Taking your appreciation marketing to the next level.

We know that everyone has the desire to be liked and appreciated and we know how valuable a "Thank You" is, but how inmportant is staying in constant contact with your customers?
Well sudies show us that for every month your not in contact with your customer you lose 10% of your influence. That means you must make a considerable effort to stay in contact with your customers each and every month.
There are a few different ways to accompish this. Some are free but take a considerable amount of time. Some of the low cost ones can make it happen with just seconds of your time and even automate some of the tasks.
First lets look at a phone call. I have a friend that has a small business that they actually employ a person full time to make phone calls and send cards to their customers. A quick side note her business was up 25% in this down economy and her industry is way down. (housing and remodeling glass) Maybe it just isn't in your budget to pay a full time employee to do this. Don't worry there are still options.
Email is cheap, but it may be a trick to get your email opened. Only 5% of emails are opened. 17% of newsletters are opened. So I would suggest a optin newsletter if email is your choice. Education is key. ALWAYS try to make it as personal as possible! Remember you want to build a relationship with your customers.
Last is by far my favorite, it is real easy to make it personal. And if you are able to use pictures you have the ability to make it even more personal and make it market for your business for years and years to come. (I call it refrigerator marketinging which I will cover in a later blog.) It is greeting cards, it is an old industry but when you go to your mail box and you see an envelope in the shape of a card hows it make you feel. Then you open it and if the card has been done right(without advertising) You feel special and appreciated. Your cusotmer is no different. You have a personal relationship with this person. By sending cards like this you bocome theirs. Whan they are talking with family and friends you are their photographer, their plumber theie ________.(fill in the blank with your profession.) Now I bet you are understanding why the cards are my favorite by far.
I encourage you to put it to the test. See what it can do for your business.

Give someone an excellent day!
Thanks
Jody Ogden