When you run a service-based business, gifts are an excellent way to show your appreciation for your customers. They offer many benefits, plus they are a business expense that you may be able to write off at the end of the year. Want to build your service-based business? Here’s how client gifts can help.
Help You With Marketing
Running a service-based business often means that you rely on word of mouth to help you get new clients. Because people often recommend services from people they know, like, and trust, giving gifts can help you in your marketing efforts. It’s important to make sure the gifts are genuine, and not just a magnet or something that only benefits you. Gifts are a great way to show your clients that their business is appreciated. If you are in the service industry, it’s likely that many of your customers will be repeat customers and who may even recommend you to others.
Acts as a Token of Appreciation for Their Business
Gifts are a great way to show your clients that you care about them and appreciate their business. They also make clients feel special and important, which can be especially helpful when trying to establish a relationship with new customers. For example, if someone is considering hiring your company for an event or party but has never worked with you before, sending a small token of appreciation like this can help build confidence in your abilities as well as show how much effort you put into making sure the client feels comfortable doing business with you.
Luxury Items Impress Clients More Than Marketing Swag
The key to choosing the right client gift is knowing your client. You want to choose something that is relevant to the individual or individuals you worked with. This means paying attention to things like their favorite chocolate brands, if they wear designer clothing, or if they like to enjoy liquor like premium tequila. You should pay attention, ask questions, and discretely make a few notes while you are working with them.
It’s important to think beyond an annual calendar or a gift card to a regular store. When possible, choose things that have a luxurious feel. It doesn’t have to be a $3000 bottle of wine, but it can be better than a box of wine you find at the convenience store. Luxury gifts stand out more than something basic, especially if it’s a brand the client loves.
Makes You Stand Out in the Market
Client gifts are a great way for you to stand out in the market and show your clients that you care about their business. You can use client gifts to make a first impression, show them that you’re different from other companies, or just surprise your clients with a small token of appreciation after you’re done working with them. Some service-based businesses send a gift several months after their working relationship has ended in order to bring you back to the top of their minds. It helps you to stand out, especially if you send a gift on a birthday or other important date.
Shows Them You Value Them More Than Just For Business
Valuing your clients helps them to feel special. Of course, clients know that the reason you are working together is for a specific business purpose. But that doesn’t mean you can’t still treat them like people. Gifts have a way of connecting with the person so that they feel valued beyond just the transactional relationship of the service.
Give Gifts When They Are Unexpected
Someone once shared a story about how they had just had their 3rd baby and their real estate agent from a few years before saw this on social media and mailed them a card with a gift card to a premium baby clothing boutique in the area. It was so meaningful, that even though this family has moved out of the area, they still recommend this agent to all of the people they know who still live in the region.
The value at that moment was far beyond the working relationship and showed that they cared. It was also unexpected and came after all the dust had settled and they were starting to get into a routine of being a family with three children.