Author: Hollie Clere

#CustomerGratitude – What is a CRM?

To put it simply, CRM software is a tool that businesses use to track and nurture their relationships with leads and current clients. This is the best way to store and access all kinds of information on people including their contact information, notes, interactions with your brand, and more.

There are hundreds of different types of CRM’s available and each business is tasked with finding a system that works for their needs. There are plenty of features available, making a CRM an invaluable asset to organizing and running your company. Plus, it makes expressing gratitude for your clients much simpler.

How does a CRM help you appreciate your clients?

Automated Touches

We get it. You’re busy. It’s difficult to get the work done, sign new clients, run your business AND spend a bunch of time reaching out to your customers to let them know you’re thinking of them. While it’s not okay to automate all of your customer appreciation activities, the occasional email automation sequence is a good supplement when you’re swamped.

If one of the ways you like to love on your clients is to send them interesting and relevant content on a regular basis, your CRM could automate this process by allowing you to build a list and schedule those emails to multiple clients at once.

Personalized Communication

Just because an email is automated doesn’t mean it needs to look that way. Quality CRM software will offer you the option of personalizing the subject line so it looks like you crafted that email just for your client.

Store Valuable Data

With the right website forms, tied into your CRM, you can respond to leads quickly, personally, and efficiently as all the information will then be stored into your database.

Track What’s Important

Do you love sending out birthday cards or gifts? Get rid of the spreadsheet and plug those dates into your CRM! Track the client relationship from initial contact to the present moment with just a few clicks on your computer. Never forget an important conversation or date again.

If you are SOLD on getting started with your own CRM, we always recommend AllProWebTools. As a Certified Marketing Expert for AllProWebTools, you’ll have an expert by your side to answer questions and get you up and running in no time.

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Hollie Clere of The Social Media Advisor is a “#BeAwesome” Developer, Social Media, Brand Builder, Content Manager, Trainer and Author in LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter, Blog, Google+, YouTube, Pinterest, Instagram, and the tools to manage them.

Click here for Social Media Training, Speaking and Strategy Consultations.

#CustomerGratitude – Customer Appreciation Tips

When small business owners talk about customer appreciation, the first thought that often comes to mind are gifts. While sending gifts can be a great way to encourage loyalty and appreciate your clients, it’s not the only method to nurture these valuable relationships.

Here are some ideas, outside of gifting, to help you become a customer appreciation superstar:

Staying Top of Mind

Out of sight, out of mind is not just an expression – it can easily become a reality. Being a business owner can be overwhelming and it’s way too easy to overlook loving on your people on a regular basis. However, not staying top of mind with your customers leaves the door wide open for another vendor or business to swoop in and take that opportunity to really build a solid, relationship. Loyalty and trust are earned and, if neglected, quickly transferred to someone else willing to put the effort in. This may mean finding a way to delegate some of the time-consuming tasks that are keeping you from being intentional and present with your clients.

Being a Giver

Being a giver isn’t just about gifts. Givers walk into the room with a heart of service, looking to support other people and make their day better. If there is always a tally involved for you to step up and give your time, energy or attention, then a mindset change needs to happen.

People are drawn to givers. Why? Givers don’t show up only looking to get something out of the experience. They don’t have the expectation that in order to give they must receive in return. There are no hidden agendas, spammy motives, or unfavorable conversations when you are interacting with a listener, a nurturer, or a giver. Anything you can do to show up for people with an intention to serve, will do wonders for you in terms of relationship building.

Invite Them Along

This technique isn’t as well-known but can be super effective if done in a generous way. If you have an upcoming event, function, or networking opportunity – this is a great moment to invite a client to come along with you and share the benefits! Not only is this a great way to give back, but it also sets you up to enjoy one on one time and get to know them.

Collaboration

As you look at each new year, ask yourself whether or not there are opportunities to collaborate with your clients. Can you throw an event together and both promote it to both your audiences? Can you team up on a project that will benefit you both? Collaboration is the glue that ties successful businesses together. No business is an island and your reach will be more expansion with there are more people working together.

Whatever you decide to do to appreciate your customers, just know that every touch and every conversation is building the relationship. Relationships breed loyalty, referrals, and word-of-mouth in ways that no other business connection can. Client appreciation is about more than saying, “Thank you.” It’s also about creating a connection that stands the test of time.

Be sure to Follow us and Let’s Engage!

Hollie Clere of The Social Media Advisor is a “#BeAwesome” Developer, Social Media, Brand Builder, Content Manager, Trainer and Author in LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter, Blog, Google+, YouTube, Pinterest, Instagram, and the tools to manage them.

