1. BY: G.M.Shahzad

2. Focus your gratitude on what the
employee or vendor actually did. Rather
than saying, “Thanks for your good work,”
it would be more effective to say
something like, “Thanks for staying late
last night to close that deal; your
dedication will really help the company
grow.” Use a similar strategy with
vendors: Recognize them when they go
above and beyond what’s expected.
Why it’s important: A focused “thank
you” will be more meaningful and thus
increase employees’ motivation and
productivity. A recent poll by TJinsite, a
division of TimeJobs.com, found that
more than 35 percent of respondents
consider lack of recognition of their work
the biggest hindrance to productivity.

3. Connecting your appreciation with the
recipient’s personal life can make your
message more resonant. If you show
gratitude with a gift, Joey Faucette,
author of Work Positive in a Negative
World,suggests relating it to life
beyond the business walls. For
instance, if a vendor recently had a
baby, give her a baby book in which she
can add pictures and notes about the
little one.
Why it’s important: Faucette says such
intimacy breaks the ice in an
emotional, not just a professional, way,
“which is the game-changing pathway
to greater profits.”

4. When was the last time you received
a handwritten thank-you note? In the
era of Facebook and text
messaging, it’s likely been quite
some time. Don’t underestimate the
impact of sending a note through
snail mail.
Why it’s important: Taking the time
to write a thoughtful note indicates a
deeper level of appreciation than
simply dashing off a short email or
text. Because the hand-written
letter is pretty much a lost art, the
extra effort will not go unnoticed
and may make customers more
inclined to give you repeat
business.

5. If you don’t mean it, don’t say it.
Your customers and employees will
know right away if a “thank you” is
genuine or not. Similarly, don’t dole
out gratitude when it’s not deserved.
If you go around thanking everyone
for every tiny thing, it won’t mean
much when it’s actually warranted.
Why it’s important: “If I or my
employees had come off as phonies or
schmoozers, my company would not
be what it is today,” Vaynerchuk says.
“You cannot underestimate people's
ability to spot a soulless, bureaucratic
tactic a million miles away.
Engagement has to be heartfelt, or it
won't work.”

6. Host a customer appreciation day
with deep discounts and giveaways
for your loyal fans. Offer free
shipping on all online orders. Give
your employees small incentives for
going above and beyond, like a gift
certificate for a night at the movies
or a small monetary bonus.
Why it’s important: Sometimes
words aren’t enough. It’s gestures
such as these that in the long run can
help boost your bottom line. If your
customers feel that you go out of
your way to reward them, they’re
more likely to choose you over your
less-appreciative competition.

7. It’s easy to remember to recognize the
people you work with directly
everyday. But it’s also important to
give thanks to the often-overlooked
crew that helps your business run
smoothly. Leave a thank you note for
the trash collector, give the mailman a
gift certificate to a local restaurant,
or get a dozen cupcakes for the UPS
guy.
Why it’s important: Most people don’t
thank these hard-working people. So,
a little effort will make you stand out
and can go a long way toward getting
great service from these folks.

8. There may be no better way to thank
your vendors than by sending more
business their way. While such a
direct referral is always appreciated,
you also could go a step further and
host a party for all your vendors and
partners. Invite your suppliers,
accountant, lawyer, investors and
anyone else you do business with.
Why it’s important: If you throw a
party, you will not only be thanking
your vendors with a great time, but
you’ll also be giving everyone a
chance to network and connect with
new clients.

9. If you want to get the attention of
vendors and clients, send a distinctive
thank-you gift. Consider geographic-
specific gifts -- if you’re based in
Wisconsin, for example, send a
selection of high-quality
cheeses. Peruse Etsy for handmade or
vintage items that say thanks in a
unique, memorable way. Or create a
personalized golf towel, wine glass or
other item using a service such
as RedEnvelope.com.
Why it’s important: Because some
people receive hundreds of gifts
throughout the year, you need to send
a thank-you gift people will remember
when it’s time to pull out their
wallets.

10. Complaining customers are going out
of their way to tell you why they’re
dissatisfied. This generally means they
still want to do business with you,
assuming you’re able to fix the
problem. When a customer complains,
thank them first for their business,
then explain how you will make things
right and offer an exclusive coupon to
be used on a future visit.
Why it’s important: Most unhappy
customers don’t bother to complain,
but simply take their business
elsewhere. So every complaint should
be seen as an opportunity to improve
relationships and win repeat business.

11. Give social media shout-outs. Thank
customers by posting a coupon or
secret code word on Facebook that
gives your fans an exclusive deal.
Mention a loyal customer on Twitter to
publicly show your gratitude. Or
perhaps even profile one of your best
clients on your company
blog, explaining why you appreciate
them so much.
Why it’s important: Some of your
most loyal customers and brand
advocates are your online fans, so you
should show how much you value them
in the social media sphere where they
interact most with you and your
business.