Creative Ways to Say Thank You

Do you remember the last time you were thanked for making a donation or for being a loyal customer?

Did you get a form letter in the mail? Or an email? Did you get a phone call from someone reading a script?

A sincere and creative “thank you” is actually pretty rare. I always love getting handmade birthday or thank you cards in the mail, but it doesn’t happen often.

Perhaps we think there is no tangible benefit to a good “thank you.” What’s the ROI of saying thanks?

Here’s a great example of how a simple, personalized “thank you” can lead to more business:

In my small town, there is a children’s shoe store called “Brinkman’s.” A Mr. Brinkman owns it and every time I visit he is there. He takes time to properly size and fit my children’s shoes and gives them a balloon. A week or so later, he calls me, thanks me for my business, and asks how my daughter is liking her shoes. About 3-4 months later, I receive a thank you post card with a reminder that she has probably outgrown her shoes and to come in for a fitting.

And he (or an employee) does this for every customer!

I went to the mall the other day and could not have had a worse experience buying my kids a pair of shoes. I left without purchasing anything and swore never to go anywhere but Brinkman’s for my kid’s shoes.

I will be loyal when I feel valued–whether as a friend, or a customer, or an employee. Getting a sincere “thanks” makes me feel valued.

Here are more creative ways to say thank you:

Video – I made a thank you video for the volunteers and patrons of the museum where I work. I got the whole organization involved and you can see it here. (also makes great content for your website and social media.)

Share - Tell their stories. Look for your client’s success stories and give them some public recognition–on facebook, twitter,  your website, or the newspaper.

Mail, but make it personal -  Hand-written cards are so rare that they stand out amidst the bills and junk mail. Check out these letterpress cards and buy some fancy stamps.

Be social – Identify your loyal customers on social media, and talk to them! Thank them when they talk about a visit/purchase, or when they share your information with friends. Search for mentions of your business with tools like Icerocket to see what people are saying about you on facebook, twitter, and elsewhere. Try to engage them in a meaningful way.

What creative ways have you seen businesses or non-profits say thanks?