Small Business Etiquette
10 Professional Ways to Say “Thank You for Supporting My Small Business”.
How to say thank you to your customers. Get examples, sample letters 📝, notes, & templates for your small business.
Saying “Thank You for Supporting My Small Business” is an undervalued practice, but in today’s highly competitive market it’s a simple way to improve the customer experience and set your business apart from the competition. Showing your appreciation doesn’t take much effort, but it pays big dividends. And this is true when it comes to expressing gratitude to your employees and business partners as well. Believe me, a simple ‘thankyou’ goes a long way.
Table of Contents
- What to Say in a Business Thank You Letter
- Why Saying ‘Thank You’ to your Customers is Important
- Should You Say Thank You With a Hand-Written Letter, Email Message, or Text Message?
- How to Write the Perfect Business Thank You Note in 4 Steps with Infographic
- 10 Business Thank You Note Examples & Templates
- Pro Tips on How to Write a Thank You Note
- Conclusion
In Brief: What to Say in a Business Thank You Letter
Saying thank you in a professional way is simple. 1) Remind the reader who you are. 2) Briefly describe the business interaction (product purchase, job interview, services rendered). 3) Reiterate your mission or value proposition. 4) Share your feelings of gratitude. Business communications should always be concise. Keep it short and sweet.
Why Saying ‘Thank You’ to your Customers is Important
Back in the day, saying thank you to customers was common practice and expected. Those customers were, after all, putting food on the table. Today, most businesses don’t make the effort to sincerely thank customers for their patronage. Saying thank you is all part of the customer experience, which is comprised of all customer touch-points — your storefront, delivery times, your website, your voicemail greeting, and even the way your products are packaged.
When you do say thank you, you provide your customers with a delightful surprise and a warming of the heart. Remember, we are humans exchanging value with each other. That’s beautiful in and of itself and something to be grateful for.
Showing that you aren’t taking them for granted and that their business matters to you strengthens your relationship with the customer and increases customer retention. Research shows that 60% of all customers stop dealing with a company because they feel their business is not appreciated. This is important because, according to the Pareto Principle, 80% of your company’s future revenue will come from 20% of your existing customers.
And, as reported by Forbes, a 5% increase in customer retention can increase a company’s profitability by 75%, plus attracting new customers costs your company 5 times more than keeping an existing customer. So, the act of saying thank you in an authentic way actually boosts your bottom line. It’s amazing how powerful a small gesture can be!
In addition to the economic benefits of increased customer satisfaction and retention, you’re likely to receive some free word-of-mouth advertising. You see, people are likely to tell their friends about their satisfaction and the thank you note you sent since the practice is less common these days. They might even put your hand-written note up on their bulletin board or refrigerator, depending on who your customers are, for all to see.
Should You Say Thank You With a Hand-Written Letter, Email Message, or Text Message?
Before writing thank you notes, it’s important to determine which format is best for your particular customer base. Generally, the higher the price point for your product or service, the more likely it is that a hand-written note is warranted.
For example, if you’re in the services industry, working as a consultant, architect, or real estate agent, there’s nothing better than a hand-written letter on the company stationery or thank you cards sent by regular mail. Hand-written notes are perceived as being more sincere than emails and text messages because they take more time and effort to create and send. Your time investment and care are a testament to your sincerity and authentic gratitude.
The best thing about a hand-written letter is that your recipient will most certainly open it. According to the US Postal Regulatory Commission, the average American receives only 10 pieces of personal mail per year. It isn’t surprising that these personalized letters have a 99% open rate compared to emails with an open rate of 22.7%. Handwritten mail stands out… and it delights.
That said, it’s not always logistically possible or practical to send a hand-written thank you card. For example, an email is completely appropriate when thanking online customers for their purchases. If possible, it's best practice to personalize the thank you note by mentioning their name and other details of their patronage or loyalty. With today’s technology, this is possible even if the thank you emails are automated.
If your business is based on technology and communicating by text message is expected, a thank you text works very well. Be careful here, however, to ensure this is an acceptable form of communication in the eyes of your customer.
If a customer purchased from your small business for the first time, you may want to consider including a hand-written note in the first order. This ensures a wonderful first impression and increases the likelihood of repeat business.
Again, the best way to say thank you depends on who your customers are, their technological aptitude, your product or service, and your price points.
How to Write the Perfect Business Thank You Note in 4 Steps Including Infographic
Saying thank you in a professional way is simple. Use the following 4-part guide to help you craft the perfect thank you letter. Business communications should always be concise. Keep it short and sweet.
Saying thank you in a professional way is simple. Use the following 4-part guide to help you craft the perfect thank you letter. Business communications should always be concise. Keep it short and sweet.
- Remind the reader who you are
- Briefly describe the business interaction (product purchase, job interview, services rendered, etc.).
- Reiterate your value proposition. For a real estate agent, this could be your goal of helping people find their dream home. For a job applicant, this could be using your skills to help a business enter new markets.
- Share your feelings of gratitude for your client’s patronage and for their trust.
10 Business Thank You Note Examples & Templates
Here are some examples and templates for inspiration as you start writing thank you notes to your customers.
How to Say Thank You for Signing Up for Your Newsletter
Thank you for signing up for our newsletter through our website. Every month, you will receive an email from us informing you of interesting developments in the world of [company’s industry/focus]. We hope you find it valuable and would love to hear from you with questions or feedback! Thank you.
