Use Humour to Stand Out from the Herd and Boost Sales!
If you want to build a more loyal client base and boost sales (and really, who doesn’t?), a little humor can go a long way. Here are a few simple, but effective ways to make an impression with your clients:
- Stay in regular touch. Pop in for a visit for no reason, send them an article that Might interest them or mail a card to celebrate an unusual occasion (for example, March 2nd is National Salesperson’s Day, or there’s Take Your Teddy Bear to Work Day: Oct.11).
- Add some safe humor to your ads, business cards, web site or marketing materials. Humour sells, in fact 75% of award-winning ads used humour. Humour can break down barriers, helps people connect at a more human level, and grabs people’s attention!
- Celebrate your clients’ victories and successes. Recognizing their business and/or personal achievements in a fun way can go a long ways towards building a long- term partnership.
- Say “Thanks for the memories!” A simple way to convey the message that you are not taking your client’s business for granted is to follow-up with a thank you card, phone call or small, but fun gift to show your appreciation for their business.
- Add some fun to your voice mail. WestJet Airlines keeps people smiling while on hold with a running commentary of humorous banter, jokes and trivia.
- Use humor to celebrate your blunders and bloopers. Laughing at ourselves (when appropriate), sends the message to clients that you are human, you know you erred and that you can admit your mistakes.
- Hold fun contests in partnership with your clients.
- Invite clients to your own internal celebrations and events.
Keeping a professional image, making an extra effort to be available and responsive, and going the extra mile by adding some safe, appropriate humour into your business mix will go a long ways towards helping you stand out from the herd, boost your sales and have more fun—all at the same time!
Michael Kerr is an international speaker, trainer and author of “You Can’t Be Serious! Putting Humour to Work” and “Inspiring Workplaces.” You can reach Michael at 1-(866)-609-2640 or mike@mikekerr.com . For more humour at work articles, DVDs and other humour at work resources, surf on over to www.mikekerr.com .
