10 ideas for V-Day to help you build business, show customers you care, and cultivate customer love
1. Use Facebook and Twitter to send messages of affection to your customers.
Every day in February put blog and Facebook posts and Tweets out into the social media universe that conveys some measure of your affection for customers, a customer service promise or another customer care oriented message. And create a special V-Day email to send to your contacts on February 14th. That’s a lot ways to say “Thank you” to your customers!
2. Create your own V-Day love themed set of discounts.
You know how couples often create Valentines Day givebacks for affection and date nights? Create your own V-Day giveback in the form of bounce back offers distributed at the point of sale, via email and social media redeemable for a gift with purchase, discount or add on the next time they buy from your business.
3. Hold a 14 Days of V-Day contest or giveaways.
Every day from Feb. 1-14, hold a contest or drawing to give away an inexpensive but desirable product, service, add on or even a branded coffee, water or travel mug, t-shirt or another branded gift. Put together a grand prize for the February 14th drawing.
4. Don’t forget the singles!
Obviously, everyone doesn’t have a significant other. The singles among your client base may well be sick of all the talk of love and romance. Cater to them by way of a romance-free shopping event or go the other direction and hold singles shopping hour mixers. Include a few love-cynical quotes on Facebook and Twitter. Or celebrate with special offers on February 15th, which is “Call in Single Day.”
5. Take time for introspection and show some love to your employees.
Study after study talks about that engaged employees – employees who see themselves as aligned and connected with the brand and culture of the business where they work are happier, more likely to deliver exceptional customer service and more likely to proactively resolve customer’s problems, and even go out of their way to prevent them. Your customers are much more likely to feel appreciated by your business when your employees do, too! During Feb., send V-Day or notes of appreciation to your staff noting personal traits and talents you appreciate. Post customer raves on social media and in employee break and lunch areas. Hold a V-Day luncheon or send chocolates or flowers to each at home.
6. Put Cupid to work in your business.
Literally, put Cupid to work in your business. Solicit a staff volunteer to dress as Cupid and stand inside or outside of your business, distributing business cards, special offers, branded pens or promotional items, etc. Or hold a Cupid-hosted V-Day open house, extended shopping hours for VIP or loyalty club customers or another special event.
7. Send V-Day notes to people who need and deserve them.
Collect or create V-Day notes to be given to soldiers, seniors, cancer patients or another deserving group. Ask customers to bring signed V-Day notes or hold a DIY Valentine craft workshop for children. Feature the project in a press release and in stories on your website, social media, email newsletter and blog.
8. Live out the spirit of V-Day.
Donate a portion of proceeds or proceeds from the sales of specific products or services to a local deserving charity, or hold a type of event with proceeds and solicited donations going to charity. And don’t forget to tell people about the good works that you do for charity or in your community in communications via your website, blog, in email newsletters and on social media.
9. Get closer to your customers and prospects.
Do a customer service survey. Solicit customer comments, raves, reviews and other feedback. Form a focus group from among your most loyal customers to discuss one or more aspects of the customer experience which could be improved. Use customer or child-created Valentine arts and crafts to decorate within your business and feature them in photos on your website, email newsletter, social media and your blog.
10. Reward your best customers.
Double loyalty points or rewards for all purchases, your most loyal customers, club members or double up rewards or points when customers purchase specific products or services in February. Extend a special offer such as a free or reduced-price add on, gift with purchase or another incentive to your best customers or loyalty reward members. Send a Valentine to your most loyal customers by mail or email.