Thank Your Clients with a Holiday Gift
As the holiday season approaches, it’s time to think not just about potential profit, but about giving some gifts to thank clients. This might sound counter-intuitive…the client is supposed to buy services or products from us, not the other way around, right?
Remember that it’s not so much about the gift itself or the amount of money you spend on said gift; it’s about going above and beyond to help build a loyal community around your company that remembers you and tells others about you. And, why not, it’s also a little bit about the joy of giving rather than taking. Even when budgets are tight, the prospect of spending a little on gifts for clients shouldn’t concern you too much. You don’t need to get them a car after all.
Giving Shows You’re Not Always Taking
Here are a few quick guidelines that will help your gift-giving decisions along. For businesses, even something as simple as giving a gift during the holidays is wrapped up in politics, and you don’t want to do anything that will hurt your image.
1. Don’t spend too much. While you do want to give a nice gift that will be remembered and maybe even shared among others, you don’t want to spend so much that it looks like a bribe. People don’t usually respond well to that. Most reports will recommend setting a budget in the vicinity of $25 to $50 per client.
2. Avoid being too promotional. As with spending too much, you can hurt your image by putting your logo on everything you give. Make sure your clients know who the gift is coming from, but if he or she thinks this is just another promotional campaign wrapped up in a Christmas bow, it could back-fire.
3. Keep your brand’s image in mind. You want to remain professional at all times, so don’t be stingy either. Think about what sort of gifts will leave the best impression on clients. It’s different for every company depending on what you sell and what your relationship is with particular clients. Think outside the box!
4. Personalize gifts. Always include a printed card with the client’s name on it – preferably hard-written to show that you took the time to think of them. Make sure that you spell everyone’s name correctly!
Further Ideas Are Welcome
Once again, we have no illusions that this is an exhaustive list of important gift-giving tips. If you have any ideas to add, please comment below or on our social channels.
If you just want to learn more about the best practices for holiday gifts for your clients, or if you’re in need of ideas, go to our contact us page or give us a quick call at 800.968.1416.
