Staying Connected with the Personal Touch
I’ve got a birthday coming up soon. I’ve also recently moved, and Steve, my life insurance agent who sends a birthday card annually, reached out last week to ask for my new address.
While the sending of paper mail is on the decline, I can always count on Steve to send a funny card signed by everyone in his office. How does that make me feel as a client? Pretty great! Clearly he’s got a well-oiled system for sending birthday cards to clients, which shows it’s important to him and that makes me appreciate his efforts even more. Would I miss getting a card if I didn’t, after 20+ years of good birthday wishes? I think I would.
That simple birthday card is an annual reminder that I’m a valued, respected client and not just another number on a list. At a time when I’m currently changing contact information on cumbersome, user-not-friendly websites and IVR (interactive voice response) systems, I’m especially grateful to be treated like a real person.
Does adding a personal touch make a difference? In 5 Examples Where the Personal Touch Still Matters in Marketing, Jennifer Dublino in business.com outlines benefits including:
A personal touch puts a face to your business.
A personal touch creates strong emotional bonds.
A personal touch gives you a competitive edge.
A personal touch encourages customer loyalty.
A personal touch fosters trust.
Are you keeping in touch with clients at a personal level?
It’s a good idea to review business communications on a regular cycle to make sure you’re keeping business connections strong. Are you telling your story, sharing employees’ accomplishments, demonstrating your value and showing your human side to clients?
If you’re already investing in creating website content, blog posts, newsletters or custom promotional products like calendars and cards, make those investments count. When you communicate in a way that demonstrates you truly understand your customers’ needs, preferences and behaviors, you’ll have higher retention rates as well as ongoing growth.
Looking for experts who can help you keep it personal? My Partners and I have you covered.
