This week I was finally going to be face to face with a client of 2 years. As a small business coach who mostly works with clients by phone, I’d never met him. With great excitement, I gave him the gift I’d had prepared especially by a new gift basket consultant who made unique arrangements specific to the client. Low and behold, I gave him the much-anticipated surprise gift and it turned out to be a pink scarf with bubble bath soap–I mixed up the gifts! If you don’t want to goof up like I did during the holidays, here are some darn fine tips below:

1. DON’T give expensive gifts.
Unless you’re selling very big-ticket items, an expensive gift seems more like a bribe than a gift.
2. DO follow laws and regulations.
There are some professions where accepting a gift from a client is either unethical or illegal.
3. DON’T gift mere prospects.
Giving a gift too early in a business relationship is like when a guy shows up on a blind date with a dozen roses.
4. DO gift something meaningful.
The more it matches the customer, the more it will be appreciated.
5. DON’T gift promotional items.
If a “gift” has your corporate logo on it, you are asking the customer to provide you with free advertising, so it is not really a gift.
via Gifting Customers: Dos & Don’ts.

This year, for the first time ever, I wanted to make December the month to see my clients and colleagues face to face and give them a small something so show my appreciation. I really love seeing their faces after hours of confidences shared over the phone.  What are you doing for your clients this Holidays?
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Related articles

• 10 Green Gift Ideas For Beauty (and Earth) Lovers (bellasugar.com)
• Smart Ways to Send Business Gifts This Season (entrepreneur.com)
• How to Thank Clients – Part 1: New Business Gifts (amsterdamprinting.com)