Love is in the air because it is Valentine’s Day soon. Many small business owners are not feeling the same passion in the air as sales are lower than people are expecting. Many people are trying to save money for a rainy day or just to get by in today’s times. Here are some of the things that you can try to get your customers to show you that same love (money) that they have given you in the past.

• Call Your Customers- If you have some good customers, call them to thank them for their business over the past however long they have been a customer. You don’t have to give them a sales pitch, just say thank you. This will remind them that you are out there.

• Survey Them- Use an online survey tool such as survey monkey or constant contact and send out a survey to your customers getting feedback on how your service is, or products that they would like to see in the store. You may find out the products or services that your customers are willing to buy right now. Please note not to change your business strategy. Only offer these items or services if you can, and it fits what you sell.

• Appreciate Them- Hold a customer appreciation day. This can be at your office or store. Bring them in to say thank you for the past and tell them of all the great things you are trying to do to serve the needs of your customers.

The goal is to stay in constant communication with them. Every month or two or more depending on your sales cycle try a way to be in touch so that when the need arises to buy your product or service again, you will be on the top of the list. The trick is to not do it to the point of annoyance. You probably know the point to where your customer starts to consider your repetitive contact as just sales propaganda. Be patient, but be proactive, do your part to help bring customers back to your business. Just do not push your customers to the breaking point or they will not come back.

What are you trying to do to bring in customers? What ideas would you try to help a small business?

Kyle Hensel is the Area Director of the Clayton State University SBDC in the Georgia SBDC Network. For more information, please go to www.georgiasbdc.org. The Georgia SBDC blog can also be found here. He can be reached at This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it