Valentine’s Day is one of the post popular holidays in the United States. In fact, it’s second most popular holiday for greeting cards; the first being Christmas. The history of Valentine’s Day is interesting. It wasn’t until the 1840s that it became a major consumer holiday. Now Americans spend billions each year expressing their love. Watch this video for more fun facts.
Well, it’s that time of year and love is in the air. Do you want that same attention for your brand? Here are some ideas on how to make people fall in love with your brand.
Fall in Love with Customer Service
You can’t get love if you don’t give love. Mark Cuban says, “Treat your customers like they own you. Because they do.” If you have great customer service they will come back. The moment your customer service goes sour is the moment you begin to lose customers. When you treat people well they are more likely to treat you well. It’s all about how you make them feel. 75% of the time people buy based on emotion.
Fall in Love with Small Gestures
Go out of your way to do something nice. Your customers will appreciate you more when they see that you are willing to give. There are many ways to give. Offer a reason for them to come back like a loyalty discount. It doesn’t have to be anything outrageous. Show your sweet side with corporate candy. Who can resist a sweet treat. Show your customers that your company cares.
Open your Heart and Ears
Encourage feedback from your clients and show them that you are listening. After all, with out them your business doesn’t exist. Communication should be open as a two-way dialogue. Do your best to serve your customers by making the changes they request. You can collect feedback via surveys, customer service, social media, and webinars for example.
Make it Personal
Whenever you can personalize your customer’s experience. This can be as simple as addressing them by name in an email blast or showing their name at the top of the screen when they sign into your website. Or you can check out many of our corporate gift ideas. Create a lasting impression with free giveaways. Choose items that show you are thinking about them and understand their needs.
Take the time to build your customer relationships. That is how you can make people fall in love with your brand. What can you do to make your client smile? What keeps your customers coming back? Are your clients in love with your brand?
I agree Arleen, sometimes the smallest of gestures can really make a difference in showing your customers you care. I love the corporate candy run with your logo on top. I’ve also seen M&Ms that you can actually have your logo printed on. So cute!
Susan- Isn’t it the true the small gestures do count. Candy gifts are big business. Nothing wrong with adding a little sweets to your brand.
Arleen recently posted…How to Make People Fall in Love with Your Brand
Arleen, I agree with all your tips. It all boils down to one fact, make the customer feel important. The other day I received a daytimer from someone who had provided a service. It is attractive, has their name on it and even though I didn’t need another daytimer, the gesture was very much appreciated.
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Hi Lenie- Gestures go a long way. I went to a doctor’s office and he gave me a stress ball and said to squeeze when I feel stressed. I thought I will probably kill the ball with all the stress. Then when I thought about, one of my best selling product is a stress ball. Anything that we could use, eat, or enjoy is a gesture that will last.
Arleen recently posted…How to Make People Fall in Love with Your Brand
Also agree. When your customers feel they are important to you and that you care, they come back for more. The candies in the picture are a cute idea for Valentine.
Catarina recently posted…Negotiations Part II – Do you have a successful strategy?
Catarina-I also like the heart candies. You can always think of something to sweeten your name recognition.
Arleen recently posted…How to Make People Fall in Love with Your Brand
Interesting post because I was just the recipient of the touch that counts…and from a restaurant! I took two friends to brunch last Sunday at one of Charleston’s oldest establishments. It was superb, so I was happy to fill out the comment card when it was presented with the bill. Tuesday, I received a hand written thank-you note from the proprietor in the mail. He also thanked my for bringing my (2) lovely friends! Great customer service:) Very personalized!
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Jacqui- Just that special touch, you will go back, plus you will tell others. Smart customer relations
Arleen recently posted…How to Make People Fall in Love with Your Brand
Small gestures do go a long way Arleen. The first book I published waaay back, was a little pocket size book. I used it mostly to do what you talk about here, with my then brand. I might send one to someone after meeting them, give it to them in-person. I also would send cards, sometimes my own made up holiday, or someone’s birthday. THAT meant a lot to people.
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Patricia- We all take a step back and think that was such a nice gesture when you see someone took the time to think of them. As they say it is the thought that counts.
Arleen recently posted…How to Make People Fall in Love with Your Brand
Arleen, in today’s busy world, a personal gesture goes a long way. By making someone feel special, you create a positive customer experience. Not only will that lead to that one particular customer coming back, but that person will be more likely to spread the word about your business, and we all know that word-of-mouth marketing works wonders!
Lorraine Reguly recently posted…How MY Blogging Saved Someone’s LIFE
Lorraine-Word of mouth can make you or break you. So making someone feel that you care does go a long way.