How to Say Thank You to a First-Time Customer
Thank you for visiting us and making your first purchase! We’re glad you found what you were looking for. It is our goal that you are always happy with your purchase, so please let us know if your buying experience was anything short of excellent. We strive to serve our community well and we look forward to seeing you again. Have a great day!
How to Say Thank You to an Existing Customer for a Recent Purchase
Thank you for your recent purchase from our [Etsy, eBay, Amazon, or other online stores]! We hope you are thrilled with your purchase, but if you are not please let us know how we can make it right. In line with our mission, all of our products are sustainably sourced and crafted. Please reach out at any time and we’ll be happy to serve you. Thank you!
How to Say Thank You for Supporting My Small Business
Thank you for supporting my small business and helping to keep our doors open and our employees working during this challenging year. We couldn’t have done it without customers like you. We appreciate your patronage. Thank you for choosing us.
How to say Thank You During the Holidays
Happy Thanksgiving [or Happy Holidays]! Thank you for supporting my small business during such a tumultuous year. From the [your company name] family to yours, we wish you peace and joy this Thanksgiving [or holiday season]. Let’s continue to work together over the coming years to help our community prosper. Thank you.
How to Say Thank You for a Customer’s Anniversary
I’m delighted to tell you that you have now been our customer for an entire year! We would just like to say thank you for being a part of our family. We are very grateful for your continued patronage because we wouldn’t be here without loyal customers like you. You could have chosen any other business, but we appreciate that you have stuck with us. We’ll be here when you need us. Thank you!
How to Say Thank You for a New Customer Review
It means so much to me and everyone on my team that you took the time to write such a wonderful review. Thank you for your kind words. I really appreciate the feedback and you letting others know of your great experience with our work. Thank you!
How to Say Thank You for a Customer Feedback
I want to thank you for writing to us about the problem you are having with [describe complaint]. We are sorry to hear that you have had this experience with us. Please be assured that we will take your issue seriously and will do everything possible to resolve it in a timely fashion. Feedback from customers is an essential component of our business and helps us improve. Please allow a short time for us to review your issue before we come back to you with some next steps.
– or –
Thank you so much for your candid feedback. I’ve escalated your review to the right team so we can get to the bottom of things and make it right. Here at [company name], we strive to offer the very best service and always appreciate hearing from our customers on how we can improve. My apologies we didn’t meet your expectations. Thank you for taking the time to help us serve you better.
How to Say Thank You for Customer Referral
Thank you for being a valued customer and for referring [name of potential new customer] to us. We appreciate your business and your referral. When [name of potential new customer] signs up for services, you will receive a [dollar amount] credit on your next invoice. We sincerely appreciate you being a part of the [company name] family. Thank you!
– or –
Thank you for the referral you sent over. It has been a great success. [Referral’s name] is ready to take things forward, and this would not have happened without your help. I look forward to a future time when I can also help and support your business. Please let me know when you have time to discuss this. We’d love to work with you!
How to Say Thank You for Attending Your Webinar or Event
Thank you for attending our [topic or type] webinar [this past week]. [Topic or type] is a rapidly evolving area, and we hope that you felt your time was well spent. If you have any questions about what we discussed or about [topic or type] in general, please do not hesitate to call me at [(555) 555–5555]. I would be happy to speak with you and assist you however possible. Thank you.
Pro Tips on How to Write a Thank You Note
Writing the perfect thank you note isn’t rocket science, but there are a few tips you need to keep in mind to ensure success. Start with the basics:
Customer Name
Dale Carnegie, author of How to Win Friends & Influence People, once said that “S person’s name is, to that person, the sweetest and most important sound in any language.” Visually, this extends to a person’s written name. Don’t use “Dear Customer”. It’s generic, impersonal, and likely to be deleted.
Human Connection
Try to make your interaction more personal and authentic. Add a personal touch by referencing something specific about the customer such as something you discussed with them during the transaction or which product they purchased. But, again, be sure your note does not seem like it was simply mass produced. So, no copy and paste!
Be Concise
People are inundated with messages. Your goal in thanking your customer is to wrap up the entire customer experience with a note of gratitude and hopefully a spark of delight so that they’ll come back to you or recommend you to their friends and family. Your message should be short and to the point.
Be Supportive
Ensure that you’ll be there with a direct line of communication to support the customer with any questions, support requests, follow-ups, or whatever the customer’s specific circumstances require. Include your contact information where appropriate.
A Neutral Closing
Close your note by signing off and signing your name. Sign off by saying things like “Best”, “Respectfully”, “Kind Regards”, “Warm Regards”, “With Gratitude” or “Cheers” are good options.
Send as Soon as Possible
Send your thank you letter as soon as possible. It’s important to do so while the customer still remembers the experience you are thanking them for.
Then keep these additional tips in mind:
- Don’t use a red pen for a handwritten note or red text in an email thank you. It will look like you are screaming at them.
- Don’t include anything promotional. The focus should be on conveying genuine gratitude — not to promote your business.
- Don’t make excuses for your handwriting.
- Avoid misspelled words by proofreading your hand-written note or by using a spell checker for electronic notes.
- Double check the recipient’s address for accuracy to ensure your not is deliverable.
If you follow these tips, you’ll be writing excellent business thank you notes in no time.
Conclusion
Now you know why you need to send thank you letters to your customers and how to write them. If you keep the tips in mind as well as the thank you note wording examples, you’ll become proficient at writing your own “Thank You for Your Business Notes” in no time. Wishing you much success. Thank you for reading this guide. I hope you’ve found it helpful!
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