Gratitude is the sign of noble souls.
Aesop
In the United States, we celebrate Thanksgiving on the fourth Thursday of every year. But, you don’t have to be a resident to count your blessings. To help you do that, here’s a refresh of a post that first appeared here in November 2007 about gratitude and PR.
When you thank someone, you recognize them for the goodness they bring to your business or your life.
When you publicly thank partners, vendors, employees – and of course, clients, your create publicity opportunities for both sides.
1. Give thanks at the first point of contact
One dreary day I strolled into a splashy gift store. After spending 20 minutes looking around, I walked out empty-handed. On my way out the door, the cashier said, “Have a nice day!” – the only words she said the entire time I was there. Is it any wonder the store was out of business a few months later?
2. Let your prospects know – right away – you’re glad they are there.
Bloggers can add a static page or a link to a blog post with a welcome message and a reader’s guide. Want to reach local journalists? A phone call, email or comment on their blog might start out with, “Thanks for the story you did on time management. Here’s how you helped me.” Online PR is a little different. You can’t “welcome” search engine spiders, but you can link to a welcoming landing page from your news release.
3. Keep affirming the relationship
When my hard drive crashed, the repair center called to give me a replacement price. I picked it up and didn’t check the receipt until a few days later. I saw they charged me for installation, but not the part. Back at the store, the associate took my payment and talked about the repair center contact in front of me, but they didn’t thank me for coming back to buy the hard drive. They were too caught up in their own conversation to notice the customer on the other side of the counter.
4. Always, always, always email or call with a thank you to someone who mentions or refers your business.
Use Google Alerts to track where your name shows up. Bloggers can email people who post a valuable comment and show thanks with links. While there’s no need to send a formal thank you note for a Facebook gift app like a cute penguin, you can acknowledge the giver with a quick thank your reply or reciprocate and send them a gift. Online PR continues from the news release to a landing page to an order page to a – you guessed it – thank you page where you can offer additional products [in addition to thanks].
5. Be Thank-full at Thanksgiving or Any day
Stand out from your competition by showing you care with a personalized message to everyone that contributes to your success. Thanksgiving is a great time to think big and write a personal note to authors, bloggers, company presidents and yes, your mom for the good things in your life. You know you wouldn’t be who you are today without them.
6. Send Gifts!
Go off of your holiday list to show gratitude to business partners. Then, reach out to prospective partners with a gift. This year, I sent out copies of Success Secrets of the Social Media Marketing Superstars. I’m the LinkedIn author. Whether you send books or brownies, everyone loves opening presents. Mine went out the Friday before Thanksgiving. Send yours out soon, so you can beat the holiday rush.
What about you? What or who are you thankful for this year?
Image credit: Thanks to Shutterstock for providing images in exchange for credit.
You have about four weeks to get ready for 2012. Don’t let another year go by watching your competition own the market you want to be in. To end 2011 on a high flame and put some kindle on the fire for 2012, I’d like to invite you attend one or both of my December webinar classes. Get WIRED with social media, content marketing and PR or Lock in LinkedIn to fire up your 2012 success.
