7 Ways to Thank Your Customers and Build a Relationship with Them

Ever wondered how you can make an impression on your customers? Building a relationship with your customers is key.

Here, we dive into seven thoughtful acts that'll make any customer feel valued and appreciated.

Why it’s important to appreciate your customers

Appreciating your customers goes a long way in making your business memorable, especially in this digital age.

While customers value fuss-free contactless transactions with online stores, many feel valued when businesses take the extra step to show a little love.

In the age of ecommerce, not many online businesses go the extra mile to add a little human touch. That’s why thanking your customers and telling them you value them can instantly make your business stand out.

Going out of your way to delight customers helps to build long-term relationships and converts first-time customers into repeat customers.

Depending on your industry, acquiring a new customer can be 5 times more expensive than retaining your existing customers.

That’s why making your business memorable is crucial. It could potentially take your business to a new level.

Creative ways to thank your customers

Send a handwritten thank you note

This is the easiest and most direct way to show customers you care.

A handwritten thank you note adds a personal touch to an otherwise contactless order. They’re also more impactful than printed thank you cards.

People love connecting with brands they love.

So send your customers a simple thank you note to show that you value them enough to write a handwritten note for them.

Here are some great ideas on what you can write in your thank you note:

“Dear [name], thank you so much for shopping small. Your support makes a difference to our business!”

“Thank you for supporting our small business. We hope you enjoy these products!”

“Thank you for shopping with us, we appreciate and value your support❤️”

Send promo codes and gift cards on special occasions

Do you keep track of your customers’ birthdays? If you don’t, perhaps it’s time to start now!

Giving your customers a unique promo code on their birthday shows that you value them enough to celebrate them.

This might take a little more admin work on your side because you’ll need to collect personal information to give timely birthday promo codes.

If you don’t have the capacity to do that, you can give unique promo codes to customers during festivities.

Seasonal celebrations like New Year’s and Christmas are great occasions to celebrate with your customers.

For more exclusivity, you can give repeat customers a unique promo code for seasonal celebrations so that they know their support is appreciated.

Here’s how you can use Cococart to create promo codes on your online store:

1. Create a promotion

2. Enter your unique promo code (eg. BIRTHDAYPROMO10)

3. Specify which products are available for promo or apply it to your entire store

4. Indicate the discount amount

This feature is available to merchants who are on our premium subscriptions and it starts from just $5/month!

Give back to meaningful causes your customers believe in

One other way to show customers you care about them is to support causes they believe in. Whether it's in support of a green movement or a charitable cause, find out the values of your customers and portion a percentage of your profits to these causes.

Customer appreciation doesn’t always need to be directed at your customers. Showing that you support their values can make them feel appreciated too.

It tells them that when they support what you do, you show support for what they believe in return.

Create a reward system for loyal customers

Loyal customers go out of their way to support your business. So remember to let them know you value them.

You can create a loyalty program for repeat customers and give them special discounts after the 5th purchase with you.

Besides rewarding customers with discounts, you can also give them free delivery on their orders.

Give freebies to repeat customers

Letting loyal customers try new samples or new products is a great way to build trust and relationships. It signals to customers that you care about their opinion and that they get to enjoy special treatment.

Offering repeat customers samples of unreleased products also give you the opportunity to test the waters and make product adjustments before the launch!

If you’re not releasing any new products, you can still include a freebie to give your customers a pleasant surprise.

How to execute:

1. Keep track of loyal customers who repeatedly buy from you

2. Include your freebie in their order

3. Send them a message about your freebie (So that they know it’s a gift, not a mistake with their order!)

Personalize your service as much as you can

Shopping online is fuss-free and convenient.

But it can lack the personal touch and service that customers get to enjoy in a brick and mortar store.

That’s why it’s important to personalize your service as much as you can.

Getting to know repeat customers by name and having some personal details like their birthdays can help to add a personal touch.

Sometimes, it helps to bend the rules a little for loyal customers who frequent your online store.

If you have a no return policy but a loyal customer made a wrong order, you can consider exchanging their items because you know that their support makes a difference to your business.

Warning: be sure to limit the extent of how much you bend your rules, and make sure you only do so on a case-by-case basis!

Check-in and ask for feedback

Asking for feedback after closing a sale helps to build trust between you and your customers. It lets customers know that you value their opinion and want to improve your products and services to meet their needs.

Getting feedback from customers can be as simple as dropping them a text, or creating a free online form.

Consider giving customers who are earnest with their feedback a 5% discount on their next purchase. That way, they’ll know you truly appreciate their feedback.

Streamline your business and focus on your customers

Here’s what really matters in business—your customers. Building relationships with your customers takes effort, that’s why streamlining your business processes is key.

Cococart’s website builder is designed to help you with that. Get started with a Cococart store to start having insights on your customers, create custom promo codes, and take order management off your plate.

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FAQ

How do small businesses have amazing customer service?

You might not have the budget of a big company to have 24/7 world class customer service but it's still possible to leave a strong impression on your customers. Small businesses tend to feel more personable and less like a large corporation. Writing thank you notes is a great cost effective way to show your appreciation.

Is customer service important?

Definitely! Great customer service sets your business apart from others. It also helps you build your small business' brand. Use a consistent tone of voice throughout all your marketing and customer service channels to create a brand voice for your business.

Your Success is Our Success

‍Cococart is proud to be a company that puts local businesses first. After all, you’re the reason we’re here. We're on a mission to transform independent businesses to accept online orders. If you are ready to sign up for a free trial simply register your store here, it only takes a couple of minutes.