With the COVID-19 pandemic, staying connected to your customers has never been more important. As the ever-changing rules, lockdowns, and the shift to a stronger online presence continue, businesses need to adapt in order to stick in their clients’ minds.
But how do you do it?
Studies show that reading a physical piece of paper or having a physical item leaves a more impactful impression on a person’s memory than digital. And that’s why using cards, gifts, and other tangible items are some of the best ways to stick in your customers’ minds.
In this post, we’ll give you five effective tips to stay connected with your customers and clients.
Tip #1: Exclusive Customer Loyalty Discounts
Offer your customers an exclusive loyalty discount. Many businesses forget the value of a discount, especially ones that favour their loyal customers.
You can send out a discount code by handing it out as a physical card when they’ve made a purchase. Even a discount as small as 10% lets them know that you appreciate their business.
Your business can have custom postcards printed to help make them stand out. These cards can have the chosen discount, as well as any dates or restrictions in the fine print.
The most important thing, for an email or card discount, is to include a message of gratitude so that customers know why they are receiving it.
Try things like:
- “We appreciate your business”
- “Thank you for your purchase”
- “Thank you for choosing us”
- Or “For our loyal customers”
These are all good ways to show recognition. Make it short and sweet, too; too much information can look cluttered and confusing. Keep it simple.
Who this is good for: Cafes & Bakeries, Retail Stores, Restaurants, Spas and Salons, Yoga and Athletics Studios, Grocery Stores, Supply Stores, Online Retailers.
Tip #2: Thank You Cards and Gift Baskets
Thank you cards and gift baskets are the ultimate signal to your clients that you appreciate their support.
With a custom thank you card, you can send out a message of gratitude to your client base. Along with your company’s logo or imagery, you can include a photo of your team to help make it feel more personal. A handwritten message in the card will also go a long way in showing that you care about your partnership. Printing Unlimited offers a wide variety of custom card printing services to help you connect with your client base.
Another item to send along with a card is a gift basket. A gift basket shows that you put in the time and effort to acknowledge their support. Here are some crowd-pleasing ideas to get you started:
- Bottles of wine
- Chocolate or sweets
- Tea or coffee
- Gift cards to local restaurants or businesses
- Flowers
- Custom calendars
- Charcuterie items (like preserves, cheeses, high-quality deli meats, wooden boards)
- Soaps, bath bombs, candles or other spa items
If you do want to include food items, do your research and check for allergies. Excluding items that your client is allergic to will show that you care, and avoid a potential reaction.
Who this is good for: Law Firms, Marketing Companies, Realtors, Contractors and Home Improvement Businesses, Banks, Business Suppliers.
Tip #3: Hold a Contest or Giveaway
A fun way to show your appreciation is to host a contest or giveaway. If your business has a social media account, you could host it online. But if you don’t, you can still host a giveaway in store that customers can participate in.
For an online contest or giveaway, encouraging people to engage with your online content will boost your social presence and recognize your loyal base at the same time. You can offer prizes that they can enter to win by liking or sharing your posts and following your accounts. Make the rules clear and include a deadline for entering. You’ll also want to announce the winner so that others are encouraged to enter in future with the possibility of being a winner, too.
For in-store giveaways, you can host raffles, draws, photo contests or scavenger hunts. A scavenger hunt can be a fun one-time event that encourages them to interact with your business and local area. It can also be in collaboration with other local businesses.
Whichever avenue you choose, hosting a giveaway is an entertaining way to thank your customers. And remember, if you’re holding it in-store, make custom postcard invitations that you can give out to your loyal customers.
Who this is good for: Cafes & Bakeries, Retail Stores, Restaurants, Spas and Salons, Yoga and Athletics Studios, Grocery Stores, Online Retailers.
Tip #4: Custom Christmas Calendars
A custom Christmas calendar is a useful gift that will keep your client base thinking of you every day of the year. It’s also a perfect extra to add to a gift basket.
Your custom calendar can include photos of nature or animals, your team or business, gourmet food and drinks, beaches or even cityscapes. Whatever you choose, make it unique to your business, or what you think your clients would like.
There are also plenty of options for calendar formats, including wall calendars, small desk calendars and larger calendar formats. Check out our online catalogue here to explore your options.
If you’re looking to make a custom calendar for the Christmas season (or just because), Printing Unlimited offers excellent custom services along with knowledgeable staff to help you make your perfect calendar.
Who this is good for: Law Firms, Marketing Companies, Realtors, Contractors and Home Improvement Businesses, Banks, Business Suppliers.
Tip #5: Get Involved with Your Community
A rewarding way to stay connected with the customers in your local community is to get involved where help is needed.
Sponsor a local kids’ sports team or a local event. Donate or volunteer with a local charity. Host an event, like a drive-in movie night, food festival or poetry reading. Share posts about fellow businesses on your social media. Offer discounts to emergency responders in your area.
Whether you’re hosting or sponsoring an event, or simply posting about your community on social media, getting involved with your local area is one of the best ways to demonstrate your appreciation and stay connected.
We at Printing Unlimited know the value in appreciating your community, and have sponsored events and supported our locals here in Fort McMurray as much as we can in the past. We encourage you to do the same.
Who this is good for: Everyone.
There are many ways to show your appreciation for your loyal customers and clients. Whatever you choose to do, reconnecting with your customers is essential. If you have any printing needs for your business, contact us today to see how we can help.
