With Thanksgiving coming up, gratitude is getting its yearly moment in the spotlight! I like the annual reminder to count my blessings and express appreciation for the good things in my life. But I also believe it’s important to practice gratitude on a daily basis—in my business as well as my personal life.
For me, gratitude is an essential part of a gentle business model, and it’s also one of the easiest ways to elevate the client experience and make a business stand out. On that note, I thought it would be fun to share a few ideas that photographers and other small businesses can use to express appreciation and gratitude to clients.
I hope one of these sounds perfect for you or inspires other great ways you can let your clients know how much their support means to you!
Thank You Card
When I open a package and find a thank you inside, even if it’s just a little tag with a “Thanks so much for your business” on it, it always makes me feel better about my purchase.
A personalized card would mean even more. It doesn’t have to be anything fancy—just a quick note to say thank you and express how much you enjoyed working with them. Bonus points if it’s handwritten!
Complimentary Gift
Everyone loves presents! If you want to make that thank you note even more special, throw in a gift card or a couple of prints from their session.
You can also give gifts like a small baby toy if you’re a newborn photographer or a customized USB drive if you provide digital files.
If you enjoy giving gifts, it can be fun to keep an eye out for things you know your clients would appreciate. As you get to know your clients you can often pick up on little details, like the fact that they love elephants or are into card games. If there’s something small and inexpensive that you think they would love, it adds a fun personal touch to your gift.
Keep in Touch
People like to feel cared about, so one of the best ways to show appreciation to your clients is simply to keep in touch with them.
Obviously regular communication while you work together is incredibly important. And an email list can help you keep everyone updated on studio and company news. But dropping your clients a personal line every once in a while just to check in shows that it’s about more than just business, and you genuinely care about building a relationship with them.
Referral Program
One of the best ways clients show appreciation for you is by referring others to your business. So it makes sense to show your gratitude!
There are tons of different ways to design a referral program, many of which don’t involve a lot of extra work or expense on your part. You can certainly offer gift cards and free sessions if you want to. But you can also incorporate things you’re already doing into your program. For example, adding some extra digital files to their next session is easy for you and a nice way to show clients that you appreciate them spreading the word about your services.
Always Provide Great Value
Of course, as a small business owner, you are super busy! Maybe extras like these feel more overwhelming than exciting, or perhaps your budget won’t allow for them. It’s okay to keep your expressions of gratitude simple and incorporate them into your normal workflow.
The most important way to show gratitude to your clients can be as straightforward as providing them with exceptional service and products. Being friendly and helpful, putting your heart and soul into your work, and doing your job in the best way you know how is probably what clients will remember and appreciate the most.
How do you like to show gratitude to your clients? I would love to hear your ideas!
