Ways to Impress Your Clients With the Perfect Gift

Royal Treatment

Gifting is the perfect way to make a lasting impression, building a solid relationship with clients.

Like us, many of the clients we work own or conduct business offering a services or products over the telephone, through video conferencing or face to face.

Creating long-term, meaningful client relationships takes time and hard work. So when you finally make that all important deal or sale, sending a client gift that gets noticed is one way to solidify and potentially set you up with a client for life.

Here are a few quick tips to make sure your client gift is well-thought out and well-received!

Consider your clients’ interests and personalities.

To really impress your clients consider their interests and personalities. Don’t just get the same gift for every client.

One of the best ways to impress them is to be considerate of their personality, interests and needs.

Will your client need something in the near future that they might not already have? Do they have children or pets? Have they just gone through a life changing experience like relocating to a new area, starting a new job, a new home purchase, a new birth in the family?

Don’t brand it.

At first glance branding your closing gift sounds like a good idea. You want to keep your name in front of your clients so they can send you referrals and repeat business, right? For years that’s all the closing gift was: just another way to keep top-of-mind.

But today’s sophisticated buyers and sellers are actually put off by this transparent form of marketing. There is a place for branded items and it’s not when it comes to thanking your client for doing business with you. The gift should focus on them, not you.  If you get them a client gift they love, they’ll think of you when they see it whether you brand it or not.

Pay attention to the longevity.

You want your clients to think of you when they see your gift. So long-lasting items are better than, say a basket filled with fruit or other goodies that disappear once they have been eaten.
I’m also not a fan of experiences as thank you gifts. Your client may remember that dining experience or stage show for a while, but memories of the event itself will eclipse the memory of receiving that night out from you.

Personalize whenever possible.

There are many companies that customize one or two items at a time. Everyone loves seeing their name in print. They just do.

Affordable doesn’t mean cheap.

Yes, you don’t want to break the bank. You want affordable yet impressive gifts. Cheap items and little chachkies  like key chains, mouse pads or pens get a giant NO. Just don’t do it. You will look cheap and thoughtless. not to mention your ‘gift’ will more than likely end up in the trash can or re-gifted to their children.

Lastly, always keep in mind your business goals. Make sure the gift maintains a level of consideration that represents your brand and most important… don’t forget about your budget!

Now that you’ve gotten a few tips on the importance of giving thoughtful gifts, we’ve prepared a little bonus for  you below!

Here is my Bonus List of 20 affordable Thank You Gifts guaranteed to impress your clients!

1. A Donation to a Charity close to your buyer’s heart. A charitable donation can be a lovely gesture. They may have a foundation they support and would surely appreciate and remember your donation.
2. A Spa Package. Today’s world has become more stressful! Help your clients relax with a spa gift like a massage, facial, or spa day pass.
3. A High-End Bottle of Champagne or Fine Cigars.
4. Does your client have a green thumb? Get them an Indigenous Local Plant to care for.
5. Garden Decor. A personalized garden stone with your client’s name is a thoughtful gift that is surely to be appreciated by the garden-loving client for years to come.
6. An At Home Photo Session. If you are in Real Estate a home or family photo session is the perfect way to commemorate this milestone in their lives.
7. A Journal. I’m a big fan of  Journals and definitely have more than one. You will find a journal at my studio desk and practically one in every room of our house. I use them to jot down business ideas and random thoughts throughout the day.
8. If you have clients who travel frequently you can give them a Luxe Travel Pillow for their neck or Noise Cancelling Headsets.
9. Give cozy comfort with Luxe Cashmere Socks or an Essential Oil Blend of Bath Salts, Organic Soaps or an At Home Spa Kit.
10. Personalized Casserole Dishes are especially popular and can be used for almost every gathering. They are especially helpful for identifying your dish at potluck gatherings.
11. Technology is always a hit! You can gift a Wireless Speaker or  Wireless Phone Charger.
12. A Subscription to a Coffee Club, Tea Club or Wine Club.
13. Another unique gift that keeps on giving is a membership to Online Classes. You can find online exercise classes, hobby classes and tons of educational classes.
14. While we are talking about Subscriptions, their are a ton of Subscription Boxes that you can choose that totally resonate with your client’s interests, personality and/or needs. There are T-shirt, Beauty, Magazine, and based on their interest, so many other types of other subscription services your client will absolutely love!
15. Last but not least you can always give a Gift Card. If you fall back on this seemingly not so personal gift, make sure to make it personal. Go to a specialty store your client likes. This will give it a more sincere, personal touch.

Once you’ve decided on an amazing closing gift don’t let that be the end of your client contact. Stay connected. Continue to reach out through emails, relevant social media posts and the occasional comment on one of their social media sites.

Remember I mentioned there is a place for branded gifts? Client anniversaries are also a perfect time for small branded gifts. Maybe a bottle of wine with a custom label and a branded corkscrew. Or a sporty water bottle or tote bag.

No matter what you decide to gift your client with, you should always, always, always include a handwritten gift note.

Happy Gifting!