The other day I was tidying up the area around our front door and noticed our welcome mat. The thought occurred to me that if a front doormat has wording on it, most of the time it’s the word “Welcome” or something along the lines of a welcoming greeting like “Hello.” Though it may exist, I have never come across a front doormat that says “See you next time” or “Bye.” Don’t people usually leave the same way they came in? Maybe there is a doormat out there that says “Welcome” on one half and “Bye” on the other. If so, please send me a picture.
For those guest that we like to impress, most of us don’t stop with a welcome mat at the front door. We do more to set a mood. Whether it’s flowers and fresh fruit on the table, beer and chips by the big screen or even a play area set aside for the kiddos, it all sends a message to our guests.
Welcoming new customers should be no different from welcoming guests (you like) at your own front door, especially since welcome emails get more than a 50% open rate!
What kind of welcomes do you give? Do you just put out a welcome mat and stop there or do you do more?
Four tips on making your welcome unforgettably inviting:
1. Your welcome should be not just one email, but a series of four to six emails.
2. Your welcome emails should remind customers why you are the best person to help them. It’s a lot like dating. Whether you asked for or accepted the first date, there’s still uncertainty at this point. Now is the perfect opportunity to deflate that uncertainty, reach out, and lay the foundation for a more solid relationship.
3. A thank you goes a long way. Your customers don’t have to buy from you. Your customers don’t have to continue to do business with you. Express genuine gratitude, at least in the first welcome letter.
4. Segmentation is key. As you know, your customers don’t have the same wants and needs. Having a different set of welcome series for customers will go a long way and it will certainly set you apart from your competition.
What does your front doormat say?
Tell me about the most interesting welcome you have received from a friend or neighbor.
What was a memorable welcome letter you received from doing business?