How to Let Your Clients Know You Relocated Your Business
Moving to a new commercial space is a golden opportunity to start fresh in a space that’s bigger, better equipped or more centrally located, but the challenge of reaching every client to fill them in on the relocation can be difficult. Make sure your clients know where to follow you with these relocation tips.
Send mailings or postcards to important clients.
Start building your mailing list and relocation correspondence plan at least six weeks in advance, then start issuing mailings, postcards and emails three weeks in advance. Letting your regulars know where to find you is good customer service. They patronize your business because they like what you have to offer, so make it easy for them to continue doing that. Include your old and new addresses, your contact information, and the day you’ll physically relocate to your new location, along with any special information pertaining to that day, like adjusted hours. If you have to close your business to finish the move, make sure to spell out explicitly when you’ll close and reopen. Set a hard date and keep it.
Update your social media and advertising.
As soon as you announce that you’re moving, make sure that both your online presence and current physical location reflect the upcoming change. Put up flyers on your window or small stand-up table cards in your lobby to unobtrusively let people know, and at the same time, update all of your online accounts to give people a heads up about the move. Afterward, consider issuing a reminder of your relocation piggybacked with a coupon, notice of a sale or another small offering to draw people’s attention to your new address. A photo of the new location also helps the information pop more than just a few lines of text would.
In addition to social media, make sure your online updates also include your email signature. If you do any email correspondence with clients, make sure that you update your signature immediately with the new address and include a notice asking people to update their contact information. If you’ll be closed during the move, that should be reflected in your signature as well.
Order business cards, brochures and other paper goods well in advance.
This seems simple, but many business owners wind up handing out cards with the wrong address on them after the move is announced, which is confusing for clients. You should be able to replace your current cards and brochures at the same time you send out correspondence notifying people of the move. If your business uses appointment cards and a customer books an appointment that will fall after the move date, you need to have new appointment cards with the right location printed on them. Consider including directions as well.
Draw attention to an event.
Throw a grand opening (or reopening) party to underscore the fact that you’re open for business in your new location. Arrange a drawing for door prizes, such as gift certificates or merchandise, and mention the prizes in advertisements in local media. Not many people will win, so you don’t have to go overboard with prizes, but you’ll be able to collect contact information from everyone entering the drawing – and the people who do win will likely spread the good word to their friends. If you have a sizable number of elite clients, consider having a smaller, more intimate gathering before the official opening with small gifts and food to thank them for their loyalty and continued business.
