How to Make Corporate Gifts Feel Authentic and Less like a Bribe

We often use gifts as a means of expressing appreciation, fostering a connection, or gratitude. This is true in our personal lives, but it’s also true in the corporate world. Many of those who are in the business world may send a corporate gift to a colleague, client, prospective customer, partner, or employee.

Corporate gift-giving is a common practice, but it can also feel intimidating or pretentious if not done right. What’s more, it has the potential to feel like you’re trying to bribe somebody, which is certainly not a good look. Send the right corporate gift, and you can show appreciation, make someone feel valued, and make a lasting impression. But send the wrong gift, and it can backfire. But how do you make a corporate gift feel authentic?

WHY IS CORPORATE GIFTING IMPORTANT?

If you can pull off corporate gifting, it can have numerous benefits for you and your business. The possibilities are endless, but many people don’t understand the purpose behind giving a corporate gift and how to do it well. Why is it so important?

You Can Build and Strengthen Relationships

To create a relationship, people first need to know who you are and understand your business. Corporate gifts can help with branding, and they can also work as the first building block in a hopefully valuable business relationship. Fostering a relationship with a strategically selected gift can make a great first impression. And sending corporate gifts to already established clients will make them feel valued and build the relationship further.

They Can Increase Your Chances Of Gaining a New Client

As we said, people are impressionable. You can stand out from the crowd with a new client with a well-chosen corporate gift. That being said, it’s also easy to blend in if you don’t choose the right gift, to begin with. A gift that’s unique to your business and will make the client take notice of you from the get-go is a great way to get your foot in the door. Gifts can also help with branding, which in turn will keep your company at the forefront of the client’s mind.

They Show You Value Your Contacts

You might have a laundry list of business contacts, and because of that, many of them may feel underappreciated or forgotten. But clients who feel valued by a genuine and heart-felt corporate gift are much more likely to sing your praises and return to you for services time and again. No one likes to feel like just another number or name in someone’s phone book and a corporate gift can help to remedy this personalization issue. They’re also just a great way to say thank you to your contacts and show your appreciation for their support of your business. After all, you probably wouldn’t be as successful without them.

CORPORATE GIFTING BEST PRACTICES

Keep It Personal

No matter what type of gift you send, personalize it. It’s a great way to show you considered each person rather than just sending out a mass delivery of generic gifts to all your contacts. Even a small personalized card with a gift can do the trick.

Keep It Relevant To The Recipient

Don’t think about your own business when gifting. Sure, you can send out branded gifts, but take the time to think about what the recipient might use the gift for, or what they might find useful and appreciate. It can be a good idea to make notes of good personal gift ideas when you, for example, have a conversation with a client or colleague.

Keep It Within Budget

It can be all too easy to get carried away with corporate gifts, and often, people think they have to overspend on expensive items to send the best gift possible. This isn’t true, a gift that’s personalized, relevant for the recipient, and has been well thought through doesn’t have to be pricey. Expensive gifts can also give the wrong impression and may lead to assumptions about your wealth and profit.

Keep It Genuine

Last but not least, whatever you do, don’t send out a gift and then follow up with a sales call a few days later. Your recipients should feel the gift is from the heart and genuine, rather than a bribe or bargaining chip with strings attached.