Budget-friendly ways to thank your customers

“Make it a habit to tell people to thank you. To express your appreciation, sincerely and without the expectation of anything in return.” – Ralph Marston

‘Thank you’ always goes a long way in making someone feel appreciated, and every growing business needs to constantly think of ways by which they can make their customers feel appreciated. The Christmas season is almost here and no doubt, saving money is one of the to-dos on your Christmas list.

You run a business. And without your customers, you wouldn’t have a business to run.

No worries, we have some fun ways of thanking your customers without breaking the bank.

Show some love on social media

You can get creative on your social media page by posting a colorful picture saying a big thank you to your customers. This can even get better if you mention them by name. You could even explore the option of posting their picture with a ‘sweet’ caption beneath…only with their permission of course. The icing on the cake will be to even follow them back on their social media, be it Twitter, Instagram, etc.

Help customers learn something new

Let’s say you run an IT consulting firm. How great it’ll be to hold regular events like a master class where you bring in experts to talk about IT. The more educated your customers become, the more they’ll appreciate your service.

If you run an online business? You can use your blog, webinars, ebooks, white papers, and free coaching to help people make the most of your product or service.

Customers need to feel that you care about them and that you’re interested in them acquiring more knowledge about your product. The more educated they become, the more they’ll appreciate your product or service

Don’t overlook the small stuff

No matter how sophisticated the business world becomes, the little things are still very important. Don’t forget to give your customers a warm, genuine smile whenever they stop by to make an inquiry or try your product or service. And certainly, don’t forget to be courteous. A simple ‘Good morning and thank you for coming’ could do the magic!

You run a business. And without your customers, you wouldn’t have a business to run. Click To Tweet

Write a simple but heartwarming ‘thank-you’ note

Contrary to the belief that ‘thank you’ notes are old-fashioned, they’re still effective. It can go a long way to show customers that you care.

Especially in an era of technology, going traditional could be a memorable way of saying thank you to your customers. Grab a neat, colorful piece of paper, get your employee with good handwriting, and write. Let your customers know why you appreciate them and how glad you are to have them as yours.

Handwritten thank-you notes are a proven way to go about earning customer loyalty.

Some key points to remember when writing a thank you card:

• Include personal greetings along with the customer’s name
• Let them know why you’re thanking them (e.g for purchasing a product or downloading an ebook)

For more tips on how to write the perfect thank-you note, click here.

Share some free stuff (once in a while)

Who doesn’t love free stuff? One great way of appreciating your customers is an occasional free giveaway. Now, wait, before you think “That’s not cost-effective’, you could consider giving out some of your products that are not too expensive on an ordinary day, or you could purchase a few gift items that fall within your budget. A gift will not only say a memorable thank you but will keep your customers coming.

You could organize free training for your customers.

Get them involved

If you’re for instance having a small end-of-year get-together for your business, you could consider inviting your top customers. This will give you a great opportunity to get to know them better and thank them in person. This will also help them to feel a part of your brand.

Take note of their birthdays

It’s always heartwarming for a customer to receive a Happy Birthday from the brand he or she patronizes. Just imagine getting a birthday message from your favorite lounge bar. Wouldn’t that make you feel special?

Whether it’s an e-mail, text message, phone call, or a card, keeping track of your customers’ birthdays is a simple yet very effective way of saying thank you to your customers.

Send something nice

Why not go the extra mile by getting to know where your customer works and surprising them with a simple gift like a small box of cake, a branded set of items, or something similar? Not only will this put a smile on your cherished customer’s face, but it will attract his or her co-workers’ attention and get them thinking.

Have a customer appreciation day (or week)

Make your customers feel valued and appreciated.

As a growing business, why not consider setting one day aside solely for your customers? Your employees could dress like your everyday customers, and make them feel extra special right from when they walk in through your doors to when they walk out. This will not only help you to say thank you in a good-humored way but also build a relatable image for your brand in the eyes of your customers.

It’s the thought that counts. Having your customers in mind and going out of your way to show it speaks volumes.

Make Referrals 

If your customers are engaged in a non-competing business, you could recommend them to other customers, or even include a link to their business websites on your blog. This will make them feel valued, and more inclined to share you with others as well.


You can certainly never go wrong by appreciating your customers, so go on, show some love!
What other cost-effective ways can you think of? We’ll be excited to hear from you.