We’re in November, the official season of Thanksgiving, Football, Turkey, Black Friday, and “Almost Christmas”.  As business owners, we’re gearing up for a busy time of year but we are also thinking of our gratitude for our clients. More than just revenue, our clients – past and present – represent our opportunity to help someone else with our gifts and expertise. We are truly honored and grateful that they have selected us as their service provider. Beyond sending a card, what do you do? A gift basket? A custom-designed something? And who do you include?

Let’s be creative this year, and show a wide variety of colleagues, prospects, clients, mentors and anyone else in our business world our gratitude. And we don’t have to break the bank. While a unique and custom gift is most appropriate for our top clients, let’s think of others in our sphere. 

Set aside some time throughout November to focus on actively expressing your gratitude. Some thoughts I pulled together. Make a list of clients, prospects, mentors, associates, referral-givers, networking members, etc that you want to honor this year.  

  1. Give them a great Google review. 
  2. Write a positive LinkedIn recommendation. 
  3. Introduce them on LinkedIn to someone they would love to meet. 
  4. Send a real, hand-written, paper Thank You card. 
  5. Order a box of brownies or cookies for their office. 
  6. Send them a Gift Card for their favorite place or store. 
  7. Invite them out for a coffee at their favorite place. 
  8. Go to their business Facebook page and write a glowing review. 
  9. Introduce them to another professional you know who could be a strategic partner. 
  10. Tell a potential client about them and connect them. 
  11. Mention them in your social media and tag them with a message of gratitude. 
  12. Take them out to breakfast and include someone you know who may be a potential client. 
  13. Have a special gift created that shows why you are thankful for them. 
  14. Pay for their ticket to a great networking event so they come as your guest. 
  15. Host a client appreciation lunch or dinner at a popular restaurant. 

Not so difficult, and this ranges from free to as much expense as you like. The point is to widen the net- try and do this for as many people as you can this year, without a single thought as to how this can benefit you. I will predict that this will make you feel 10 feet tall and put you in a positive and prosperous frame of mind. 

And please let me know how this goes!