Saying thank you to your customers is a great way to win repeat business and get a 'customer for life'.

In today's market, we are under a constant assault from sales pitches and advertising. Don't YOU get tired of feeling like everyone is after your money? Well, it's no different for your customers.

Show some appreciation today. Make your customers feel like you really value them and appreciate their support of your business.

Here are 7 easy ways you can thank your customers:

1. Send a thank you card
Whether it's a post card, a card in an envelope, or even a good quality thank you e-card, it doesn't take much to express your thanks and appreciation to your best customers. Make sure that you address it specifically to your customer (avoid generic 'Dear Valued Customer' messages if you can). Ensure that your card is signed from a specific person (either the head of your company, the CEO, or the head of customer relations). Do NOT use this as an opportunity to market or try to sell anything more to your customer. Purely thank them and express your gratitude and offer your service if they require any additional help with their product purchases.

2. Send them follow-up bonuses
Over-delivering is such a wonderful way to thank your customer. Aren't you delighted when someone gives you more than was advertised? It always impresses me. Especially when they do it more than once. You can always build this expense into your pricing, but delivering a greater value than the dollar cost of your product or service is fundamental to long term riches.

3. Call them up to say thanks
This needs to occur within a week or two of purchase of your product or service. Just a friendly call to say hi, to thank them for their purchase and to make sure that everything is working for them. This just demonstrates that you care about your customers.

4. Send a gift
Everyone loves receiving presents! It doesn't matter how old and cynical you get, somewhere inside you get a little spark of joy when someone gives you a gift. Whether you stick a dollar or a lottery ticket to your catalogue or send a completely unrelated gift to your customer, it will lift you above the herd of your competitors and make you stand out in your customers mind.

5. Send a discount coupon
Giving out coupons to your valued customers has always been a great way to show appreciation. This is particularly so if you have a business where the customer needs to buy from you repeatedly (they will appreciate the discounts).

6. Publicize your appreciation
You will need to use creative thinking with this one (and discernment). However you could have a website Super Customers page, a listing of your valued customers. You could induct them into some kind of Valued Customer Club. You could make a charitable donation in their name and thank them on your website.

7. Personalize your thanks
If your business allows you to gather any additional data on your customers, you could personalize your gratitude. If you have date of birth, you can mail or email them birthday greetings. You can send them anniversary messages (even 'It's been a year since you first graced us with your business...' type messages). The more personal you make your thanks, the more powerful the impact you have on the customers mind and heart. Personalization says you care - about me!

Okay, there you have 7 off-the-cuff easy ways to thank your customers. You really can thank and grow rich in business if you engage a little heart and a little ingenuity.