Brainstorming reasons for staying in touch with clients and others can be fun, but it's time-consuming. The list below can make the job a lot easier. The first 25 suggestions are included on pages 117 and 118 of Chapter 4, "Build Relationships Through Better Communication".
Because Web sites come and go, you'll also see keywords have been included which you can use to locate other sites on the same theme. Just click on the keyword set for each item listed to see Google's search results for those terms.
| 1 | Get clients' opinions on ways to improve your services.
(http://www.surveymonkey.com), (http://www.zoomerang.com)
|
| 2 | Dispatch an intern to set clients up with online access to the financial accounts they have with you (and others).
(http://www.monstertrak.com)
|
| 3 | Publish an opt-in (i.e., permission-based) email newsletter.
(http://www.bcentral.com), (
http://www.cooleremail.com)
|
| 4 | Email an electronic birthday or anniversary card.
(http://www.bluemountain.com)
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| 5 | Create and send a collage of famous events on their birthday.
(http://www.thehistorychannel.com), (http://www.todayinhistory.com), (http://www.biography.com), (http://www.on-this-day.com)
|
| 6 | Clue them into what’s happening in the place where they were born.
(http://www.onlinenewspapers.com)
|
| 7 | Show them how to order/refill prescriptions over the Web.
(http://www.drugstore.com)
|
| 8 | Point them to where they can get a free copy of their credit report.
(http://www.annualcreditreport.com)
|
| 9 | Send them flowers on Valentine’s Day (you love them, don’t you?).
(http://www.proflowers.com)
|
| 10 | Make a donation online to their favorite charity.
(http://www.justgive.org)
|
| 11 | Assist them in finding information on medical conditions.
(http://www.webmd.com)
|
| 12 | Monitor news of their company or industry.
(http://biz.yahoo.com/industry)
|
| 13 | Give them a hand in researching career opportunities online.
(http://www.rileyguide.com)
|
| 14 | Learn more about their religious traditions/beliefs.
(http://www.beliefnet.com)
|
| 15 | Show them an easy way to manage all their frequent flyer accounts in a single place.
(http://www.maxmiles.com)
|
| 16 | Help them shop for bargain airfares, hotel rates and rental cars.
(http://www.priceline.com), (http://www.sidestep.com)
|
| 17 | Point out how to renew their car registration at their state motor vehicle department.
(http://www.carbuyingtips.com/dmv.htm)
|
| 18 | Show them how to cut down the amount of junk mail they receive.
(http://www.dmaconsumers.org/offmailinglist.html)
|
| 19 | Fill out change of address cards for them when they move.
(http://www.moversguide.com)
|
| 20 | Assist them in finding financial aid or scholarship money for college.
(http://www.finaid.com)
|
| 21 | Set them up a golf tee time.
(http://www.teemaster.com), (http://www.teetimes.com)
|
| 22 | Remind them when it’s time to change the oil, rotate the tires or replace the battery.
(http://www.carcarecity.com)
|
| 23 | Give them a gift certificate to their favorite store or catalog.
(http://www.giftcertificates.com), (http://www.webcertificate.com)
|
| 24 | Shop with them for a new car.
(http://www.autobytel.com)
|
| 25 | Shop for a lower mortgage rate or home equity loan.
(http://www.bankrate.com)
|
| 26 | Boost their basic browsing skills.
(http://www.learnthenet.com)
|
| 27 | Take them on a tour of useful web sites.
(http://www.furl.net)
|
| 28 | Create an online bookmark account listing their favorite sites.
(http://www.blinkpro.com)
|
| 29 | Broadcast a list of the web’s best sites.
(http://www.forbes.com/bow)
|
| 30 | Collect stories of interest from newspapers around the world for them.
(http://www.crayon.net)
|
| 31 | Show them how to set up their own personal news feed of information from around the Web.
(http://www.quickbrowse.com)
|
| 32 | Follow their favorite sports, teams, and players.
