Employee Engagement 2010: Part 8

THANK YOUR CUSTOMERS!

Employee appreciation has been the recurring theme of this Blog Series....the premise: Great People Make Great Companies!


With this thought in mind: GREAT CUSTOMERS MAKE GREAT COMPANIES GREAT!


There are a few ways you can win business:
* Cost Savings
* Better Widgets
* Trusting Relationships


"...Anyone can drop prices or improve product quality...trusting relationships are irreplaceable..."


Consultants and courses can help your staff improve human relation skills, well formulated efficiency metrics can improve customer service, but remember this:

APPRECIATING YOUR CUSTOMERS STARTS WITH APPRECIATING YOUR EMPLOYEES!

In this Blog Series we have driven a primary principle: creating a corporate culture of appreciation means helping your employees discover their Genuine Intent.


...the same can be said for your customers.

So, build relationships with your customers as you would your employees:
1. Be a Trusted Business Advisor
2. Take Accountability
3. Be Proactive
4. Extend Relationships beyond the Transactional



GIVE BACK

2009 has been a tough year. Customers have left long term partners for the wrong reasons, trusted business foundations have shut their doors and community icons have been let go!


At the conclusion of this year a subtle 'Thank You' is in order.


Here are few nice mementos you can extend to those who have stuck with you through the economic downturn:
1. Gift Card and a Hand Written Note
2. Expression Gift
3. Discount



* Thanks for your business, here's a treat - I know what you are saying, what would $100 gift card mean to someone who spent 100,000 on our services. Answer: A LOT! The smallest tokens of appreciation can be the most meaningful when presented properly. Buy a program administrator a gift card that accesses a variety of gifts and deliver it personally with a hand written a 'thank you' card....use a few specific personal and business relevant examples.

* An engraved memento - a lamp with your company's logo would come off as shameless promotion. But, a nice engraved writing pen, for professional use, can sometimes be a nice touch.

* In appreciation of your business...January shipping is waived - managing cost is critical, especially at the end of the year. Give yourself some wiggle room at the inception of 2010 and cut your Super Star Customers a break.

Every great business has key customers that make their business great...what if every customer made your business great...?

Don't Forget to Remember!

- Dave

References:
http://www.mcfrecognition.com/
http://www.sparkreward.com/

Questions - dkovacovich@mcfina.com