Client Gifts that Make an Impact: Winning Sales with Thoughtful Gestures

Corporate gifts for clients are gifts you give your clients during the holidays or other special events to show appreciation for working with your business. Many business owners send client gifts during the holidays as a gesture and to build client relationships.

For instance, business owners may send their accountants gifts to thank them for their partnership and for helping to improve the business's financial situation.

Unlike personal gifts, corporate gifts are a business expense, meaning they're tax deductible and can reduce your taxable income, which is one reason why many businesses send corporate gifts toward the end of the year.

Sending gifts to clients is a common practice nowadays because it shows an additional level of appreciation for partnerships between different businesses.

You put a lot of time and effort into finding the right clients, and thanking them is a great way to retain them throughout your business partnership. While it's true your clients pay you for your work, giving them gifts shows how appreciative you are to be working with them.

When should you send clients gifts?

When you should send corporate gifts largely depends on the nature of your relationship with your clients. For instance, if you're looking for ways to impress clients, you might send a gift after you begin working together. However, most businesses send client gifts around the holidays. You can also send corporate gifts at certain milestones based on your relationship with your client.

For example, sending your clients a gift before your contract is up for renewal can help you stay on top of their minds. This method helps to improve client retention because it gives them a small reason to continue working with your business while setting you apart from competitors who may not have sent them a gift. Of course, your gift should never come off as a bribe, so be careful when you send the gift and ensure there are no expectations of receiving anything in return.

You can also send corporate gifts after they sign a contract as a special thanks. These gifts aren't necessarily meant to retain clients because they've just signed your contract. Instead, they aim to help you build trust with clients quickly.

Corporate gifts for clients remind them of their relationship with your business and can help you stand out from the competition. A simple act of gratitude can go a long way in business, and sending your clients gifts can make them feel appreciated while maintaining and strengthening your customer relationships. The benefits of client gifting include the following:

Builds relationships

Corporate gifts can help you build relationships with new clients and maintain existing ones, effectively servicing as a churn prevention strategy. Sending a thoughtful gift to existing clients can help you maintain relationships, which can be especially beneficial if you want them to renew contacts.

In addition, gift-giving can help you forge new relationships with clients to help you drive more leads.

Taking the time to find the perfect gift and send your client a personalized message shows them that you truly care about the working relationship and motivates them to build a better relationship with you, building customer loyalty.

Shows appreciation and gratitude

Corporate gifts show appreciation and gratitude for the companies that choose to work with you over the competition. A company gift demonstrates your commitment to a client, making them feel like an essential part of your business.

Improves brand visibility

The best corporate gifts not only show appreciation and gratitude but also improve brand visibility. A client gift can be company or branded swag that can increase brand awareness.

If you send your client a gift box with your logo on it, everyone in their office will see it. In addition, you can send branded items like t-shirts, pens, and stickers to increase your brand's reach.

Differentiates you from competitors

Sending client gifts sets you apart from competitors. While corporate gifts are a fairly common business practice, not every company does it. By sending your clients gifts, you make your business stand out as one that's thoughtful and cares about its clients, making them more likely to do business with you in the future.

The best client gift ideas are those that encourage clients to continue their working relationship with you while showing gratitude. Unfortunately, finding the perfect gifts for clients can be challenging.

Many businesses don't know much about their clients on a personal level, so finding the perfect gift may take time. Here are a few client gift ideas to get you started:

Personalized gifts

Personalized gifts are those that are personalized for your client. They may be completely unique novelty gifts based on an inside joke you have or personalized with their name or something special to them.

For example, you can send them a photo gift with a personalized message inside thanking them for their business.

Gourmet treats

Of course, personalized gifts aren't always the best option for gifts for clients because you might not know your clients that well. But that doesn't mean you can't show your appreciation in other ways.

A traditional gourmet food basket can go a long way in thanking another business for being your client. While it's not a heartwarming gift idea, it's something the entire office can share.

Experiential gifts

Experiential gifts include travel vouchers, spa days, and any other corporate gift centered around a certain type of experience. Of course, you should be careful when giving these types of gifts because you might not know what your client's interests are. The perfect gift to you might be something completely different for your client.

Technology

All businesses need technology to operate. Client gift ideas like speakers, headsets, charging docks, headphones, and other types of technology that have practical uses in the office can improve your client's workday and remind them of your business every time they look at it.

Subscription boxes

Corporate subscription boxes are another great idea because they allow you to personalize your gift based on what you know about your client. For instance, if your client has a sweet tooth, you can send them a corporate subscription box for cookies.

If you're unsure, a good default option for a corporate gift is a coffee subscription. Even if your client doesn't like coffee, you can bet their employees do, so you'll be treating the entire office.

Branded items

Branded items, also known as corporate swag, are another option. It's important to keep in mind that while branded items can increase brand awareness, they don't always make the best gifts for clients. These are promotional items, and sending your client branded items can diminish the potential impact of giving a gift.

Donations

Most of your corporate clients don't actually need physical gifts from you. While gifts are thoughtful gestures, they may be seen as clutter in an office, especially if the client has no use for them. This is one reason many gifts for clients are food-related; they're gifts the entire office can share and don't create any clutter.

Another good client gift idea is a charity donation. By donating to charity on behalf of your client, your corporate gift makes an actual difference. You can choose a charity by considering your client's industry or interests.

Best practices for sending clients gifts

You can send a corporate gift any time throughout the business cycle. But timing is key when sending client gifts so you can make an impact.

Most companies send corporate gifts during the holidays, which means yours could get lost in the shuffle if you do the same. On the other hand, you don't want to send a random gift that confuses your clients.

Your corporate gift should have a positive impact on your relationship with the client. Follow these best practices for sending clients gifts to build better relationships:

• Make sure the gifts aren't perceived as bribes or conflicts of interest
• Put thought into them
• Get to know your clients
• Consider timing
• Show appreciation

While one of the goals of sending client gifts is to keep your business at the top of their mind and build relationships, you should always ensure your client gift showcases appreciation.

Your clients don't want gifts that make them feel like you're bribing them to renew their contracts. Instead, they want to know that you truly appreciate their business.

In addition, you don't have to spend too much on a client gift. Instead, something as simple as a handwritten note can help you show appreciation without spending too much and potentially making clients feel uncomfortable if they don't get you anything.

Create lasting connections through thoughtful client gifts

When done right, a client gift can help you develop a better business relationship. Hopefully, these client gift ideas have helped you determine what to send your clients and when.

Remember that corporate gifting isn't the only way to build client relationships. You should constantly work on building trust and demonstrating your value to clients.

Fortunately, you can remain in constant communication with your clients with Mailchimp. Our marketing tools can help you forge stronger client relationships, build trust, and increase sales. Sign up for Mailchimp today and create lasting client connections.