10 Easy Ways to Make Your Promo Customers Love You!

I don’t have to tell you how competitive the promotional products business is these days! With the plethora of online wholesalers, and so many outside industries adding promotional products to their revenue streams, competition abounds!

If you’re concerned about keeping your current customers happy and loyal (and who isn’t!), here are ten easy tips to make your customers love doing business with you!

1. Create a welcome package. Send a welcome package with a letter detailing the stellar service and extra perks your customers can expect when doing business with your company. Include some fun self-promotions in the package and a special offer on their next order. In other words, make them feel special and appreciated.

2. Work with a preferred group of high-rated suppliers. Your customers are counting on you for the best possible service and promotional products. When you narrow your choices to top-rated suppliers, instead of shopping for the lowest price, you have a much better chance of the order going well and keeping happy, loyal customers.

3. Provide additional marketing help. Position yourself as a marketing consultant, not just another promo products vendor. Provide marketing tips that will help your customers get great results with their promotions. Provide additional resources, such as graphic design help or trade show consulting. Become a one-stop marketing firm and make your company the go-to company for all their marketing needs.

4. Send virtual mockups. Most suppliers will do free virtual mock-ups for you. This is a fabulous way to show your customers you’re thinking about them, and it has the added benefit of bringing in more sales.

5. Send free samples. Did you see a promotional product that you think could work perfectly with your customers marketing objectives? Send them a free sample of the product. Always let your customers know you’re thinking of ways to help them promote their businesses.

6. Send cards on unexpected occasions. You’re most likely sending greeting cards for Christmas and birthdays, but what about sending cards on unexpected occasions, such as Valentines Day, St. Patrick’s Day or Customer Appreciation Day (April 18th)? Letting your customers know they’re valued and appreciated is always a smart strategy.   

7. Send tracking numbers. Sending tracking numbers to your customer that day their order ships. This shows you’re on top of things, and in the long run, will save you and your customer time and effort.

8. Thank them! Send hand-written thank you notes. With today’s proliferation of email, a handwritten thank you note will get noticed, get opened and have you standing out from the crowd!   

9. Be relevant. Seek to understand your customers business as well as you understand your own. Know their marketing objectives, their products, their competitors and their end users. The more you understand, the more they will trust your judgment and ideas.

10. Resolve problems quickly! This is crucial! This is a business where “the devil is in the details.” Mistakes can easily happen. The important thing is to resolve problems quickly and to your customer's satisfaction. Your customers will remember how well you handled the situation-- much more than they will the original problem!  

These 10 tips are just the beginning. Always show appreciation and be thinking of ways you can make your customer's life easier and they are sure to be loyal and love doing business with you!