Do you ever take time to think about all you appreciate, in terms of your customers? It’s easy to get caught up in the day-to-day business matters of being a sales professional. So, it’s not uncommon to take for granted the very people who have helped you to get where you are – your best clients.
It is possible to take your sales career to new heights by expressing appreciation on a frequent basis. Just by taking the time to say “thanks” more often, your clients will feel appreciated and respected. This can help you connect with your clients on a more personal level, allowing them to share more about what’s important to them. Expressing appreciation also builds rapport faster, allowing clients to see the real you so they develop trust for you sooner. Both of these factors can lead to a lifetime of success.
To get you on the path to sharing your appreciation towards customers, here are some easy ideas you can implement right away.
Send a thank you card after initial or important meetings. Do this within 24 hours, so your client knows you appreciate his or her time. This also gives you a valid reason to follow up by phone within a few days, to answer more questions or seal the deal.
Express appreciation on social media networks. Your clients are likely following you on places like your blog and social network pages. Take the time to say a special thanks to someone this week, for his or her loyal business and feedback. You’d be surprised at how well customers accept this praise.
Remember important dates and anniversaries for clients. Take a moment to jot down the client’s birthday, the anniversary of their becoming a client, or another milestone as an opportunity to say thanks later on. Then send a nice bouquet of flowers, or a gift basket on this day expressing your sincere appreciation.
At the beginning and end of every conversation with clients, always take a moment to thank them for being a valued customer and for taking time out of a busy schedule to talk with you. This is a humble, yet effective way of building relationships with customers. This alone can raise you up over your competitors who are probably too busy to worry about being thankful.
Provide incentives and appreciation gifts for clients who refer others to you. This can be a simple gift card, business bonus, or other incentive that you can give to customers who send others your way. For example, if someone generates a new sales lead that ends in a sale, be sure to send an appreciation gift to him or her, followed with a phone call.
By taking the time to regularly thank your clients, you will begin to appreciate all that they bring to your professional life. Customers are the lifeblood of any organization, so remember to appreciate them and treat them like gold as much as possible. This is what sets you above all others in your industry, and helps you to become more successful.
This post is brought to you by the good folks at Dale Carnegie Training of the Bay Area, providers of professional development and management development courses and information in the Bay Area. We would love to connect with you on Facebook and Twitter.
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