Being nice to your customers is one of the simplest business strategies out there, but it’s also one of the most powerful. People remember how you make them feel, and that memory sticks around long after the job is done.
I know, it feels really obvious when you read it, but you’d be surprised how many companies bypass this holy grail of operating a business.
Customers are not a means to an end, they are the end. Treating customers with kindness, doing little things to show your appreciation for their business, and periodically following up builds trust and makes a huge impact on how customers and potential customers view your company.
So, how exactly do you “be nice to your customers”?
Ask for Feedback
It’s not all fun merch, surprise packages, and free shirts. Smart businesses place a ton of value on customer feedback. This is huge and goes a long way in ensuring long-term customer satisfaction. They routinely reach out to folks and ask what can be improved, if people are satisfied with the product or service, and what could make their work easier.
And you know what they do next? They use it. They take that customer feedback and act on it, constantly making improvements to their products, services, and even how they educate and engage their customers.
Follow Up With Customers
Building in follow-up calls or emails to customers after your job is done is a good idea. You can gauge their satisfaction with your company, crews, and quality of work. Satisfied customers will be excited to share more about their experience with you and your crews. And customers with complaints or small gripes will help you shape and improve your customer experience. It’s a win-win!
Online Reviews
Asking for online reviews is another great way to get feedback. Gathering online reviews will improve your online presence and allow feedback to be out in the open, showing yourself as a trusted and transparent source.
Reward Referrals
Happy customers refer tons of people. Folks trust a friend’s word way more than an ad, which means referral customers are more likely to buy, stick around longer, and spend more. When someone puts their name on the line to recommend you, that’s a big deal, and it deserves recognition.
There are plenty of ways your company can implement incentives as a reward for folks who refer new clients. Your thank-you doesn’t need to be fancy. Some ideas include:
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Sending gift cards
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Writing handwritten thank-you notes
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Offering a special deal or discount
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Giving out branded gear
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Creating rewards that grow with each referral
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Sending seasonal gifts
The goal is simple: make it easy to share, reward fast, and make it personal so people feel valued.
Referrals build trust before you even show up. New customers feel confident saying yes, and the customer who referred them feels proud for helping you out. Meanwhile, your business keeps growing without you having to push so hard. So don’t hold back on rewarding referrals because it’s one of the smartest and most genuine ways to keep people talking about your work.
“Surprise and Delight”
This phrase was introduced to me by a fellow CompanyCammer and it perfectly captures the spirit of how CompanyCam treats our customers. We don’t make big splashy announcements about what we’re doing for our customers, but we frequently ship out loads of free t‑shirts, stickers, koozies, hats, and other merch to users just because.
Little Gestures, Big Impact
Doing small things like sending out a postcard, a free shirt, or something small from your company makes an unbelievable difference in the way people view your business. It shows you’re thinking of your clients, appreciate their business, and enjoy working with them.
Being known as the company with the soft shirts, kind notes, or fun giveaways does your brand huge favors in the recognition department.
Doing good work is step #1. It’ll keep people coming in the door! But treating your customers exceptionally well is what will keep them telling their friends, family, coworkers, and neighbors about you.
