Clients are at the heart of your business. Therefore, some businesses find it extremely beneficial to actually say thank you every so often, especially to clients that have been with your company for a long time or to clients that have extremely large accounts. Everyone likes to be valued, and you can tell a client that you care by providing
promotional gifts. This is a great marketing tool that will continue to positively affect the decisions your clients (or potential clients) make in regards to doing business with you.
Who should get
promotional products? That really depends on the nature of your business. In general, it is a good idea to include promotional items that are small, such as magnets or pencils, with every person’s purchase. This will say that you value their business, even if they don’t buy much, and it will increase the chances that they’ll be repeat customers. If a person hasn’t worked with you long, or if they thought of their purchases as a one-time thing, chances are that they forget you quickly. A promotional gift, even a small one, will help embed the idea of your business into their everyday lives. For example, if you are a florist, include some promotional items with every bouquet. The next time there’s a special occasion, the person will be able to find your contact information again where they may otherwise simply went to the first florist they found.
Promotional items for larger clients have more of the “thank you” aspect. Think about the last time you bought a car or opened a large account at your local bank. Doing this certainly was a big step for you, and it is putting money (and a lot of it) into the pockets of others. You probably received quite a few promotional items at that time. The last time I bought a car, for example, I received promotional mugs, air fresheners for my cars, drink caddies, coasters, and more. It makes the whole experience much more positive.
What
business gifts should you give away? Again, that really depends on the nature of your business, but there are a few things to keep in mind. If possible, think of some promotional items that really relate to your business or to the customer’s purchase. In the example above, my car dealer gave me an air freshener for my car. Whenever this is possible, do it. It simply makes the most sense because it is an item that you’ll know the client can use.
Consider also a single large thank you promotional gift versus a bunch of smaller promotional items. Although both techniques work well, there are clear advantages and disadvantages to each in certain situations. Chose carefully and remember to treat all clients fairly when distributing thank you items.
Lastly, never use a thank you promotional gift as a bribe. This is illegal in some cases and will give your clients the wrong impression in all cases. Instead, don’t talk about promotional items they’ll receive until after the deal is made and you’re actually giving them the items. They should come as a nice surprise to clients to show that you really do care about their business.
