How to Thank Your Clients This Christmas

As the Christmas and festive holidays, fast approach and the end of another calendar year come into view, if you have not already done so, it’s time to start thinking about how to thank your client this holiday season.

The most popular way to do this is by sending clients a heartfelt Christmas message or a suitable client gift.

It is important to put thought and consideration into any potential messages and gifts. Consider the public relations consequences of your actions. However, no action is not an option.

Why is thanking clients at Christmas so important?

• It creates a positive association with your brand and business values, making customers less likely to switch to a competitor, even when you hit their price point for potentially switching – Forbes research found that 43% of companies believed gift giving brought a substantial benefit to increasing customer loyalty.
   
• It helps to build a relationship between you and your clients – one survey found that 63% of companies attributed better customer relationships to gift-giving.
   
• It leaves a memorable and lasting impression – 66% of gift receivers can recall a brand name on a received promotional item after 1 year. It may offset the odd time we are all human and make a mistake.
   
• It promotes goodwill and very often leads to increased client recommendations. When you consider the power of reviews and recommendations in modern marketing, this element alone is worth the time and effort.

How do you say thank you to your clients this Christmas?

Here are our top suggestions:

1. Send Christmas cards with thank you messages to clients

In the modern world of digital, standing out from the crowds and ensuring your message is received and read, it might be time to go old school. Sending a thank you message to customers at Christmas via post is a personal and meaningful way to show your appreciation, more so than via email.

By sending a bespoke Christmas thank you card with your business’ design you’ll be able to increase brand awareness whilst also making your client feel valued.

Make sure to include a personal message thanking them for their business.

What should you say in your client’s Christmas card messages?

• Be clear about why you’re thanking them – this could be for their continued loyal, service, the pleasure of working with them over the last 12 months, or welcoming them on board
   
• Make it personal yet professional – don’t use the message to promote your service, instead use it to promote a positive working relationship. There will be plenty of time in the new year to remind your customers of your services old and new.
   
• Encourage all of your colleagues who work with the client to sign the card. If this is not possible you could scan signatures and have them printed into the cards. A better alternative to doing nothing.
   
• Need some inspiration for your client’s Christmas message? Here are some ideas to get you started:
  • “Happy holidays to all at [client name]. Thank you for your continued support.”
     
  • “Sending Christmas greetings from our entire staff. Thank you for your ongoing support. We’re looking forward to serving you in earnest over the next year.”
     
  • “Best wishes for the season of joy. Thank you for trusting us with your [relevant service] needs.”
     
  • “It’s customers like you that make our job so enjoyable. Merry Christmas to all and best wishes for the year ahead.”

When do you send the card? If it has a Christmas message then give yourself plenty of time to ensure they receive your thanks. An alternative is to wait until the hectic festive period is over and send them a thank you message between Christmas & New Year (ensure you use the correct tense), this might increase the engagement and attention your customer gives to your message. Consider how many messages they are being bombarded with leading up to Christmas.

2. Send them client gifts for Christmas

Sending clients Christmas gifts is a great way to thank your customers and boost your working relationship.

In fact, 94% of top business executives believe that client gifting can impact a business relationship.

When sending Christmas thank-you presents to clients, there are a few things to consider:

• Your budget – how much are you willing to spend per client? Remember, it isn’t necessarily all about how much you spend on a client, but rather the sentiment of the gift
   
• Does your client’s spending threshold with you qualify them for a gift? Consider different size gifts for different client spends. However, be aware that clients may talk to each other.
   
• Will your gift align with their individual or company values? A client following a vegan diet may not appreciate a cheese selection
   
• How will you make it personal? It’s popular to include a gift card or Christmas client message alongside a gift
   

Not sure what to send? Here are some ideas:

• A bottle of wine or bubbly
   
• Personalized stationery with your company’s details – for example, a custom notebook
   
• If you sell a physical product, you could send one or a selection of these as a gift for their team to enjoy
   
• A Christmas food basket
   

Check with your bookkeeper and account to identify how to write off Christmas Gifts.

3. Take them out for a festive lunch or invite them to an event

For clients with a higher annual spend or those that are important to the business, you may consider inviting them to a festive lunch or an event.

This is a brilliant opportunity to thank them for their business whilst engaging them in conversation, asking them about their experience with your business over the last 12 months, and solidifying your partnership for the following year.

This gives them a further positive association with you and the company itself.

You could also look at holding a festive event or dinner for prestigious clients, giving an opportunity for everyone to come together for an evening of fun to celebrate the year gone.

 4. Make a donation in their name

Embrace the true spirit of Christmas by giving to a cause that you believe in, or one that is important to your client.

By doing so in their name and selecting a charity aligned with their vision and values, you’re showing that you appreciate and understand their business and see them as valued client.

This will likely build rapport between you and your client and may encourage further business in the future.

5. Post about them on social media

A positive social media presence can do wonders for the image of your company which can encourage prospective clients and even jobseekers to consider making contact with you.

By posting about them, you’re making an effort to publicly show your appreciation to them, which can benefit your working relationship and in turn, by giving them a spotlight, your post could be sending more traffic to their website and giving them more customers. This shows that you value their success.

Not sure what to post? This could be a simple thank you post, a photo of a meeting, or a resharing of one of their posts. But don’t forget to tag them!

Finally, whilst you’re looking for client Christmas gift ideas, it may be time to start planning your corporate Christmas gifts for employees too.

After all, 80% of companies have reported improved relationships with their employees or clients following gift-giving.