Arleen recently posted…How to Make People Fall in Love with Your Brand
I agree it is often the little things around making your customer feel important that build brand loyalty. I think it boils down to looking at and listening to your customer as people, not just another sale. That is certainly the case with companies I feel loyal to.
Donna Janke recently posted…Los Algodones
Donna- I think you hit the nail on the head. Listening to your customers as people.
Arleen recently posted…How to Make People Fall in Love with Your Brand
“75% of the time people buy based on emotion.” – an interesting statistic! Wherever it comes from, it certainly seems to be true. I didn’t realize so many people like candy – unless it’s chocolate (and good chocolate), my family will not like it. I find with my own clients, if I give them a little extra (a social media tip, an extra edit, a quick turnaround), they love that. Stress balls are great for the right person (too many of us!).
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Leora- Just giving a little something does go a long way. You idea of giving a tip, will wet the appetite for more. I am not one to eat promotional candy, but they do very well at trade shows as people are walking around and get hungry. So the booth with candy gets noticed
Arleen recently posted…How to Make People Fall in Love with Your Brand
I like the idea of letting something simmer and see where it takes you versus the right-in-your-face-buy-this approach. Personalized gifts are great ideas. One remark: be careful with scents if you do not know if a person is a cara patient.
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Alice- I think anything that is scented one needs to give it thought who is receiving the item. The last thing you want to do is make the wrong impression
Arleen recently posted…How to Make People Fall in Love with Your Brand
Nothing is more important than customer service. Glad you mentioned that first. It is especially important in a era when so many companies are looking to replace their customer service people with one form or robot or another as a way to save money. Screw up your customer service and all the other things you mentioned will quickly become irrelevant.
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Ken- The customer should come first and as a business owner, need to think what we can do make their experience a good one. It should be customer service, customer service and more customer service.
Arleen recently posted…How to Make People Fall in Love with Your Brand
Excellent tips Arleen! I love surprising my clients and subscribers with small gestures throughout the year and you are so right it doesn’t need to be a big thing, but rather something to show you listen and care. Thanks for the inspiration!
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Marquita- If we take the time to think about our customers and show them that they are important the outcome will be a win win for both.
Arleen recently posted…How to Make People Fall in Love with Your Brand
Hello Arleen
All your tips are nice and true. If the customer is valued and given importance then he/she come back. If the customer feel that there is someone to hear and solve the problems then customer comes back. As trusts a certain brand and prefer that over others.
The idea of gifts is very nice and always appreciated. Heart shaped Candies are cute. Once I bought some stationary from a market and by the delivery address, the company came to know that I am a teacher and with the stationery they also sent me ball points, pens and pointers with my name printer on them and a stamp of my name with my company’s name. It was really a nice gift, still after 8 years I have that stamp and couple of pens with me.
Unfortunately the video is not working here.
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Andleeb- I am sorry you were unable to see the video. Customer appreciation is key to anyone’s business. The pens you received made an impression and you remember who gave them to you. That is eight years of advertising.
Arleen recently posted…How to Make People Fall in Love with Your Brand
I agree with all your tips Arleen,
The smallest gesture makes a huge difference and goes a long way.
Remembering others does pay off
Arleen recently posted…How to Make People Fall in Love with Your Brand
What a great post. I think the most important factor is making your customer service personal. So many companies take customers for granted. Doing something very simple, making a customer feel important or them believing you appreciate them, will bring them back over and over.
William- I agree that we tend to take our customers for granted. Whatever you do large or small is important for customer retention
Arleen recently posted…How to Make People Fall in Love with Your Brand
Yes, yes and yes to all your points. Especially about emotional purchases. People will spend oodles of time researching a product or service, and narrow it down to two or three. The final choice is bound to be based on how the product or service makes them feel, whether they can emotionally connect to it. It’s all about the bond! We have to be professional in our work, but I’m a strong believer in creating a personal connection with a client whenever I can …
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Krystyna- Companies feed off of the emotional purchases. I think you have done a great job connecting with people.
Arleen recently posted…How to Make People Fall in Love with Your Brand
Candies with the brand on them. I like it. What’s not to like.
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Kire- I agree what is there not to like about Candies.
Arleen recently posted…How to Make People Fall in Love with Your Brand
Yes, its normally the little things that keeps people coming back 🙂 Great advice!
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Tanya- Sometimes we forget that it is the little things that can make a difference
Arleen recently posted…How to Make People Fall in Love with Your Brand
Our customers/clients just love to know that they are appreciated. The smallest gestures mean a lot and if you don’t know what they want, just ask them.
Beth Niebuhr recently posted…Can Facebook Really Boost My Business?
Beth- I agree and think sometimes it is the small things that make the bigger impression
Arleen recently posted…How to Make People Fall in Love with Your Brand