Without your customers and clients you wouldn’t be in business. If you want to have a sustainable business, then you need to be building long-term relationships with those customers and clients. One of the most powerful ways to achieve any long term relationship is by showing your gratitude. Your customers and clients are making your life possible and they deserve to feel appreciated and recognized.
While there are numerous ways that you can thank your customers, why not thank your customers on their invoices? Besides showing them how much you value their support, it makes paying that bill just a little less painless for them.
1. Thank Your Customers by Just Saying, “Thank you.”
Yep. It’s just that simple. In fact, including a “thank you for your business” will increase the percentage of invoices that are paid by more than 5 percent. The reason? Being polite and showing your appreciation establishes and strengthens the relationships that you have with your customers.
If you really want to show your gratitude, include a handwritten note at the bottom of the invoice thanking them for all of their support. An example might be, “Thank you for letting me be a part of your team for the last five years. I look forward to many more years of service.” It gives it a more personal feel and shows that you sincerely appreciate their business and that they actually mean something to you.
2. Discount their bill.
Who doesn’t enjoy a pleasant surprise like a discount? It’s a simple and effective way to say thanks. So, the next time that you’re creating invoices, cut a small percentage off of your best clients’ next bill, along with a quick thank you note or a discount off of future work.
For online merchants, you could send a surprise discount code onto the invoice that the client can use the next time they shop at your online store.
3. Show them the value that they’re getting.
The next time that you go to the grocery store, checkout the bottom of the receipt and notice how much you saved. Why do grocery stores do that? Because it builds loyalty between the customer and store simply because that particular store saved the customer money.
You can apply this method to your invoices as well. For instance, at the bottom of the invoice below the total amount, you can show your customers how much they saved by including the amount that the higher costs of your competitors would be — or a thought that gives them a visual of their annual or bundled pricing savings.
Besides a dollar amount, you can also show your customers the actual value that you’ve given them. For example, if you’re a writer, then you’re itemized list of blog posts wouldn’t only include the topics that you’re written, but also the number of pageviews or social shares that the articles received.
4. Ask for their feedback.
Has a client ever complained about the business you are doing for them or offered any suggestions regarding the products or services that you provide? Not only share that concern, but also take those complaints or suggestions into consideration and report back on the results you are working on for them at the presentation of the invoice.
If you haven’t received any complaints, then ask your customers for any feedback at the bottom of the invoice that can make their experience with you more enjoyable. Or, you could attach a survey with your invoice.
Showing your customers that you value their input is one of the simplest and powerful ways in showing your appreciation.
5. Give them something for free.
Everyone likes getting something for free — especially when it’s from out of the blue. You could send your clients some unique company swag along with your invoices during the end of the year of if you’ve just reached a milestone.
Also keep in mind your gift doesn’t always have to be a physical present either. You could attach a report, White Paper, or information packet that your customers would find valuable.
The way in which you choose to appreciate your customers and clients is not as important as merely remembering to actually be thankful for them and let them know that you are grateful for their business.
