Abridged: Inc.

Every company has a combination of clients that make everything you do worthwhile and clients that make you reconsider (at least temporarily) why you got into this business. In the end, however, your company wouldn’t be possible without them all. As the holiday season ends why should your customer appreciation also end? Sure the holidays are a perfect time of year to express gratitude to your clients for sticking with you throughout the year, so they’ll stand by you in the New Year.

But have you thought about expressing your gratitude to your clients all year round? By giving your clients the gift of appreciation all year round, you might just find yourself receiving the gift of new business throughout the year.

Here are some thoughts on how to navigate the tricky waters of thanking clients throughout the year:

Do something good on behalf of your client.

Good deeds make us all feel better, and why wait for a holiday. Once a month consider donating to a charity in your client’s name.

Send custom cards.

You might not have the budget to buy personalized thank you gifts for every client. But sending them a personalized greeting goes a long way. A thoughtful and creative greeting card (we’ve got a great selection at SendOut Cards) can be exactly the right way to show a little client appreciation.

You can personalize a custom card by including a picture of the office, or by adorning a printed card with a handwritten note.

Offer a discount.

Offering a big discount on one of your popular goods or services might be the perfect way to show your appreciation. This will encourage continued sales, boost morale, and help your clients’ wallet.

Host an event.

Invite them to an event you are hosting or sponsoring face-to-face events can be a great way to show your thoughtfulness with clients, as well as your interest in forging a stronger professional relationship.

Do a client spotlight on social media.

Your social media accounts should be all about socializing, but sometimes it’s easy to forget your current clients in the rush to add more to the roster. Consider creating an awesome graphic to showcase and thank your clients once a week. You’ll be sending traffic to their site and reinforcing the idea that they’re monumental to your success. Best of all, you’ll be showing how much your organization cares about clients and customers.

What are some ways you show clients appreciation? Share in the comments!