First published in
Thriving Women In Business
By Debbie Mrazek

Customers, Letting Customers know you value them, salesAs a successful sales professional, you understand that you would not have reached the level of success you have without your loyal clients. But what many sales professionals often wonder about is how to express your gratitude for all that they have done. They have placed their faith and business in your hands, how do you properly say “thank you” for that. Well, there are quite a number of ways that you can thank your clients, to help you choose the ones that are right for you; I have put together a list of some of the most effective.

One of the first things you can do is to ask about their future needs. If you have been working with the same client for a long period of time, you may want to show that you are interested in growing with them. During your next call or meeting, simply ask them if there is anything you can do to ensure that your services will continue to be beneficial for them in the future. This will show them that you are interested in maintaining a long-term business relationship while also offering to make any necessary changes or modifications to your services that can be beneficial for them. If you are willing to expand and grow in order to meet the needs of your client they will likely remain with you for a long period of time.

Another effective way to show your client’s how much you value them and their business is to ask if the services or products you provide are meeting their needs. Are they consistently receiving their orders in a timely fashion? Have there ever been any problems with any of the services you have provided. These questions may be just what your client needs to express their opinions on your services, method of deliver, and speed of delivery. There may be problems in the system that you were not aware of until you asked. Your clients can provide you with valuable information that you can use to improve and enhance your business.
If you have a long-term client that you know is experiencing any type of difficulty in their business reach out to them and ask if there is any way you can help. It can be something as simple as cutting their monthly order in half or renegotiating the terms of their contract that can ensure they are able to remain in business. Reward your loyal customers by helping them in any way possible, when their business improves, you may be rewarded with a larger amount of sales.

Asking your clients to provide you with feedback is another way to show them that you value their opinion. There may have been things that your clients have wanted to address but just weren’t sure how to bring them up. If you ask them for feedback, they may feel more comfortable and open to sharing their honest opinion of your business and services. Client feedback is also a great way to see areas where improvements may be beneficial for current and future clients. Never be afraid to ask for feedback, it is a valuable tool for you and your client.

Maintaining an honest relationship with your client is also an effective way to show them that their business is valued. Rather than pushing the newest, most expensive product, show them a less expensive product that will still suit their needs. They will appreciate the fact that you were honest enough to recommends a different product, and they will trust that you have their best interests in mind rather than the profit you may have made from a larger sale.

In addition to these methods, you always have the option of sending each of your clients a small gift to show them how much you appreciate their continued support. It doesn’t have to be anything big, it can simply be a calendar or coffee cup; but your clients will know that you are thinking of them and that you see them as more than another sale. As a sales professional, you should always take a few moments out of each day to thank each and every one of your clients.