A little thanks goes a long way towards customer loyalty.

Most consumers love getting a little extra when they make a purchase online. Include little extras to make your kitting extra special and can make your brand stand out. There are many opportunities in which you can thank your customers:

• New customers
• Loyal customers
• Anyone who provided a great review
• Customer birthdays, anniversaries
• Specific holiday thank you cards (Christmas, Valentines, etc.)
• Loyalty anniversary dates
• High value customers

And as many ways there are to thank your customers, there are reasons such as creating a positive impression of your ecommerce business that can lead to more referrals and increased sales. Nothing gets customers talking faster on social media than getting a freebie. The Return on Investment (ROI) when you thank your customers is inextricably linked to the ROI of word-of-mouth marketing. You also don’t have to wait for it to happen “organically,” outside your company’s control.

Regardless of the thank you want to send out, it is important to decide on a repeatable process to get those thank yous in the hands of your customer. Here are some easy ways to say thank you more often to your customers:

• Package inserts. You have already paid for the shipping and the box, so adding something small to an order that’s heading out is a smart and cost-effective way to say thank you. Packaging inserts are all about creating the “wow!” moment in the unboxing experience for online shoppers.
• Free gifts or samples. The power of the “freebie” should never be underestimated. This should consistently be part of your kitting. Free samples are an amazing way to surprise and delight your customers and introduce something the customer hasn’t tried yet on their own. If your customer likes it, you might even see them purchase it in their next order. Match the sample to your customer’s profile to make sure it’s something they will consider buying.
• Future purchase discounts. Rewarding loyal customers with discounts and coupons and see them coming back. Although you have to be careful with discounts to avoid abuse, sending discounts with certain parameters is a cost-effective way to get loyal and new customers to buy more.