Written By: Lydia Ramsey
Sending thoughtful, professional gifts to clients will help you and your company build and maintain relationships. It’s the perfect way to show appreciation for your clients. When you do it right, it will keep you at the forefront of their minds throughout the year.
The countdown has begun.
Every where you turn, someone will remind you of how many days there are left until the holidays, and exactly how many of those are for shopping—personal and professional.
Several years ago, a vendor with whom I work gave me a mug during the holidays. Now you might be thinking, “Not another mug!”
Well, it’s not just another mug. It is dark, sleek, and classic.
It is just the right size and shape to make it stand out from every other mug I have. I prefer it to all the others.
Every time I use it, I notice the subtle company logo. That vendor gets my attention almost every business day.
If you want to send professional gifts that will create a lasting impression with your clients, consider the following points.
Find out about your client’s hobbies and interests. Everybody on your list may not get the same thing. If you choose a food item, find out about allergies and special diets.
Godiva chocolates are not going to be appreciated by the client who has spent the last six months on the South Beach Diet.
Find those items that will be used all year and will cause your client think of you on a regular basis, especially when there is a business opportunity.
A colleague gave me a ballpoint pen with her company logo on it. I have lots of pens, but one day I dropped this one in my travel bag as I headed out of town.
Half-way across the country, I pulled it out to make some notes, saw her logo and contact information; and because I had a few extra minutes right then, I called to talk about a project that I had been intending to discuss with her for months.
Get your shopping and shipping done as soon as possible so your gift does not get lost in the shuffle or arrive after your client has left for the holidays. Your corporate gift ought to be delivered no later than December 17th in case your client is taking the week off.
Remember everyone who helps you to be successful. People whom you pay for services and those who go beyond the call to help you deserve your special thanks.
The purpose of giving professional gifts is to show appreciation and have people think of you when it’s time to do business.
It’s also to express gratitude to those who support you. Call to say thank you and send notes that you have written by hand throughout the year.
Learn how to keep your sales game strong and stay focused during the holidays with our FREE on-demand webinar: Outselling the Holidays
Lydia Ramsey
Lydia Ramsey helps people promote themselves and grow their business by showing them how…
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