Showing appreciation is one of the simplest ways to build rapport in any relationship, and the one that you form with your customers is no different. Indeed, showing your customers that you care is one of the easiest ways to strengthen your brand-customer bond, and yet surprisingly few businesses take the time to do so.
When it comes to shining in comparison to your competitors, your business must find, and take advantage of, moments of opportunity. While it is barely practical to try to compete on price or efficiency, it is worth investing instead in product, brand, and customer service differentiators.
Successful businesses already know that focusing on meaningful customer experiences helps them compete on loyalty by word-of-mouth to beat the big players, and carve their own place in a saturated market. Here are a few ideas to help you do the same.
Handwritten Thank You Notes
This is one of those tried and true measures that will never go out of style. Writing a personalized thank you note demonstrates that there really is a human behind the scenes and the screen.
Thank you notes are already a bit of a lost art, so prepare your notes in the knowledge that they will be bringing a simple, but delightful, surprise to your customers.
Packet Inserts
Adding something small to an order as it heads out for delivery is a great way to thank your customers. The shipping and the box have already been paid for, so this is a cost-effective way of giving your customers an extra little bump of delivery magic.
Packing an insert is all about exceeding your customer expectations. Nowadays, unboxing is an experience in and of itself, and customers look forward to the moment they can hold their new product. They are already primed to be delighted, so this is your chance to really shine.
Personalized Videos
Take things a step further by recording a personalized thank you note for your customers. The great feature of videos is that they make it very hard to fake being personal; your customers will definitely know that you’ve put some time and effort into your response.
Indeed, personalized videos come across as particularly thoughtful as they are time-consuming and manual work. In a post-purchase follow-up or a separate interaction altogether, the videos let you be creative and genuine at the same time.
Free Gifts or Samples
Is there anything a customer likes more than a free sample? Throwing in a small sample or gift with any delivery order is an easy and memorable, way to say thank you for purchasing.
Furthermore, free samples aren’t just a great way to surprise your customers - they also showcase something your customers might not have tried yet. If they use it and like it, there’s an increased chance that they will add the product to their next order.
These are just some tips to get you started, but perhaps you know your customers better than anyone else. How are you going to brighten their day?
