Appreciation: Why you should show it.

“Thank you for being my client.”
“TY🙂”
“Thank you for supporting my small business.”
“Thank you very much.“
“Gracias.“

As small children, “thank you” was reinforced in our vocabulary daily, and in result those two impactful words flow from our adult mouths easily, quickly, and without much hesitation. 

Because saying thanks is such a common next step in many scenarios as small business owners, it’s a necessity to turn it up a notch to ensure your clients know just how much you appreciate them.   

So instead of saying “thank you” at the end of your relationship or service, try saying, “I appreciate you.”

For some, those words don’t roll off the tongue naturally, and you might feel a little uncomfortable as “I appreciate you” is so much more personal and emotional than “thank you”.  

I still remember the first time a client told me, “I appreciate you.” It took me by surprise. I was like, wow!, that’s an awesome feeling. But wait … shouldn’t I be appreciating them more than they are appreciating me?!

That moment, early in my career, I opened my eyes to the world of appreciation and the importance of incorporating it into my client experience.

The Effects of Showing Appreciation

When people feel appreciated they also feel respected, wanted, and loved. They know you are grateful and thankful. It’s a simple sentence that brings out all the warm fuzzies.

The effect of making your clients feel appreciated is creating social buzz. From good reviews on social media to word-of-mouth referrals, people are more likely to talk about you and your business when there is an emotional connection. Naturally, they’ll tell their friends and family members. And, when you put on your business hat, you’ll realize that your authentic gesture of appreciation translates into referrals.

Now, let me be very, very clear. An inauthentic gesture of appreciation can be spotted a mile away. So please do not be fake with your acts of appreciation, as it will only hurt your business.

Client Gifting Tips

Showing appreciation is as easy as giving a gift as the gift reinforces the point of appreciation. 

As we approach the end of the year, it is the perfect time to think about client gifting to show your appreciation. Gifts can range from a handwritten note or card to an elaborate gift. Check out our 2021 Gift Guide here. If you’re thinking about sending client gifts from your small business, here are a few tips to follow. 

1. Segment Your Clients

All clients are different. Some spend a ton of money on you and really appreciate the level of talent and professionalism you bring to the table. Others may just drive you bonkers and are constantly looking for a discount. While others sit somewhere in-between and send referrals your way. It’s important to know what type of clients you have in your business.

Before you start going crazy with gifting, separate your clients out into VIP (clients that spend the most money with you and clients that you truly love to work with), Buzz Spreaders (people that refer your business), and Debbie Downers (clients that suck the life out of you).

2. Different Gifts for Different Clients

It’s ok to give each group of clients a different gift. While your big spenders might receive a really cool gift, the Debbie Downers might receive a thank you note with a referral to your competitor.👿 😂

3. Set Your Policies

We love to shop, but emotional shopping can lead to overspending. So, it’s important to set some policies. Think about how much you would like to spend on each category of clients. Need more help? Download our gifting guide here. 

4. Personalize Your Gifts

Purchase gifts that your clients would love and talk about. It should be unique and personal to them … not to you. Which means, no gifts with your logo or marketing materials. 

5. Special Delivery

I loved to hand deliver gifts to my clients while they were at work. (Obviously if they worked in an environment where it was allowed). It was so much fun to watch my client’s expressions when I showed up with a gesture of a gift and let them know how much they were appreciated to my business. 

Ready to Start Gifting

If you are ready to start gifting, we are here to help.

• Download our gifting guide with direct links to unique gifts. 
• Download our Gift Workbook to help set up the process.
• Watch this short video to help you manage your process in 17hats.