9 ways to remind your past clients you exist (that aren’t selling)

I’ve hired many service providers in my time: copywriters, designers, web designers, massage therapists, cleaners…

Do you know what makes me come back to the same person?

How much they stick in my memory vs whether they’ve been drowned out by all the fabulous new small business people I’ve met in the meantime.

Obviously a good experience counts for a lot, but I’m more likely to go back to someone I still have a relationship with than someone who’s faded into the background of my life.

As they don’t say: people buy from people they remember.

Which is the biggest reason to keep in touch with your past clients, even when you don’t have anything to sell them.

Plus, as they also don’t say: people recommend people they remember.

So here’s 9 ways to remind your past clients you exist (that aren’t selling to them):

1. Follow them on social media AND make sure you’re interacting with them there.
2. Make a note of the types of content they’d find useful, interesting or enjoyable, and make a point of looking for it regularly. Then share it with them, saying ‘saw this and thought of you’. It could be practical information, or it could just be cute dog pictures if you share a love of dogs.
3. Regularly curate relevant updates in your industry and send it to all of your past clients.
4. Send seasonal cards or birthdays cards.
5. Ask if they want to receive your regular newsletter.
6. Contact them to ask for help/pointers to other services you might be looking for, whether that’s a copywriter or a local reliable builder. People like to be asked, so don’t worry if they suggest someone you don’t end up using.
7. Invite them to any free events you’re running, or offer them a free invite to a paid event.
8. Catch up over a coffee (in-person or online) – there’s nothing quite like having a proper chat to solidify the relationship.
9. Send that request for feedback or a testimonial that you didn’t get round to sending.

And of course you can simply drop them a message regularly to see how they’re doing and what they’re up to.

Has this list sparked any ideas for you? Or do you already have interesting ways to stay in touch with past clients?

I’d love to hear what works for you. And if you do something a little different, I’d be happy to add it to this list (acknowledging you, of course).