Have you ever felt a company truly cares about having your business? Chances are you’ve felt this warm, fuzzy feeling before, even if only once or twice. In today’s highly competitive ecommerce space, it can be the one thing that differentiates you from your competition.
Sending thank you messages is a small gesture that can make a huge difference in your customer experience. And, as we all know, a positive customer experience is how you keep shoppers coming back (and telling their friends about how great you are).
In this article, we’re going to take a look at different types of thank you messages you can start sending today, as well as tips on how to write and distribute them.
Why show customer appreciation?
Customer appreciation is an unselfish and consistent approach to engagement that shows customers you value them. A simple expression of gratitude can improve their perception of your company and provide a great experience. With 86% of buyers willing to pay more for such an experience, customer appreciation can become the catalyst for improved AOV and sales.
The key objectives when implementing customer appreciation include:
- Making customers loyal. According to a study done by Harvard Business Review, it costs from five to 25 times more to acquire a new customer than to retain a current one. So it’s a good idea to retain as many customers as possible.
- Having more profitable customers. Returning customers spend more per order compared to new customers. As revealed by Bain & Company’s research, a 5% increase in retention can improve profits by 25% to 95%.
- Having customers talk positively about your brand. Forty-six percent of Gen Xers trust word-of-mouth recommendations from family and friends, which generates higher referral rates for your business.
Customer appreciation will help you foster meaningful relationships and bring you closer to your goals. From sending handwritten thank you notes with first purchases to giving your loyalty program members bonus points, there are several ways you can express gratitude to make new and returning customers feel valued.
25 “thank you for your order” message templates
Now that you understand what customer appreciation can do for your business, let’s go over some templates you can use to thank those ordering products from your online store.
Here are 25 templates you can use to say, “Thank you for your purchase.”
- Thank you for your order! If you want to track your shipment, use the tracking number provided.
- Thank you for shopping with us. To get 10% off your next order, write a review on our Facebook page.
- Hi, [first name]. Thanks for joining us on this adventure! As part of the [company name] crew, you’ll get the early word on new product launches, promotions, blog updates, and much more.
- Hey there, [first name]. Thank you for shopping with us—we’re glad you did. Here’s a glimpse of the upcoming products and brands at [store name]. We hope to serve you again soon!
- A really, really big thank you. We wouldn’t be successful without you. So thanks for ordering [product name] from our store.
- Thank you for supporting our small business!
- Dear valued customer, thank you for choosing us during this busy [special occasion] season. We’ll do our best to deliver your order on time.
- Thanks for your order! We’ll let you know as soon as it ships. In the meantime, reach out to our friendly support team with any questions you have. They’re super nice.
- Thank you, [first name]. We got your order, and it’s lovely. We’ll let you know when it ships.
- [First name], thanks so much for your order. We appreciate you and hope you enjoy your new purchase.
- Thank you for choosing [company name]. Your support means a lot to us. As a token of our gratitude, here’s a reward you can redeem during your next visit. Enjoy!
- A sincere thanks for shopping with [company name]. You made our day!
- Hi, it’s [your name and title]! Thank you for purchasing [item]. If you have a few minutes to answer a quick survey, I would be very grateful. Your feedback is valuable to us at [company name].
- Thanks a million for your purchase!
- Thank you for your order. We hope to see you again soon!
- Hi, [first name]. We’ve successfully processed your payment. To access your order information, click the following link.
- Thank you so much for your order! To get access to all our amazing discounts and deals, subscribe to our email list here.
- Hey, [customer name], just dropping a note to say thanks for choosing us for your [product type] purchase. If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to get in touch with us.
- Thank you for your purchase. We hope to see you again soon!
- Dear [customer name], we know the world is full of choices. Thank you for choosing us! We appreciate it.
- Thanks for your order. We’re working hard to get it shipped to you. Hang tight!
- We can’t thank you enough for choosing us, but we’d like to try. Here’s a 25%-off coupon for your next purchase.
- Happy [day of week]! This is not a promotional message, just a quick thank you note for your business.
- Thank you for your order! Have something to say about [product name]? Visit [your website]/feedback and share your thoughts. Good or bad, we welcome them all!
- [Customer name], thank you for your continuous support. Please accept this small gift as a token of our appreciation.
Feel free to copy and paste these templates into a note or email and customize them before sending them to your customers.
Types of thank you messages
The great thing is that there’s no single correct way to send a thank you message. They can take all shapes and forms, from a literal note to a gesture like discounts and spotlights. Let’s look at a few.
