I was reminded of the ability of purchaser appreciation a couple of days ago when a native restaurant celebrated 50 years in business. The employees there threw a celebration for loyal customers, complete with food, drinks, and baseball caps with the restaurant’s name and “50th Anniversary” stitched on. Almost everyone left the restaurant wearing the hat.
Baseball caps given to patrons of a native restaurant touting its 50th anniversary.
This restaurant was offering their Facebook friends discounts in this 50th anniversary year. However the party was a pure show of appreciation — no purchase necessary.
Taking Appreciation to Online Marketing
Are you a brick-and-mortar store with an internet presence? Are you a web only business? Are you a enterprise? Every business grants that little something extra to their customers. Everyone likes a thanks , a thoughtful gift, or gesture. Providing your online customers with that very same sort of appreciation takes slightly imagination or simply overtime. It sort of feels like common-sense, however the little things could set you aside from your competition in an incredible way. Listed below are some examples which could spark some ideas.
Welcome Postcards
Having joined WhichTestWon.com to access its user testing case studies and research, i used to be surprised to receive a postcard within the mail welcoming me as a premium member and restating its benefits.
Direct mail postcard welcoming you to WhichTestWon’s premium service.
Thank You Notes
Customers of Popfunk, a t-shirt company, received handwritten thanks notes within the mail.
A handwritten thanks note for a purchase order — sincere and occasional-key.
T-Shirt Giveaways
MailChimp, the e-mail merchant, sometimes sends customers surprise t-shirts after completing an email campaign or as a reward for reading the company’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
MailChimp sends t-shirts as surprises to its customers.
Inexpensive, Quick Ideas
- Send birthday cards. Birthday cards are usually sent out by insurance agents and car companies to reconnect to their customers. Consider sending the cards out to reach two or three days before the real birthday.
- Send tips, articles, or how-tos. Send tips, informative articles, or how-tos for your customers. While email newsletters often include tips or news, extend this custom. Surprise your customers with emails or snail mail containing information that might be of interest. For instance, caterers, innkeepers, and restaurants can send their customers recipes to check out at home. Contractors can send decorator tips. Plumbing and heating companies can send find out how to keep a home cool or warm.
- Celebrate the seasons. Don’t just celebrate holiday seasons. Customers are used to getting holiday greetings, especially on the end of the year. Don’t forget that there are numerous other opportunities to succeed in out. Send autumn leaves — either literally or virtually — to a shopper who lives in a region where trees don’t change color, garden seeds, a recipe for warm chocolate or stickers of snowflakes, beach balls or sunflowers. All are simple but memorable actions.
- Call your customers. Surprise a shopper with a phone call. Did everything you provided — product or service — meet his or her needs? Are there any questions you could answer? Call to mind the shopper as events occur — reminiscent of a brand new baby or promotion. You may also reach out to turn your concern if his area was hit by a nasty storm.