Photo by TerriC
Jeff Bezos, Founder, Chairman and CEO of amazon.com, said, “We see our customers as guests to a party, and we are the hosts. It’s our job every day to make every important aspect of the customer experience a little bit better.”
If you believe that your employees and customers deserve the best service that is available, implement these ideas and you will be well on your way to having loyal followers:
Movers and shakers know how to build excitement.
When people hear Disney, Ritz Carlton Hotel, Facebook, Amazon, Google, AirBnB and Apple, they automatically think about excitement, innovation and receiving impeccable customer service. The Chief Customer Officer is ultimately responsible for delivering spectacular customer experiences.
So, you want to express your appreciation to your clients by giving them a gift this holiday season, right? Here are a few important tips that could save you time and money as well as avoiding awkward moments:
1) Be aware of your company’s policy about giving and receiving gifts to clients. Depending on the industry in which you work, i.e., investment advisor, the industry AND your company may have strict rules stating whether you can give OR receive a gift from clients and if you can, there may be a ceiling on the dollar amount you can spend and the value of the gift you plan to give. Violating this rule carries extensive disciplinary actions from industry regulators AND your company including a possibility of paying fines.
Being AWOL at the Company Party is a BAD Idea
So…you’re thinking about ditching the company holiday party this year, right? After all, you spend 8 to 10 hours a day five days a week with your colleagues and boss and that should suffice, right? You should be able to spend your personal time with whomever you want, right? Saying “yes” to any of those questions could haunt you and damage your career.
Now is a perfect time to show appreciation to your customers and say “thank you” for the loyalty they have shown you throughout the year. They will remember the gesture and before you know it, your relationship will broaden.
Mail a handwritten note, send a text message, chat on social media or send a greeting card – all of which could read something like this:
~~ Hi Joyce. I hope you and the family are enjoying the recent burst of great weather. It was nice helping you last week. Thank you for being an XYZ Customer. We appreciate your business.
Sincerely,
Matt ~~
Something as simple as this will help you and your brand earn a reputation for treating customers with dignity and respect.
If you send a holiday card, be sure the verbiage is sensitive to the customer’s religious observations (or the lack thereof).
If you include a gift card with your note, it should convey that you value the relationship—not a marketing strategy get more money out of them. Let me explain what I mean. If your note includes a discount coupon of 20% off of their next purchase of $75.00 or more, your intentions could be looked upon as disingenuous and they may think that you are manipulative and untrustworthy.
There is a fine line between conveying a message of promotion and appreciation. Make sure you walk it very carefully so that your goodwill is not misinterpreted for something that would offend your client and leave a bad taste in their mouth.
Thank You and Happy Holidays !
