The holidays are a time to reflect on the past year, prepare for the upcoming year, and show your appreciation for friends, family members, and even strangers. This holiday season, don’t get lost in the crowd. Make sure you are keeping in touch with your clients and proving to them how much you care and how beneficial you can be to their lives. This kind of customer care may even help you in the long run.
We’ve put together a list of five ways to reach out to your clients with season’s greetings this year. Before we get started, though, here are a few things to keep in mind. First is your budget. Some of the choices on our list are completely free! They just cost you a little bit of time. If you have some wiggle room, however, cards aren’t too expensive, even with postage, and are a great way to celebrate the year with your clients. Investing in gifts for a few special clients might take you to the edge of your budget, but it’s an even better way to stand out from the crowd.
Next, we need to talk about your messaging. You know what it’s like to be on the receiving end of a generic holiday newsletter. There’s nothing wrong with them, per se, but really, they just act as a reminder that says “Hello, I’m still here.” With your messaging, in card, email, or another form, you want to be as personal as possible. If you know that your client celebrates a specific holiday this season, be sure to include that so they feel valued. It shows you are paying attention and care about their beliefs. Personalizing your messages and thinking carefully about what type of cards or gifts you choose to send out will also help you stand out from the other professional people in your client’s lives. Note: personalizations might be a little different for your group clients, but sending a heartfelt message is still a great idea. It will help show whoever reads the note or receives your call that you care about the group as individuals and not just as a business.
Now, on to our list of easy ways to show your clients you care this season:
Send a handwritten holiday card
Emphasis on the handwritten part. We understand that it may sound like a lot of work, but it really makes a difference. Recruit some help and bribe them with Christmas cookies if you need to, but writing a card by hand shows that you took the time to send them this message, even if it’s just a line or two about enjoying the holidays and having a fun new year. What would be even better, though, is to take another minute to craft a more personal note. You can acknowledge business done together throughout the past year and express how thankful you are for the opportunity to serve them. Go above and beyond where you are able.
Give them a call to wish them a happy holiday season
You may not have time to do this for every one of your clients, but if you start scheduling a few weeks before the end of the year, you may find the time. A short call to check-in with your clients to see how they’re doing and discuss any recent life changes is just good business. However, doing so while also saying “happy holidays” shows that you’re thinking about them and that you’re ready to do whatever you can to help them in the new year.
Send a small, but quality/personalized gift
Gifts can really start adding up if you’re particularly budget-conscious this year, but this doesn’t have to be to every client. Think about where it will make an impact and send it to that group of clients. The gifts can be any number of things, but try to find something that is decent quality and that they can actually use. Maybe something edible, like holiday cookies, chocolate, coffee, wine, or hot cocoa mix. Or perhaps something personalized, like a water bottle, coffee mug, experience, or a month’s subscription box. Or quality office supplies, like a notebook, engraved pen, or calendar may be fitting. There are so many options out there, you just have to find the perfect one.
Send personal, holiday-themed emails
Despite what we said at the beginning about holiday emails, they can, in fact, be tastefully done. Spend some time on your messaging and try to be as personal and on brand for your business as possible. Talk about your business over the past year or any changes coming up in the new year. Or feel free to go in a different direction and just have some holiday fun. You can also use this as an opportunity to remind your clients of any time that you will be out of the office in the coming weeks. Sign off with a cheery holiday note and you’re set.
Kick-off the year with a letter reminding them of how you can serve their needs
The new year is a great excuse to touch base with your clients—not that you really need an excuse! You can start with a personalized note about the holidays and then get down to business. Talk about any changes coming up that they need to know about and how you can help them this year. This is your chance to brag, without them realizing your bragging. We know you’re great at your job, and hopefully, your clients do, too, but this is an opportunity to show them again and get ready for another year of great business. Of course, as most people begin the new year with new goals, do what you can to be resourceful to them.
The world of insurance should be personal and your clients deserve a personal touch, from a call to a gift. You can even go with more than one way off this list! There are plenty of options and you should pick the ones that work best with your budget and business style. This kind of interaction with your clients does not have a downside and can actually be really great for your business. It helps you form stronger relationships with your clients by showing them that you really care, which makes them feel more valued and happy with your services. In turn, this can lead to increased client retention.
No matter the season, AgentLink is here to help you better serve your clients. Start a conversation today to learn more about how we can help.
