Obscure Life Hacks
As you get to know your customer, you’ll learn things about them. Do they ride the subway to work every day? Share an article on how to ride the subway better. Are they in the middle of budget season? Send them a free five-minute Excel lesson.
How to share your ‘hack’ Just a simple email that says “This made me think of you” should do the trick. Don’t put a sales “ask” in that email — it’s all about the gift.
If you want to make it more of a gift-like thing, make a QR code out of the link, print it out, and include it with a handwritten note to them.
Why this works Even if they don’t really need the information you shared, they’ll appreciate your thoughtfulness.
When not to do this Don’t go overboard and act like the person who has 10 solutions for every problem. Also, FTLOG don’t do this around personal topics like family life, religion, or health – keep your CQ (creep quotient) low.
Vet the info first Before sharing any link, read the article yourself and think about whether it’s useful. Don’t share articles that are obvious click-bait or full of pop-up ads.
Free Event Tickets or Invites
We assume you can’t score tickets to Game 7 of the Stanley Cup playoffs. Find out topics your client cares about or activities they enjoy and invite them to a relevant local event.
Bonus: if it’s a topic your client cares about, the client is likely to see people they know at the event, and you’ll automatically broaden your network by being warmly introduced.
If you don’t know your client well, scope out their LinkedIn posts. (Creepy-adjacent: Check out their other social media channels, articles they posted, etc.) Assuming it’s professional and not embarrassing, you can find events that jibe with their interests.
Compassion and Gratitude
Jumping into the breach with a compassionate word is not a ‘trick’ – it can, and should, be part of who we are. It is more than all right to send a brief note of encouragement or sympathy to a client or a business associate who has suffered a loss or been around a disaster. Don’t be afraid to shoot a quick email to someone who lives where something bad has just happened, saying the news made you think of them and you hope they and their family are all right. It’s the human thing to do. If you’re wondering how to respond when something like this happens, reach out to someone you trust as a coach and get their help.
Pro tip If you’re sending a handwritten sympathy note by mail, this is one situation where you should not use business stationery. Buy some notecards with blank insides and keep them on hand for this purpose.
Thank you notes Handwritten thank-you notes make you stand out from the crowd – they add meaning to a relationship and tend to be re-read. If the thought of writing a thank-you note terrifies you, Friday Goody Bag’s got your back! Read: How to write an authentic thank-you note.
