It’s super easy to neglect your current or past clients and customers.

Why is that? Probably because, as a small business, you’re up to your neck in a million other things—invoicing, marketing, paying your bills, walking the dog, meetings—it’s so easy to neglect the people who are most important to your business: your clients.

But whatever you do, don’t.

Your clients and customers are the lifeblood of your business; without them, you wouldn’t be here. That’s why I’m slowly becoming a fan of finding small ways I can show my clients some extra lovin’.

For example, yesterday I packed my car full of Valentine’s goodies, and hand-delivered boxed chocolates with a little note to all my clients, both past and present.

Needless to say, it was a big hit.

People love it when you think of them, and they love getting unexpected gifts. I didn’t do it to get anything in return, just to show them how much I valued them and appreciated them as a person. It was, afterall, the international day of love.

It was also a great way to catch up with some people I haven’t spoken to in a while.

I think it’s easy to forget, while running a business, that we are primarily all about relationships. It doesn’t matter what industry you’re in.

Fundamentally, humans are social creatures. And I believe the more you can tap into that, the more successful (and fulfilled) you will be.

So, I plan on doing more things like this in the future. Yes, it takes a lot of time and energy. Yes, it cost a bit of money and took some effort to plan out.

Was it worth it? You bet it was.

Boost your own business

So not only does it show how important your customers are to you, but doing small little things for them also has a ton of marketing benefits as well.

An added bonus of going out of your way for your customers is that it puts you at the forefront of their mind. A few people I stopped by to see where so happy I came by, because they wanted to talk to me about picking a project back up or referring me to someone else!

It also adds a personal touch to your business; how many other businesses do little thoughtful things for their customers? How many do it consistently? It also helps establish your brand, and creates warm fuzzy feelings associated with it.

Plus it just brightens the day of your clients, which is always a good thing. Happy clients makes your own life a whole lot easier 😉

Give it a try

Here are some ideas I’ve been tinkering around with my head that you can use as well to show your own customers some much needed love:

• Deliver holiday presents or treats
• Offer periodic discounts for special occasions
• Remember birthdays
• Hold random prize drawings
• Call up just to say hi; don’t always keep everything strictly business
• Send flowers for celebrations or losses
• Email a really good article you just read which you think they will appreciate
• Look for ways to refer business to them

These are just a few possibilities; what do you think are some good ways to spread the love?

Sheila

Sheila Patterson is the owner and Creative Director behind Apex Creative. GCU professor by day, brand identity expert by night, she loves all things related to design. When she's not creating amazing logos and websites, you can find Sheila tormenting her husband and two feline furbabies, catching the latest Game of Thrones episode, or reading a good book. Naps are nice too.