Have you considered changing the way you give gifts? Whether it’s around the office, in the holiday season, or even around the house, there is no wrong way to give cookies. Cookies tend to make everyone’s eyes brighten up—and that’s whether they’re on a diet (and now have no choice but to cheat just a little bit) or if they’re hungry and craving a daytime or evening time snack.
Cookies have the honor of being a non-committal gift, meaning they go over well at parties and never make anyone feel uncomfortable. Yet, they elicit such a huge emotional reaction. Chances are, your office buddies are going to remember your gift cookies months after the fact…maybe they’ll even start to expect them every year.
Cookies are also an ideal way to reach out to your customers. Too many companies play it safe nowadays, at a time when thinking outside the box is crucial. Customers don’t want 15% savings. They want to be wowed, impressed and wooed.
That’s why little gifts, even as inexpensive as free cookies, will work miracles when it comes to creating positive associations with your customers. They will feel loyalty to your company, remembering pretty much just the taste of the cookies. Who cares about pricing or seasonal savings? Those cookies were awesome. You may well have a customer for life if you keep that trend up.
Speaking of trends, Digital Social Retail reported that in 2015 customers were sending a clear message to their favorite and not so favorite brands: we want to work harder to get better rewards and incentives.
Loyalty incentives were far more successful when customers were prompted to take specific action, not just make the usual purchases. Omnichannel engagement was also a plus, as the most successful brands understood that the relationship never “checks out” even after the line ends. Brands are accessible 24-7 via social networking. So what are you doing to keep yourself fresh in mind during those crucial daytime hours?
Lastly, emotional loyalty prompted the best results. Loyalty programs based on logic underperformed because loyalty relationships are not logical by nature. They grow based on intense emotions, and in the case of business, rewards and incentives that make the customer feel valued and perhaps even an evangelizer to the brand.
Just some information to keep in mind regarding your gift-giving options. You can’t go wrong with cookies because everyone loves cookies. And in this age of simulated everything and online everywhere…the personal connection is like a giant hug from a friend.
