AMiable Solution #178: More Reasons to Celebrate

If you have a good relationship with your significant other (and want to keep it that way), you remember your anniversary.  Doing so tells your girlfriend, wife, boyfriend, or husband, “You’re important to me.”

You can apply that same sentiment to your customers, members, and donors.  By taking the time to say, “We recognize and appreciate you,” you’re not only creating a memorable customer experience, but you’re also improving your relationship.

Celebrating your customers’ anniversaries doesn’t have to be involved or expensive.  All you need is the date your customer first ordered from your organization, signed up for a service, became a member, or supported your cause and a sincere desire to thank them.

We have a few suggestions for marking the special occasion, but feel free to use your imagination to surprise and delight your clients:

·        Email a short but sincere message. 

·        Offer a special (and free-of-charge) upgrade to a service or product.

·        Mail a card by your entire staff (if small) or the head of your organization.  This could be particularly suitable for special anniversaries such as 10 years, 15 years, 20 years, etc.

·        Create a place of honor on your website for identifying companies or individuals celebrating milestone anniversaries.

No matter what you say--whether it’s anything from “You’ve been a member of our organization for eight years, and we want you to know that we appreciate you.  Best wishes for a successful year ahead,” to, “One year ago today you made your first purchase with us.  We hope you have gotten great value from .  Thank you, and we look forward to providing you with many more years of excellent service”--be sure to change your message every year to maintain the integrity and authenticity of your appreciation.