A few years ago, my girls added some new fish to their 10-gallon tank. But over time we lost the existing little guys one by one, and eventually we were down to a single, lonely tetra. He was doing ok, but we knew he’d be happier with a couple of buddies.

It’s not too interesting to watch a solitary fish dart around the tank—but it’s very cool to see them swim together as a unit. So as much as I wanted to increase the tank population right away, I reminded myself that these were my girls’ fish. And since they really wanted to enhance the tank, too, I thought about how we could turn the situation into a learning opportunity. A positive reinforcement tactic came to mind. The girls had been having trouble settling down at bedtime (they shared a room), so we created a sticker chart. For every night I didn’t have to come in and tell them to be quiet, stop bouncing on their beds, etc., they earned a sticker. Once they had a week’s worth of stickers, they would get a few new fish. Repeat.

The chart worked like a charm. Within a week they earned their first new fish!

This situation made me think about professional relationships, too. I showed my daughters that I appreciated their efforts by rewarding their behavior, but had I been showing my clients how much I appreciated them, as well?

Without customers, we don't have work; we can’t sell our products or services. So it makes total sense to let them know that they are key in our business and that we appreciate their choice to work with us.

So, how can we thank the folks who bring their business to us? There are lots of ways! Here are a few ideas:

1. Give them kudos on your (and their) social media pages.

2. Send a thank-you note after finishing a project or selling an item. Be sure to hand-write it—handwritten notes are rare these days, so stand out by doing something different.

3. Take notes on their personal interests. What sports teams to they follow? How old are their kids? When is their birthday? Ask about these things when you see them.

4. Send holiday cards or notes. Consider acknowledging odd holidays and national whatever days, too. Here’s a list to peruse. My personal fav: #Lefthandersday (August 13).

5. If you have a waiting area in your office, provide coffee, tea, or bottled water. If not, consider mailing or delivering a package of chocolates, popcorn, or other treats.

6. Share resources. If you come across an article or other information that you think would benefit/interest your client, send it their way. This lets them know you're thinking about them, even if you aren’t doing business with them at that moment.

7. Continue offering quality, personal service. ‘Nuff said.

There are many other ways to honor the folks who give you their business. Go ahead and get creative! And have fun with the process. Your contacts will certainly appreciate your efforts.

How do you show your clients that you appreciate them?