Generosity goes a long way in attracting, retaining, and nurturing your customer base. By giving gifts, you can recognize recipients, convey meaningful emotions, share gratitude, foster relationships, and simply show you care.
There are endless ways to surprise and delight customers (as well as leads, partners, and more). But if your plan entails swag bags and branded trinkets, hit pause and ask yourself a few questions:
What’s the best gift you’ve ever received? Whether you’re thinking about your first vinyl record, a hand-drawn portrait, or an inspiring book from a mentor, I’ll bet your favorite gift felt personal, thoughtful, and reflective of your life path.
A great gift isn’t about the cost or the giver – it’s about the meaning and the recipient. So next time you purchase gifts for customers, make sure it’s about them instead of your brand. Send a handwritten note, not something automated from Amazon. Put their name or their family’s name on the gift. Giving a special gift makes the recipient feel special too – and that’s exactly what we mean when we ask “What does this gift say?”
The most meaningful gifts aren’t tied to an event or time of year (think about Christmas in ‘07 or your 5th work anniversary). Often, the most meaningful gifts are the ones the recipient had no idea were coming. They are the “just because” gifts.
When gifts are tied yearly or timed events, they can come from a sense of obligation rather than sincere gratitude. Instead, give gifts to your team and clients simply because you appreciate them – and catch them off guard when you give. In Ruhlin’s experience, those “random” gifts say the most to his clients. A gift that says “I’m just thinking of you” carries so much more weight than a gift to celebrate a deal, referral, or renewal.
These aren’t branded coffee mugs or key chains. These are truly special gifts – if your house caught on fire, these gifts would be the first things you think about. Artifacts are items you use for years. They are passed down in a family and have an incredibly special meaning. As well, they’re full of details – and even the smallest detail, like a specific fabric, can reflect a larger message.
Think about each person you’re giving to and what type of gift would have that level of impact on them. As Ruhlin says, “People realize that you went out of your way to do something for them. And now there’s a fun story and all that tied into it as well.”
Thoughtfulness unlocks many doors, and gift-giving is just one way your business can prioritize intentionality. For example, by delegating tasks to a BELAY Virtual Assistant, Accounting Professional, or Marketing Assistant, you can spend more time on those special skills nobody does quite like you.