It’s also an opportunity to refocus your client or stakeholder communications strategy.

A newsletter, a Christmas card or an end-of-year update will re-establish communication with the clients you haven’t spoken to since that last invoice. It need only be a simple season’s greeting – a thank-you for continued support and a reminder of who you are (in line with your brand, of course).

Not only will it get your clients and stakeholders thinking – and maybe even talking – about you, it may entice them to get that project they’ve been putting off for some time underway.

It’s important not to stop with Christmas.

Business is about building relationships – building loyalty. Every interaction is an opportunity to deliver the promises behind the brand.

A communications strategy allows current, former and potential clients to stay engaged with your brand through communications that are executed to the right people at the right time.

Create a calendar of communications ‘events’ – starting with Christmas – and plan your messages and modes of communication at intervals throughout the year which are suited to your business and client base.

Keeping ‘top of mind’ can be achieved through:

• Phone calls
• E-newsletters – or roundups of news from your industry
• A Christmas card
• A questionnaire
• Announcing an event or promotion
• Publicising the relaunch of your website

Of course, your client communications strategy should be a fine balance of quality, consistent messaging.

How do you stay in touch with clients and stakeholders?