The Personal Touch | Networking Tips to Help You Connect With Clients and Grow Your Business

Business leaders know how important networking is to client growth and retention, and at Hallmark Business Connections, we are focused on delivering solutions that help our partners build solid, lasting relationships that drive continued success. The idea of networking can leave many people wondering where to begin, and it can even be daunting to think of putting yourself out there and trying new ways to connect with clients.

We’ve come up with a list of our best, most effective (and fun!) business networking tips that will help you build client relationships that last. And the best part is that none of them are time consuming or difficult to accomplish. They just require a little bit of dedication on your part and a focus on strengthening the connections that are at the heart of your company’s success.

Are Your Clients E-Fatigued?

We live in a digital world where nearly everything we do—from work to entertainment to helping our kids with homework—is done in an online environment. We’re accustomed to scrolling past emails at lightning speed and filtering content faster than a search engine can toss it our way.

There are certainly times when emails offer great marketing opportunities. We often want to get our messages out quickly and to a very broad audience, making digital communication ideal. But when it comes to the enduring warmth that greeting cards deliver, there’s simply no better way to let your clients know how appreciated and cared about they are.

Make Unforgettable Client Connections

At Hallmark Business Connections, we’ve mastered not only the art of professional greeting card sentiments, but also corporate gifting that helps you deliver thoughtful and caring reminders of how much your clients mean to you.

Here are a few professional networking tips that will have you making unforgettable client impressions in no time:

Be yourself and be authentic. Keep clients in mind on recurring days throughout the year by sending Birthday Cards, Anniversary Cards and cards for other special occasions. Include personalized messages inside your greetings that are heartfelt and meaningful to your clients so that your authenticity shows every time you reach out. An easy and convenient way to do this is by using Automatic Mailings, which allow you to create personalized and timely touchpoints with clients that are automatically printed and mailed monthly—keeping you in touch throughout the year without having to remember a single date.

Celebrate holidays and be mindful of all the days that are special to your clients. At HBC, you’ll find a wide variety of Christmas Cards, Hanukkah Cards and New Year Cards. And don’t forget that minor holidays like Halloween and St. Patrick’s Day are great times to surprise clients with greetings and special updates or reminders. It’s always a fun surprise to discover a Hallmark envelope in the mailbox, so think of the times when your clients would love to hear from you and plan your next customized outreach to take your professional networking to the next level.

Share relevant information that will help clients. You can include helpful information and inserts inside the custom Hallmark cards you create. This is especially useful when it comes to helping clients and potential clients make decisions that will help them either choose your company or decide to stick with your company. Send timely updates that include tips or helpful guides that engage clients with your brand and the services and plans you offer.

Include a warm message. An individualized message is likely to be remembered well beyond the day it’s received. Not feeling creative with your words? That’s ok…our Hallmark writers offer lots of ideas for you to choose from, so use their content options as a place to start. We’ll edit, typeset and ensure your font looks exactly the way you want it to look so you can put your best foot forward with your clients.

Personalize it. Personalization is the name of the game, and the more you can let your clients know you had them in mind when crafting your professional outreach, the bigger the impression you’ll make. Try adding your own Personal Font to your greetings to give them even more personalization. Personal Fonts mimic your own handwriting by digitizing it so that it can be used in any greeting cards that you send. Talk about upping your professional networking game! You’ll be able to reach out to clients using your own handwriting…yet you’ll save hours by doing everything digitally.

Make an impression with corporate gifts. You’ll never go wrong with tasteful and elegant gifts and delectable treats from HBC when it’s time to make an impression your clients will remember. We offer a wide variety of professional gifts that are appropriate for many sending occasions. A fresh cut Hallmark floral bouquet is the perfect way to share your congratulations on an anniversary, milestone birthday or work anniversary; or send flowers as a thoughtful gesture when a client goes through a major surgery or to express condolences. Other corporate gifts like gourmet Christopher Elbow chocolates, uplifting yearly calendars, bookmarks and magnets are great for gifting to clients throughout the year as occasions arise and when you want to leave a lasting impression.

Clients Won’t Forget Your Thoughtfulness

No matter the reason or the season, when you reach out to clients with genuine and caring communication, it will pay off significantly for your business. Building solid relationships with your clients and investing time into a great professional networking plan is the best way to ensure your relationships stand the test of time. Every time you reach out to your clients, either with personalized communication, a meaningful greeting or a corporate gift, you are deepening your connection and solidifying your working relationship—ultimately driving the success of your business.

Want to learn how a thank you card can leave a lasting impression and help grow your business relationships? Read 50 Professional Thank You Card Ideas for great insights to help you build even better connections.