Introduction to Customer Appreciation

In a world of fierce competition in the marketplace, it has never been more critical for businesses to nurture relationships with current customers to ensure customer satisfaction and brand loyalty. As today’s empowered consumers have more choices, greater knowledge and higher demands – feeling unappreciated may easily prompt them to take their business elsewhere, in favor of those brands that truly value them and regularly show their appreciation.

What is Customer Appreciation?

Customer appreciation can be defined as a measure of a company’s efforts towards its customers. It’s a proactive approach to engaging customers and showing them that you care about them and you are grateful for their business. Customer appreciation initiatives are mostly aimed at existing customers. Having a solid customer appreciation strategy in place is the foundation of increasing client satisfaction, building customer loyalty and improving customer retention.

Why Customer Appreciation Matters

Companies that don’t value their customers risk losing them to the competition, as customers that don’t feel appreciated and well-taken-care of are more likely to switch brands. In fact, the Rockefeller Corporation study found that 68% of customers leave due to perceived indifference - which basically means they believe that companies don’t care about them - comparing to only 14% that leave because of product or service dissatisfaction.

On the other side, developing and implementing an effective client appreciation strategy may become a critical success factor for a business. Companies who have more satisfied customers enjoy improved customer loyalty and retention. Considering that loyal customers buy 90% more often and spend 60% more per transaction, according to the Rosetta Consulting survey – it ultimately results in increased business profitability. A study by Andy Fred Wali and Bright C Opara also revealed that a customer appreciation strategy influences customer loyalty and advocacy, which leads to increased sales growth.

Customer Appreciation Quotes

These 10 client appreciation quotes demonstrate the importance of caring about customers and showing appreciation:

• “Every company’s greatest assets are its customers, because without customers there is no company.” – Michael Leboeuf
• “Revolve your world around the customer and more customers will revolve around you.” – Heather Williams
• “If you don't appreciate your customers, someone else will.” – Jason Langella
• “Courteous treatment will make a customer a walking advertisement.” – James Cash Penney
• “When the customer comes first, the customer will last.” – Robert Half
• “A word of appreciation often can accomplish what nothing else could accomplish.” – B. C. Forbes
• “Customers don’t care how much you know unless they know how much you care.” – Damon Richards
• “If you are not taking care of your customer, your competitor will.” – Bob Hooey
• “Customers are like teeth. If you don’t take care of them they go away one by one until there are none.” – Jerry Flanagan
• "It's easier to love a brand when the brand loves you back." – Seth Godin

Customer Appreciation Phrases

When it comes to customer appreciation, the language businesses use in their communications with customers makes a big difference in customer perception. While there might be many different ways to use language to express gratitude to clients, here are some of the most fundamental phases and wordings to remember:

• A simple ‘Thank you’ and all its variations;
• Words of appreciation (“We truly appreciate you choosing our business…” );
• Words of gratitude (“We are grateful for your many years as a loyal customer.”);
• Words of acknowledgement and recognition (“To recognize your loyalty, we’d love to invite you to join our loyalty program.”)