thank you notes for your customers.
1. Greet Your Customer by Name.
Make your customers feel special by using their names in the thank you note. A mass produced thank you note without personalization may land your thank you note in the trash without ever being read by a customer.
Using customer names can help ensure that your note is read and received well.
2. Clearly State Your Purpose for Sending the Note.
Thank you notes should get to the point straight away. Let your recipient know why you are sending them this note within the first two sentences.
Fo instance, you may state, “We just wanted to send you this note to express our gratitude.”
3. Include Relevant Details.
Add in some details about the sale or the service you provided them. You may even mention who they met with or spoke to and when to jog their memory.
Adding in personalized details will add more meaning to the thank you note. They will likely be touched by your ability to remember details about them and your relationship with them.
4. Repeat Your Thanks.
Offer up another message of gratitude at the end of your note to solidify your message of thanks.
5. Close With a Sign-Off.
Use your favorite sign off to conclude the note. Add in your name and essential contact information so the customer can get in contact with you, if needed.
To demonstrate all these steps in action, refer to some examples and templates that can guide your own thank you note.
4 Thank You Note Templates and Examples
Take a look at these four thank you note templates that you can use to send thank you notes to your customers to express your heartfelt appreciation.
1. Loyal Customer Appreciation Thank You Notes
You don’t want your long-term repeat clients to become complacent during their relationship with you. Send them a thank you note to let them know that you don’t take them for granted.
Here is an example of a note you could send to a returning customer.
Hi [Customer Name],
I just wanted to reach out to you to thank you for supporting our [type of business] for [duration of time].
It’s been a pleasure serving you and your family [other personal connection]. Here at [business name], we truly value you and we can’t wait to continue our working relationship with you.
As a thank you for your loyalty, we wanted to offer you with [specific offer or discount].
Best,
[Your Name or whole team at business name]
2. New Customer Appreciation Thank You Notes
Let your customers know you appreciate them right away. This increases your chances of earning repeat business and shows them that you care about your customers from the start.
Here is a sample thank you note you can send to new customers.
Hi [Customer Name],
Thank you for ordering [product or service].
We put time and effort into every [specific service or product] because we genuinely want our customers to be happy working with us.
We hope you have enjoyed your new [product or service] and we look forward to earning your repeat business.
In the meantime, please let us know if you have any questions or concerns that we can assist you with. You may contact me personally. I am happy to help!
Best,
[Your Name]
[Your phone number or email]
3. End-of-Year Thank You Notes
If you have a business that provides a monthly service or any type of periodic service, it is a good idea to send them notes at the end of each year. You may even include a gift with it for the holidays.
Here is a note for the end of the year that is sure to delight your customers.
Hi [Customer Name],
I wanted to reach out to you to thank you for supporting out business this year. It’s customers like you that make [company name] great.
[Add in personalization]
Your support has helped us to continue offering services to our community.
We value your business and look forward to another year with you as our customer. We hope you have a wonderful time with your friends and family celebrating all of the end-of-year festivities.
Best,
[Your Name]
[Company Name]
[Contact information]
4. Review Thank You Notes
It is best to ask for reviews while also being grateful to your customers for their business. You can’t survive without great customers who enjoy using your products. Let them know how thankful you are, and encourage them to share this information.
Here is a sample review thank you note you can send your customers.
Hi [Customer Name],
We have recently completed your [description of service or job]. We thank you for choosing [company name] and we hope that we met or exceeded your expectations.
Whether you have a question, comment, suggestion, or positive experience to share, we want to hear it.
If you have a few moments to fill out this survey and review, we’d appreciate the feedback.
Thank you, the team at [company name].
Making the commitment to say, “Thank you for your business” restores a much-needed personal dimension. Doing it regularly will foster a true brand relationship that can survive the ups and downs of occasional missteps or market shifts.
Use our helpful tips and templates to help you say thank you in a meaningful way.
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