A good way to let your customers know you appreciate their business is to send them a birthday card. Business birthday greeting cards are available at your local

office supply store or stationary store. Buying in bulk assures you will always have cards on hand. Rather than having them printed with a signature, take the time or appoint someone on your staff to personalize the card and sign it with a real hand signature. That will show the customer you care about who they are. It is one of the many personal touches that can turn a onetime customer into a return customer. It is a personal touch that helps build loyalty.

Business birthday greeting cards can be combined with a coupon for an added extra something. Perhaps a percentage off of their next order or a freebie item. If you are really into customer’s birthday, have an item, such as a mug or cap to send along with the birthday card. If it isn’t economical to do every year, perhaps do that for your customer the year your business achieves a certain goal. For instance it might be for 10 years being in business or achieving a certain sales goal. Or your may decide to call a special birthday year to just thank your customers for their loyalty.

Business birthday greeting cards really don’t have to be anything fancy. A plain, simple card with a brief message will let your customer know you appreciate them. If you have the time or staff available, you can create the card yourself. That will make the card more personal. Let me add a word of caution about acknowledging your customers birthday. Let them know you are asking for their birthday because from time to time you send out birthday greetings and sometimes with a special offer or coupon. If you require a birthday on an application or a condition of purchase, they may feel an invasion of privacy if suddenly a birthday card shows up in the mail. You could potentially lose customers this way. If a customer isn’t required to give their birthday and if asked they say no, don’t push the issue. You could be alienating your customer. It could be a good idea that turns bad.

An alternative to acknowledging your customers birthday, celebrate your businesses birthday with a birthday card for all your customers. That way you can thank your customer for their loyalty and add a birthday greeting for them for that year. You won’t be invading anyone’s privacy and you will be building good will with your customers.

If you have an online business, an online business birthday greeting card would be appropriate. As with a print card, it doesn’t have to be anything but plain, simple and to the point. Adding something of value such as a percentage off their next order or a coupon redeemable for a no cost gift that will be a present for your customer is appropriate if it fits into your budget.