(http://www.50states.com/sports/)
|
| 33 | Invite them to join your fantasy sports league.
(http://games.espn.go.com)
|
| 34 | Keep them clued in on cultural events in their area.
(http://www.culturefinder.com)
|
| 35 | Show them the steps to shop for groceries online.
(http://www.peapod.com)
|
| 36 | Send them a CD of their favorite music.
(http://www.cdnow.com)
|
| 37 | Buy them a book by their favorite author.
(http://www.bn.com)
|
| 38 | Create a “what clients are reading” list of interesting titles and authors.
(http://www.amazon.com)
|
| 39 | Put your hands on an out-of-print book they’ve been trying to find.
(http://www.alibris.com)
|
| 40 | Create an online study group/community.
(http://groups.yahoo.com)
|
| 41 | Work together on a volunteer project.
(http://www.idealist.org)
|
| 42 | Help them post a resume online.
(http://www.monster.com)
|
| 43 | Guide them to sites about their hobbies or pastimes.
(http://www.about.com)
|
| 44 | Show them where to get answers to their kid’s questions.
(http://www.howstuffworks.com)
|
| 45 | Help them set up an instant messaging account so they can connect with their kids or grandkids online.
(http://www.aim.com)
|
| 46 | Give them a weather report before they head out of town.
(http://www.weather.com)
|
| 47 | Let them know how to track flight arrivals/delays.
(http://www.flightview.com)
|
| 48 | Set them up with an online travel agent.
(http://www.travelocity.com)
|
| 49 | Tell them how much their money will be worth where they’re headed out of the country.
(http://www.xe.net)
|
| 50 | Show them how to translate words between languages online.
(http://www.freetranslation.com)
|
| 51 | Establish an online bill pay account.
(http://www.paytrust.com), (http://www.paymybills.com)
|
| 52 | Consolidate their financial accounts in one place.
(http://www.yodlee.com)
|
| 53 | Help them do research on buying a new computer.
(http://www.pcworld.com)
|
| 54 | Find them a local computer support resource.
(http://www.itmoonlighter.com)
|
| 55 | Bring them into the broadband era: help them research high-speed Internet access providers.
(http://www.getconnected.com)
|
| 56 | Show them how to file their taxes online.
(http://www.irs.gov/efile/article/0,,id=98005,00.html)
|
| 57 | Keep tabs on what’s happening at their alma mater.
(http://www.braintrack.com)
|
| 58 | Suggest where they can report chronic problems with spam (junk e-mail).
(http://www.abuse.net)
|
| 59 | Help them eliminate spam before it hits their mailbox.
(http://www.spamkiller.com)
|
| 60 | Let them know when their favorite movie or TV show rerun will be broadcast.
(http://www.tvguide.com/Listings/)
|
| 61 | Help them order a movie online.
(http://www.netflix.com)
|
| 62 | Buy them tickets to the latest movie blockbuster.
(http://www.fandango.com)
|
| 63 | Uncover trivia about their favorite actor, actress, writer, athlete, hobby or historical figure.
(http://www.funtrivia.com)
|
| 64 | Guide them to sites for planning a wedding.
(http://www.weddingchannel.com)
|
| 65 | Help them brainstorm themes for family birthdays.
(http://www.birthdaypartyideas.com)
|
| 66 | Show them where they can learn about installing parental controls on the family PC.
(http://www.safetysurf.com)
|
| 67 | Set up a web conference with your long distance clients.
(http://www.webex.com)
|
| 68 | Help them trace their family tree.
(http://www.genealogy.com)
|
| 69 | Hire a technology expert to speak at your annual client appreciation event.
(http://www.kipgregory.com)
|
| 70 | Show them how to get email alerts on breaking news.
(http://www.cnn.com)
|
| 71 | Give them directions to your new office.
(http://www.mapquest.com)
|
| 72 | Help them find an old friend from high school or college.
(http://www.classmates.com)
|
| 73 | Learn about their favorite wines.
