Showing appreciation to customers is a subtle way to drive customer engagement. It’s especially valuable when it comes to building relationships with loyal followers and buyers. Although the concept sounds a bit unclear, there are some very specific ways to use this tactic.
Welcome emails
Appreciation starts as soon as you welcome a new customer. It’s important to thank them for subscribing or choosing your product or service on the very first interaction. Make sure that each welcome email contains the following information about your company:
- A brief company overview
- Your offers
- How customers can benefit from that
Welcome emails are extremely efficient—studies show that they generate four times more opens and five times more clicks than average email campaigns.
Encourage user-generated content
User-generated content (UGC) is the best way to show appreciation to customers. This type of content has two main benefits—it’s affordable, and it encourages customer participation.
For instance, you can create a hashtag campaign and ask people to share their experiences with a certain product or service. It creates an exciting environment that rewards participants while displaying your appreciation for their effort. Plus, UGC is one of the most powerful forms of social proof.
Send tailored gifts
Sending gifts is a great way to show gratitude because people appreciate it when someone remembers their special occasions. For example, you can send a small birthday gift to the customer who keeps engaging with your brand.
Another option is to send personalized tokens of appreciation in the form of discounts, vouchers, or exclusive offers. Each of these solutions will have a positive impact on brand loyalty and engagement.
Organize a customer appreciation party
Customer appreciation events can be a bit expensive, but they are also very effective. It’s a nice way to show customers that you genuinely care about them and appreciate their loyalty to the brand.
Such events offer you the chance to connect with customers on a more personal level and get valuable feedback about your brand. You can also use this opportunity to introduce new items or services to customers.
If you want to go even further, organize competitions or give away special prizes for participants.
Send thank you notes
Thank you notes are always a great way to show appreciation to the buyers. It’s especially valuable for engaging with repeat customers.
You can send thank you notes via email, SMS, postcard, or even through direct messaging on social media channels. Just make sure that your message is unique and relevant – emphasize the fact that you appreciate their loyalty and trust.