Page 64 - 101 Ways to Market Your Business

MAKE THE MOST OF THE CUSTOMERS YOU HAVE

12 Remember important dates

You can show your existing customers that you are inter-
ested in them by remembering important dates such as
birthdays and anniversaries. This is the perfect opportunity
for you to drop them a line to say congratulations and
thank them for their business.

Find out your customers’ birthdays by doing a brief
survey. If you have a club of some sort make this informa-
tion part of the sign-up form. Send the customer a birthday
card and make them a special offer to say thank you for
their business.

Customers in this instance can be anyone from regular
clientele right through to the chief executive officer at a
company that you supply. Take the time to handwrite the
card. Don’t make it look mass produced. Be genuine in
your comments but not overly personal if you don’t know
the person very well.

I remember visiting my local video shop and as I was
hiring my choice the computer made a funny sound. The
lady serving me looked up and wished me ‘a Happy Birth-
day’. Further to this she told me that I could have any two
videos free of charge as well as an ice-cream to celebrate
my special day. I was very impressed with this service and
the fact that I felt special. If you operate a computer-based
business like this, it is easy to have the computer alert you
to a person’s birthday.

Why make it just birthdays? Why not a thank you card
because it has been twelve months since a customer started
using your business. I often wonder why marriage cele-
brants don’t send out anniversary cards. What a great way
to generate new business.

How many birthday cards do you get from your sup-
pliers or businesses where you are a customer? Be different
and, most importantly, be remembered. Attention to small
details can be a major key to success.

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