Click here for Social Media Training, Speaking and Strategy Consultations.

#CustomerGratitude – Top 3 Ways to Show Gratitude to Your Clients Off Social Media

In our last blog, we featured some ways that you can express gratitude to your current clients using social media. In this article, we want to focus on some offline ways to love on your clients and appreciate them all year long.

Give Them Face Time

While it can be tough to set aside time for every client, if you pace it out all year long, it can make a big impact on your relationship building. What many small businesses do is focus the majority of their energy on acquiring new leads and clients and forget to nurture their existing one. A little bit of attention goes a long way in this busy world. It inspires loyalty to take time to connect with each of your valued customers.

Mention Them to Others

Name dropping can be a good thing when you are sharing your love for your clients! Keep your ears open for the opportunity to share their information with others. This not only spreads the word about what they do, it also builds bonds between you and others. Soon, you’ll be known as a powerful connector in your community and people will respect your efforts to build up the local community and support their local businesses.

Have a Client Appreciation Plan

How often have you thought that it might be a good idea to do something nice for your clients but haven’t been able to make it happen yet? If there isn’t a plan in place, it’s merely an idea without wings. Get your client appreciation plan off the ground by sitting down and being intentional with how you will nurture those relationships. Whether the plan is taking them to lunch quarterly, sending the occasional card, making regular phone calls or investing in thoughtful gifts to surprise and delight them – you need to write down what you plan to do and put it in your calendar! That way you’ve set a timeline and are making client appreciation a priority and not just a random to-do item.

Whether your plan is to nurture your clients online or off-line (or both), the key is to have a plan. If you think generously and remain in a place of gratitude and you’ll find that client appreciation is one of your favorite activities. The impact of taking the time to love on your colleagues goes way beyond mere client retention. It’s a legacy that every small business owner should aspire towards.

Be sure to Follow us and Let’s Engage!

Hollie Clere of The Social Media Advisor is a “#BeAwesome” Developer, Social Media, Brand Builder, Content Manager, Trainer and Author in LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter, Blog, Google+, YouTube, Pinterest, Instagram, and the tools to manage them.

Click here for Social Media Training, Speaking and Strategy Consultations.

#CustomerGratitude – How to Show Your Clients Gratitude in Social Media

November is definitely gratitude season and while we always remember to showcase our gratefulness to our friends and family, don’t miss the opportunity to use this time of year to show your clients you appreciate them as well! When it comes to your social media marketing, showing client appreciation is both simple and impactful. Most businesses only send a holiday card (at best) this time of year so going above and beyond by talking about your clients on social media can really be a stand out way to nurture those relationships

Give Them a Shout Out!

Perhaps the easiest way to show gratitude for your clients on social is simply by giving them a shout out in your feeds. Feature them, talk about them, share their work with your audience – all of these are effective ways of demonstrating that you not only care about them as a client, but that you believe in what they do! Make sure you tag or mention them on your platforms so they get notified (plus your post will show up in their social media feed as well).

Engage with Their Content

If you aren’t doing this already, take some time to like and comment on their social media posts. Even better, share some of their best content with your audience as well. People tend to focus only on what pops up in their own feeds, but if your client’s content isn’t showing up – search for them and spend a few minutes each week engaging with them online. This is a great practice to start and then keep doing all year long. Both of your businesses will benefit from the social engagement exchange.

Share Their Offers

Businesses are scrambling to put together their Black Friday, Small Business Saturday or Cyber Monday deals right now. Show them you care by sharing their offers, deals and discounts with your people. Don’t forget to mention why you love their product or service!

Collaborate

Get creative and find a way to team up and collaborate on a project or a discount this holiday season. This is especially useful if your target markets are similar but can be a great way to get in front of each other’s audiences even if they aren’t. A public team up could greatly benefit both brands when the campaign is thoughtfully created.

As you can see, it costs nothing but a little time to show your clients love on social media this time of year. Client appreciation is a huge part of relationship marketing and building and growing your network and client list. We know you are grateful for each of your clients and now’s the time to show them!

Be sure to Follow us and Let’s Engage!

Hollie Clere of The Social Media Advisor is a “#BeAwesome” Developer, Social Media, Brand Builder, Content Manager, Trainer and Author in LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter, Blog, Google+, YouTube, Pinterest, Instagram, and the tools to manage them.

Click here for Social Media Training, Speaking and Strategy Consultations.

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