Practical Ways to Show Clients You Value Their Business

Think of landing a great client like getting a date with someone you're really excited about. At first you have to show them what you have to offer, then when they sign on, and the only way to keep the relationship going is to keep your word and really deliver. The longer the relationship lasts, the more important it is to show how much you appreciate him or her – because if you don't, he or she may feel undervalued and start dating your friend. The same is true for a company – one of the key ways to retain your most valued customers is to show them how much you appreciate their business. So how exactly do you do that? Here are a few practical ideas:

Set up a Loyalty Program
If you have a pretty large customer or client base, a great way to show value is by setting up a loyalty program that divides customers into certain brackets based on how much they spend per year (or whatever qualification works best for your business). As clients spend more time and/or money with your company, you can begin to offer them certain perks or freebies, like, say, free shipping or an added service or product. Take Starbucks: A My Starbucks Rewards Gold member gets a free drink or food item after every 12 purchases as well as free apps, songs and other exclusive offers through their Starbucks app.

Send a Gift
Client-appreciation gifts take many forms, and the gifts you decide to send will really depend on your company and the clients you're giving them to. Gifts are especially effective if they're a little more personalized, which is why they work so well if a company just wants to say "thank you" to a handful of top-tier clients. Companies give their valued clients everything from books to food baskets to charitable donations made in their honor, so the sky is really the limit. If you do have a large customer base you want to thank, a gift could come in the form of business flyers with coupons or freebies attached. 

Host an Event
Another great way to thank clients is by hosting an appreciation event for them. You can set up a happy hour, an in-store or in-office meet and greet or even an interesting class, as long as you make your clients feel special in some way. Events don't have to be exclusive to long-term or top-tier clients, either. If you're a startup or new business, host an event for any of your clients or customers who wish to attend – the more the merrier!

Use Their Feedback
One of the most basic ways you can show clients you appreciate them is by using any feedback they give you (or at least making sure they know you've heard and considered it). If a client emails about a problem with their product or any aspect of your service, always send them a "thank you." If you end up using the idea, make sure you mention that! For instance, say, "We weren't aware of that issue until you alerted us, so we've now set up a system that will let us know if it happens in the future. We truly appreciate your feedback!"