Will Christmas beer bring New Year cheer?
Published December 2007
Christmas is coming, a time when, traditionally, we thank our customers for the business they have given us over the year and at the same time try to sow some seeds for the year ahead.
In the past, 'thank you' often included a personal gift for the customer, a practice frowned upon by many organisations. Today, it's much more likely that we take clients out to dinner or invite them to a corporate event. While this may be a good way of saying 'thank you', how successful are these events at improving the flow of business in the year ahead? Giving a customer a good time at Christmas may not be enough to ensure they remain loyal to us in the longer term.
Why not give some serious thought now, to how you can use this informal contact, in what will hopefully be a relaxed atmosphere, to strengthen your position within the account. Try asking yourself the following questions:
- Are there some people you would like to talk to but haven't managed to meet over the past few months?
- Who else in the account might be able to help you develop your business?
- Are there some issues it might be easier to discuss in an informal situation?
- Could this be a good opportunity to introduce your customer to some of the more senior people in your organisation?
- If so, what would you like your senior people to talk to them about?
Planning how to make best use of the time spent with your customers in the run up to the festive season might just pay dividends in the New Year. If you need a little inspiration, why not read our article 'Trust in God and pass the canapés' or take a look at our overview of effective social influencing skills, and you just may have something worth celebrating in the New Year and beyond...
