Gratitude...For Business Owners Who Actually Give a Sh!t
Written by Tasha Skillin of The Choice Life
For as long as any of us can remember, the business owner/sales person ('cause let's be honest - if you run your own business, you ARE a salesperson!) has suffered under the negative stigma of "used car salesman." Others see us as slimy, conniving, trying to get their money, dishonest, underhanded, pushy, and completely oblivious to their needs and desires.
As a business owner, you may have even consciously rejected the title of "sales person" simply because of how icky it feels to step into our preconceived notion of sales...especially since our current day version of stone-throwing means unfollowing, defriending, and avoiding contact with the people we want to stay connected to, both personally and professionally.
For ALL these reasons, expressing gratitude is so important. Is every person who sells something a jerk? Obviously not - otherwise, we wouldn't be living in a consumer-based society. Are you a schmuck because you have a product or service to provide that will help people solve a problem or live a better quality of life? Uh, not likely, if you are reading this.
When we purchase something, especially if the investment feels significant, and we never hear anything further from the person who sold it to us, we assume they got what they needed and are moving onto the next sale. This abrupt end to the salesperson-consumer relationship gives the impression that our previous conversations, the data and personal details we shared, and the connection we felt were all a ploy... tactical facades designed to win the sale.
Given this track record, as business owners we have a MASSIVE opportunity to stand out from our competitors and all the "icky" salespeople in the world.
How you ask? The answer is simple: Show gratitude.
Expressing gratitude regularly continuously reaffirms that you absolutely do not fit into the "skeezy sales person" column. Sharing your appreciation validates your initial claims of being truly concerned and excited about the end result your client receives. Appreciation separates you from the majority of others in your industry and other business owners in general. When we actively express gratitude for our clients, we display a conscious decision to continue the relationship beyond the initial sale.
Standing out from your competitors is always a good thing. And your clients WILL take notice.
In addition to showing your clients that you are sincere in your business passion and desire to support them, on a practical note, showing appreciation offers HUGE financial benefits when integrated as a regular practice in your business operations.
When you experience an awesome product or service, aren't you thrilled to tell your friends, family, and network about the experience? Aren't you inclined to want your friends, family, and network to have a similar experience and even to be THE ONE who introduced such a great opportunity to them? This is how your customers are going to receive your gratitude as well. It's evident in any social media or news feed that our world is craving more positive experiences; the more you can add to that desire by sharing your gratitude openly, the better the world becomes.
Imagine what will happen when you integrate practicing gratitude consistently for weeks, months, and years. YOUR brand will be the one that your ideal clients can't stop talking about. You'll be known as a caring, passionate, sincerely concerned and grateful business owner. Nothing even close to sleazy about that!
If you don't currently have a gratitude system in place for your business, now is the time. Every business of every size benefits from expressing sincere gratitude on a personal level to their clients and customers. Simply posting "Thank you" on your business page isn't enough - one tiny post among many doesn't set you apart. You need to express gratitude in a way that will make an impact on any of your clients or brand... So dial in and get clear about how expressing gratitude will positively impact your business.
ACTION: Consider your last 20 clients/customers - how can you share your gratitude with them THIS WEEK?