Remember to thank your customers and employees

Photo credit: © CatLane | iStockphoto

If you’re like me, you’re glad to see November roll around every year. For those of us not in the south, the landscaping season is at last winding down and we finally get to catch our breath. In Ohio, where I live, the weather is usually mild enough to still enjoy some time outdoors. And then there’s Thanksgiving, hands-down the best day of eating all year.

Turkey, mashed potatoes and my mom’s unbeatable cherry pie aside, Thanksgiving is primarily about being thankful for what you have. For business owners, it’s also a great time to take stock of how you’re saying thanks to all the people your company relies on for success.

Without clients, you have no business. No matter how good you think your product or service is, your clients always have other options. In every interaction you have with your clients, show them that you appreciate that they’ve chosen you, and train your staff to do the same.

Remember to actually say thank you, no matter if it’s at the end of a phone call, an email or an invoice. It’s such a small thing, but I’m continually amazed by how many businesses fail to do this. Run a list off of your clients and their addresses and work methodically through it, day by day and name by name, to send a handwritten thank-you note to each one of them.

Read the full story from the November issue here.