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When you go shopping and ask a sales clerk for assistance, do you ever get the feeling that you must be inconveniencing them? When this happens, you probably either leave without purchasing and never come back, or you purchase what you needed (nothing more), never return and tell a number of friends about your horrid experience. This is all because the sales clerk did not show any appreciation for your business. That is why it is so crucial that businesses and salespersons show appreciation to clients and prospects or they could walk away and potentially harm your brand image.
There are numerous ways to show appreciation to clients. A few are discussed below.
Send a Thank You Note 
Even with advances in technology making online communications the preferred method in most cases, a simple handwritten thank you note is still highly effective. Technology makes things easier and quicker, resulting in a loss of personal touch, but a handwritten note of thanks displays a thoughtful effort to make the contact more personable. Sending a quick email is so easy, but a handwritten card shows that you took the time to think about and write out a few sentences of thanks, as well as personally address the envelope.
Odds are that your name will not be lost in the client's mind once they receive the thank you.
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Gifts of Gratitude
Simple and appropriate thank you gifts will be well received by clients and prospects. Try to send these gifts during appropriate times of the year, possibly on the anniversary that they first became your client. If you send during the more popular gift-giving seasons, the gift could get lost in the crowd or possibly delivered while your client is on a holiday break. Remember to research cultural differences in regards to gift-giving in order to avoid potentially offending the client.
There is no need to go over board and purchase expensive gifts; just make it relevant to their business or personal tastes. Also, since you want your gift to be received as a sincere gesture of gratitude, try not to include too many self-promotive gifts that include your company logo unless it is of high quality and value such as an article of clothing with a quality, not overstated logo or company name, or a quality accessory which can be used by any business person (clock, portfolio, expensive pen, etc.). Anything less may appear as an advertising medium rather than a thoughtful gesture.
Out to Lunch
Most people have busy schedules which can make it difficult for a salesperson and their client to meet in person. As busy as everyone is, lunch is pretty typical for most, breakfast for others. Try to schedule a lunch date with your client at a place they love to eat. Don't be thrifty; show thanks to the client by treating. Also, the fact that you are spending your lunch break with the client shows appreciation and allows time for relationship building in a casual, comfortable setting. Schedule plenty of time for lunch so that you won't feel rushed and you won't rush the client, but also ask them in advance how much time they have and strictly adhere to that.
You could also be creative and develop your own "Thank You" approach. Try testing it on peers or gathering others' opinions before finalizing.
Whatever method you choose, make sure the gesture is sincere and personable when appropriate.
The best client appreciation? Never forget the basics of great customer service, maintaining a focus on their business goals and objectives, and making life easier for them. And just as with the retail sales clerk example, make sure everyone on your team says thanks on a daily basis when in touch with your clients.
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About Sales Focus Inc.
Sales Focus Inc. is a consulting, training and outsourcing company that focuses strictly on sales. We help our clients during these difficult times to take business away from the competition. In down economic times, focused companies will not only survive, but also thrive! We offer cost containment and profit enhancement solutions. Profit enhancement is a different mindset than cost cutting. Cost cutting means doing less of something; profit enhancement implies doing more of something that will boost the bottom line. We represent the concept of focused profit enhancement solutions.
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Sales Focus is driven towards a single goal: "Generating Immediate Revenue for our Clients!" Whether it's implementing our S.O.L.D. Methodology, Developing Specialized Training Programs or Launching an Outsourced Sales Force, we remain focused on the goal of TACTICALLY GENERATING RAPID REVENUE.
For more Information or to see if we are a good fit with your company, contact us directly, 866.840.8305 or 410.442.5600, send us an email at info@SalesFocusInc.com or visit our web site: www.SalesFocusInc.com. Request a free white paper while calling us or visiting our website.
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Sales Focus Inc.
3210 Florence Road, Suite B
Woodbine, Maryland 21797
P. 410.442.5600
F. 410.442.5102
Toll Free: 866.840.8305
URL: www.SalesFocusInc.com
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