(http://www.winespectator.com)
|
| 74 | Help them plan the dinner menu for their next party.
(http://www.epicurious.com)
|
| 75 | Publish a booklet of favorite client recipes.
(http://www.bluesquirrel.com/products/clickbook)
|
| 76 | Share a review of a restaurant they might want to try.
(http://www.zagat.com)
|
| 77 | Show them how to save copies of useful web pages without printing.
(http://www.surfsaver.com)
|
| 78 | Help their kids research a school assignment.
(http://www.homeworkspot.com)
|
| 79 | Direct them to a library of checklists for everyday living.
(http://www.checklists.com)
|
| 80 | Help them create reminders so they don’t forget other important dates and events.
(http://www.memotome.com)
|
| 81 | Find the lowest priced gas in their area.
(http://www.gaspricewatch.com)
|
| 82 | Help them find a home inspector.
(http://www.ashi.com)
|
| 83 | Help them address a home maintenance issue.
(http://www.doityourself.com)
|
| 84 | Show them how to post pictures on the Web.
(http://www.ofoto.com)
|
| 85 | Send them a funny cartoon they’d appreciate.
(http://www.cartoonbank.com)
|
| 86 | Forward an article or news story of interest.
(http://www.emailthis.com)
|
| 87 | Mass email an article you’re quoted in.
(http://www.icopyright.com)
|
| 88 | Make a permanent copy of an online article about them and send it to them.
(http://www.adobe.com/products/acrobat/)
|
| 89 | (Note: This service no longer seems to be available.) Show them where they can get computer questions answered 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
(http://www.tech24.com)
|
| 90 | Walk them through how to buy or sell things at an online auction.
(http://www.ebay.com)
|
| 91 | Show them if their computer is vulnerable to an attack from hackers.
(http://www.grc.com)
|
| 92 | Show them where they can improve their typing skills.
(http://www.typingpal.com)
|
| 93 | Invite clients to a holiday party.
(http://www.evite.com)
|
| 94 | Show them how to buy stamps online or send them makeup stamps when postal rates increase.
(http://www.usps.com)
|
| 95 | Send them fixin’s for a backyard barbeque.
(http://www.omahasteaks.com)
|
| 96 | Help them design personalized gift calendars for friends and family.
(http://www.kinkos.com)
|
| 97 | Throw a party for them and order everything you need online.
(http://www.partydetails.com), (http://partyfuntogo.com)
|
| 98 | Show them how to order office supplies online.
(http://www.staples.com)
|
| 99 | Send them a gift subscription to their favorite magazine.
(http://magazinecity.net)
|
| 100 | Tell them where they can find discount coupon deals online.
(http://www.dailyedeals.com)
|
| 101 | Send a MasterCard gift card.
(http://www.perfectgiftidea.com)
|
| 102 | BONUS IDEA #1: Assist them in getting benefits they may not know they’re eligible for.
(http://benefitscheckup.org)
|
| 103 | BONUS IDEA #2: Show them how to get news they are interested in on their Personal Digital Assistant.
(http://my.avantgo.com)
|
| 104 | BONUS IDEA #3: Help them sort out where to stay and how to get there when they are planning a quick getaway.
(http://www.tripadvisor.com)
|
| 105 | BONUS IDEA #4: Send a cigar smoker a box of his favorite brand.
(http://www.cigar.com)
|
| 106 | BONUS IDEA #5: Send someone with a long commute to work a book on tape.
(http://www.booksontape.com)
|
| 107 | BONUS IDEA #6: Use LongTermClients.com to easily send your clients a personalized greeting card.
(https://members.longtermclients.com/company/sign_up.php?id=320789615)
|
|
The Web sites listed on this page are provided as a
convenience to our visitors. Their inclusion here does not
constitute an endorsement by The Gregory Group. Visitors
are solely responsible for understanding the terms and
conditions of usage of any of these sites. |
