More than almost anything, a personal and sincere “thank you” can set you apart.
A well-considered thank you is remembered and has the power to create long-term relationships; yet many businesses don’t recognize the powerful business-building potential of a “thank you”.
Businesses with thank you programs in place benefit from greater loyalty and the likelihood of improved sales.
Who to Thank
- Employees – not feeling appreciated is the number one reason people leave their jobs
- Clients – saying a special thank you is an investment that helps set your business apart
- Unhappy Customers - thank them for giving you the chance to fix things and assure them that you want to do everything you can to make them happy again
- Advocates – anyone who supports your business in some way
- Inquirers – people who have asked for information
When to Thank
- Anniversary of contract, relationship or sale
- Business referrals
- Complaint resolution
- End of contract
- Follow-up to inquiries
- Performance recognition
- Post sale
- Special occasions
The best thing you can do is to mail a handwritten note. Make sure they know what they mean to you – be specific and genuine. The timing of your “thank you” is also important. Try to respond within 48 hours.
When appropriate, handpicked gifts and referring business back to those who sent work to you are nice ways to show appreciation.
Thank you for spending your precious time to read this post!
If you’re interested in implementing these strategies, we’d be happy to help. Contact us for a complimentary consultation at diane@positiveworkspace.com.
