5 Gifts to Send Your Top Web Design Clients This Holiday Season
As the holidays are fast approaching, it’s time to think about gifts. These aren’t just gifts for friends and family, or for that white elephant party. They’re also for your top web design clients.
Client gifting is something many web designers add to their offboarding process, sending each client something special to commemorate the end of a project. Holiday gifts, often unexpected and delightful, are a powerful way to ensure clients remember you with warmth and appreciation–even well after a project has concluded.
Client gifting helps strengthen your connection
Holiday gifting serves as a prime opportunity for you to re-engage past clients ahead of the new year. It also helps to keep you top of mind when your clients start thinking about their next web design project or recommending your services to others.
You may choose to give something physical like a coffee mug or journal, prompting your clients to think of you every time they drink their morning brew or jot down their to-do list. Or, you may want to go with something equally as practical like discounted services or a free website tune-up. Either way, you’ll want to choose something that aligns with your brand and reinforces it so you can earn future work and referrals.
Consider your budget
When giving gifts to clients, you may be wondering how much you should spend. The most important consideration is how much you have available in your marketing budget. Client gifts are optional, so you’ll want to ensure you have the means to send gifts without breaking the bank. Take a close look at your business’s finances to determine a comfortable amount to spend on client gifts overall. Then divide that figure by the number of clients you’ll be sending gifts to. This gives you an estimated budget per client gift.
At the end of the day, it's the thought that counts (your mom was right about that one). While lavish gifts can be fun to give and receive, it’s not necessary to spend hundreds of dollars to let your clients know how much you appreciate them.
When it comes time to determine how much to spend, consider your unique finances, the number of clients, and the amount clients have spent with you on projects.
Pro tip: Keep the gift proportional to the amount each client has spent with you. You can even set aside a percentage of your client’s payment to use for the future present.
Gift ideas for web design clients
Once you set your budget, it’s time to choose what gifts you’ll send. The following are ideas to get you started. You can send clients the same gift, or send different gifts to different clients. Use your experience with each client to guide you in selecting a gift that best expresses your gratitude and is something that your client would most appreciate.
1. Swag
Sizing clothing items for clients can be tricky, so consider gifts that are one-size-fits-all, like a fanny pack or hat branded with your company name, logo, or slogan. You can also send something they’ll use every day like a mug, water bottle, pen, tumbler glass, or journal. These types of gifts are both useful and great for keeping your business top of mind (literally in the case of a hat).
When it comes to designing the item, use subtle branding (e.g., dark embroidery on a dark hat) to elevate these kinds of swag to a go-to option in their day-to-day lives. Alternatively, you can take a bolder approach that creates an instantly recognizable brand experience.
2. Consumables
Don’t want to give your clients another thing to keep track of? Consider a consumable gift, like a food or drink that’s unique to your part of the world. Teas, coffee, hot sauces, snacks, candies, sweet treats, and spices are all fun ways to introduce your clients to what your hometown is best known for.
If you want to personalize this gift even more, choose something you know your client would love. For example, maybe you’ve noticed they drink a specific tea on your calls, or they’ve mentioned a favorite snack a time or two. Chances are, they will be delighted that you remembered something about them and took the time to send them a tailored gift.
Pro tip: Throw in a branded card with a thoughtful note expressing your gratitude. Customize each card with details about work you’ve done together.
3. Bonus service
If your budget for gifts is low, give your client the gift of your time and expertise. Bonus services can come in the form of a credit for a free future help call, a month (or more) of website maintenance, or a number of website updates. Offering additional free services empowers you to re-engage clients with reminders about the bonus services as you complete them or before they expire.
Pro tip: Remember to set expectations by stating what exactly is included and when the offer expires.
4. Gift card
Not quite sure what your client likes? Send them a gift card to a shop or restaurant near them. You can use a website that offers clients a choice of gift cards, choose a coffee shop or store near their address, or ask them for their favorite places to shop or eat. Don’t forget to include a thank you note with the gift card.
Pro tip: If you’re primarily sending gift cards and thank you notes online, use Squarespace Email Campaigns to send branded and personalized correspondence to clients.
5. Donation
If a physical gift, service, or gift card doesn’t seem like the right fit for you or your client, consider making a donation in their name to a cause that aligns with both your business values and theirs. Share detailed information about the charity, including what the gift will help accomplish, along with a personal note about why the charity matters to you.
Holiday gifts are a powerful marketing tool
Client gifts depend on your budget, your clients’ preferences, and what feels most aligned with your brand values. Gift giving is just one of many ways to thank clients for their business. Stay within your budget and choose gifts that aptly reflect your gratitude, and remember that it’s the thought and effort you put into selecting and personalizing the gift that matter more than the price tag.
Holiday gifts are a great way to make another touchpoint with clients before the year ends. They can help you strengthen client relationships and remind them that you are the go-to web designer for future projects and referrals. The more often you engage with clients in a positive way, the more likely they are to hire you again or refer your services to their friends and colleagues. If you take the time to send a thoughtful gift, chances are your gift will be enjoyed and remembered fondly (and won’t end up at a white elephant party next year).
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