What is the craziest thing you’d expect to find in a hotel? Our friend Ruth King found a rubber duck in the bathtub at a Hampton Inn in Joliet, Il. It made her laugh. 

What did this Hampton Inn do that no other hotel, even fancy resort hotels do?

They made her feel better after a long day. They were extremely creative with something that probably cost less than a dollar. And they could use it over and over again to delight and surprise guests. 

Delighted guests tell their friends. Their friends become guests, too. 

What can we do to delight and surprise our customers? What will get them talking about our companies? It doesn’t have to cost much. The rubber duck didn’t.

Here are 3 ideas:

• Customers rarely get thank you notes for doing business with companies. Would they be delighted if they got one from you?
• Plumbers could send a rubber duck with a note: We keep the water running so you can have “fun in the tub.” 
• Although more expensive, Ruth has a client who always sends flowers to employees’ wives before the busy summer season to say: Thank you! We know that (name) will be working long hours helping our customers. We want you to know we appreciate your understanding and support.

We share such strategies in “Uncover our Inner Sales Genius. For a free copy go to JerryBellune.net and join the e-mail list.

Next: Attract more of the right prospects.