1. Handwritten thank you notes
Hands down the most personal choice of any thank you message. When a customer receives one of these business messages, they often think to themselves, “Wow. Someone stopped what they were doing to write me a note.” It can pack a powerful punch.
Men’s accessories company HEX built a business on handwritten notes. In fact, employees wrote tens of thousands of notes to their customers, which became a cornerstone of building the business.
2. Package inserts
You might be thinking, “But there’s no way I can find time to write all those notes.” A package insert is the next best thing. You can create one thank you note, maybe including your signature for a personal touch. Then batch print it and slip it into every box you ship out.
Clothing company Anthem includes a package insert that says, “Thank you for supporting us!” It’s simple, easy, and can be printed and included in all of your packages.
3. Free gifts or samples
While not as personal as a handwritten thank you note, a free item is also a great way to show your customers that you care about their business. It can be something small and simple, like a free lip balm to go with their makeup purchase, or a free pair of socks to go with their t-shirt.
Sony uses free gifts to celebrate customer anniversaries. For example, one year’s anniversary of PS4 buyers included a gift box of bonuses, perks, and boosts for everyone who played a specific game on the console.
4. Customer spotlights
One fun way to connect with your customers (while connecting them with each other) is to have a periodic customer spotlight. Maybe it takes the form of a monthly customer interview on your blog or a weekly social media shoutout for the Customer of the Week.
Renaissance Fabrics saw a customer’s beautiful photoshoot using their fabrics, and used it as an opportunity to do a shoutout on their Instagram. They even included the fabric she used, as well as a hair tutorial so that customers can make it happen at home.
5. Post-purchase discounts
Turn a one-time shopper into a repeat customer with a discount on their next purchase. Chances are, if they were on the fence about buying something else, a dollar or percentage discount will be what nudges them to make the purchase.
Makeup subscription company Julep is sure to include a nice discount inside the package of select orders. Here are some:
How to write a “thank you for your purchase” note
If you want to start writing thank you notes—and implementing a system that works for your finances as well as your customer satisfaction—there are some things you need to consider.
1. Who are you thanking?
Sending a beautiful handwritten note to every single customer may feel completely impractical for you. If it does, that’s OK. You can tinker with the idea until you find the right balance for you. For starters, you might want to consider who you’re sending notes to. Instead of every single person every single time, you can try other options.
For example, you can send to repeat customers only, like everyone who’s made at least two separate purchases. You can also choose to send them to people who have made customer support queries, customers having a birthday, members of your customer loyalty program, or high-value customers who have spent a certain amount of money.
2. Set an appropriate budget
As we mentioned, you don’t want to blow your whole marketing budget on the thank you note program. After all, the point isn’t really about the money. The point is about giving customers a small gesture to show that you’re noticing and valuing them.
Take a few minutes to calculate how much budget you can reasonably afford to spend, then look at things like card and printing costs, the costs to send low-cost free items, or the costs to run a social media program like a shoutout.
3. Create a repeatable process
Just like any endeavor, consistency is important if you want to see real long-term impact on your business. Once you’ve nailed down the specifics of your budget, you can get to work on making a repeatable process to build into your operations.
If you can manage to automate any parts, great! But, especially if you’re taking the handwritten approach, automation won’t always be realistic. You’ll learn what’s reasonable and what isn’t as you continue to develop your process.
It all starts with a bit of kindness
At the end of the day, this practice is all about being kind to your customers. All it takes is to show a little bit of appreciation, and it’s possible to unlock a new level of connection.
We all want to feel like we’re valued, and this extra touch can have major benefits when you’re creative, consistent, and sincere. Plus, you don’t have to reinvent the wheel to make an impact—a small note, a free extra gift, or a shoutout will get the job done well.
Thanking your customers FAQ
Why should you thank your valued customers?
Thanking your customers helps foster deeper and more meaningful relationships. When customers feel appreciated by you and trust you, they are more likely to return for additional purchases. Customer retention is key to sustained growth and building a loyal customer base that advocates for your business.
How do you say thank you to your customers?
You can thank your customers with:
- A personalized email or SMS
- A printed note placed in their package
- A handwritten note sent to their home address
How do you write a thank you note after a recent purchase?
Begin your note with the customer’s name. Say that you appreciate their business and hope they will allow you to serve them again in the future. Mention the specific product they purchased to provide quick context. Additionally, explain how customers can reach you if they have any questions or concerns, and then sign off with your name.