When I came back from lunch on Wednesday I found a package waiting for me from a copywriter who does work for me. I wasn’t expecting anything and was intrigued. Eagerly I opened the box to find a heavy gold tinted fountain pen.
I got it! A writer sending a pen as a thank you, but a fountain pen!
I haven’t used a fountain pen in decades. It was a nice thought but it wasn’t something I or anyone I know could use. Given the thousands of dollars I’d paid him it seemed cheap and went straight into the trash.
It’s not that cost is issue with a a thank you present. I’ve received Tiffany crystal from a financial advisor that cost hundreds of dollars. But it didn’t fit in our home and I couldn’t figure out what to do with it.
When you send your client a thank you present – you don’t want it to be outdated, out of place or useless – or they’ll think of you in a similar vein.
Now you know what not to do, what should you do to increase repeat sales?
You just made a sale or finished a project for a client and you’d like to get them to buy from you a second and a third time. You enjoyed working with them and you made some good solid cash and you like to make it happen again.
You know it’s at least 8 times easier to sell an existing client then a new one and you’d like to reduce your marketing costs and increase your profits. So what’s the solution?
When a client buys from you its based on the strength of the relationship. They could have bought a similar product or service from anyone but they picked you because they liked you and trusted you. It’s the strength of your relationship that gives you a competitive advantage.
What can you do to keep this advantage?
Every one likes to be appreciated and saying “Thank You” is one way of letting your clients know they are more than just another dollar to you – but to make it work you need to say thank you in the right way.
When you send a client a thank you present – send them something they want, will keep and can use. Do that and they’ll think highly of you.
For example I had one client that I’d worked with for a couple of years who spends a lot her time sailing with her family. I sent her a gift certificate to the marine supply store in her town. She couldn’t thank me enough.
Similarly a virtual assistant of mine, knowing I did a lot of hiking and skiing, sent me a gift certificate to LL Bean. I was delighted.
When you know your client well it’s easy to think of something they want that you can send them. What do you do if you don’t each client well enough to provide a thank you present tailored to their interests?
After answering a couple of questions over the phone about Blogging for Al, I received a gift pack of the barbeque sauces his company makes. Every one likes food, and thanks to Al’s gift for five minutes of my time, I won’t forget him.
You can also give clients travel certificates such as my client GetUpAndGo.com provides. Every one likes a vacation and the gift will give you permanent shelf space in your client’s minds.
What can I give you as a thank you for being a subscriber that you’ll keep and you can use?
I can give you the secrets you need to transform your web site into a profit center so you have all the money you need to take more vacations. And I’ll give you $100 off if you act before Sept 1st. Use this link to get the details >>
Most web sites don’t even generate a repeat visit much less repeat sales. Want to know how to change that so visitors come back again and again to buy from you over and over? Get the details >>
Charlie
Marketing Ideas That Work