[Please welcome back our friend, frequent guest poster, and smart copywriter Denise McGill, with a timely reminder. -Becky]
By Denise McGill
If you haven’t done so already, now is the time to order those holiday business cards to let clients know they are appreciated! It’s no news that the economy is performing at below par right now, so it’s more important than ever to acknowledge client/customer loyalty. It’s also a great way to strengthen and maintain your client base for the coming new year.
By mailing a holiday greeting card you
- build client rapport.
- acknowledge and thank clients for their continuing business.
- keep your business or service foremost in a client’s minds.
Good rapport with customers clients can’t be stressed enough. In fact, it should be a priority. It goes along the lines of providing the best customer service possible and that includes an acknowledgment of gratitude. Good rapport keeps the lines of communication open between yourself and your client.
While you are at it, drop a fresh business card, small calendar or other small promotional item in the holiday greeting for clients to keep on hand through the coming year.
Wishes for a profitable new year!
About Denise:
Denise McGill is a freelance copywriter specializing in catalog product description, copy makeovers, web content, landing pages, promotional materials, articles and more. Visit her website at http://mcgillcopywriting.com for more information on giving your business the competitive edge.
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This is the very first article I’m reading on the “Small Biz Survival” website, and I can already see that I will be returning often. This site is a great resource for small business owners (and lots of other people, as well). Especially good for those who could use some forward-thinking ideas and advice on how to open up a dialogue between themselves and their customers, peers, suppliers, and other organizations.
I learned of Becky McCray and this site from Christopher Roberts (@Bewildia), who is helping to build local community through social media in Katonah, NY.
I am on Twitter as @Pleasantville (and several other accts as well), and I am attempting to promote community building through social media with in Pleasantville, NY, and throughout the county of Westchester, NY. I use my website http://TwitterProfessor.com for that purpose. Maybe you would be willing to talk about your efforts/successes for one of my upcoming articles.
Look forward to conversing in the future.
Chris, welcome! Very glad to have you here. I’ve started following you on Twitter, and i look forward to a great conversation about small business. Thanks!
This is the first post I have disagreed with. I don’t like holiday greeting cards from businesses and don’t send them. They don’t make me feel like an appreciated customer. They get lost in the clutter of the holiday mail. The business has to find something generic enough not to offend any religious or cultural beliefs in their customer base. Overall, they just seem to be advertising pieces like a million others at an overly hyped time of year.
I somewhat agree with your reasoning, Innkeeper, but I think there is still merit in sending Christmas cards to your clients. Your cards however, should be creative, meaningful, and represent the face of your business. They should entertain or even provide humor to your clients if they are to be seen as valuable and not just more clutter to add to the junk mail that arrives on a daily basis. Done correctly, they can really strengthen your brand.
I enjoyed reading the comments to my post and thank you for your input. I can understand Innkeeper Seely’s point of view, but agree with printing business cards – If holiday cards are done correctly, they can strengthen your brand. I handwrite a personal one or two line note to each of my clients in the greeting cards. This gives the personal touch you are seeking to strengthen business relationships. Much success to everyone!
Innkeeper Seely, thank you for disagreeing! It’s terrific to have open discussions like this.
Thanks, everyone, for contributing.
I definitely believe in sending cards to my clients. As Denise mentioned “if they are done correctly, they can strengthen your brand.”. I have experienced this but as Innkeeper Seely mentioned, there can be neutral/negative aspects so care is needed.
If something doesn’t fit in with you beliefs, brand or business plan then don’t do it.
Thanks.
Kate
Perhaps I will consider New Year’s mailings instead.
Being a big believer in the power of personal communication, I’ve sent Christmas cards for years now that probably got lost in the clutter.
This year I sent Halloween cards instead.
I simply designed a card to tell all my clients what a treat it’s been doing business with them over the past year.
Since I’m a bit of a ham I even hand-delivered some of them in costume from a plastic pumpkin pail with a small bag of treats.
It was such a big hit I plan to do it every year. I call it “reverse trick or treating”.
Leslie
Kate, thanks for adding your input.
Leslie, that is a hilarious idea! I love it!