There was a time when you could take your clients out to an occasional dinner and nothing more was expected of you. In many industries that time is over, however.
Among executives, it’s your responsibility to wine and dine your customers — without counting the beans. The best way to impress your clients today is with a high-tech outing.
How to entertain clients effectively
Most business entails a little entertaining and schmoozing. But if your approach is just to keep up with the pack, you’ll quickly fall behind.
Instead of going after cliché dinners and sporting events that may or may not score, why not make a statement? An effective statement will require that you spend time planning and strategizing.
What might be something your clients would like, but don’t get the chance to do on a regular basis? Or if you’re really serious about it, what’s something your clients have never done before?
Once you start to brainstorm ideas seriously, they’ll come more naturally. We’re no longer talking about a Wednesday night at Applebee’s, but maybe something more on the order of a yachting trip in the Bahamas.
Okay, maybe a trip to the Bahamas isn’t financially realistic, but you get the idea. Even if you can’t do something incredibly unique, you can make it special by resorting to high-tech elements that set your company apart from other outings your clients have experienced in the past.
High-tech entertainment
Take a look at the following outings for examples of how to impress clients with high-tech gadgets and gizmos:
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Fishing trip. According to OffshoreBigGame.com, “The day-to-day grind takes its toll on all of us, but deep sea fishing and boating will revive your spirit.” It gives you a chance to bond with clients and customers in close quarters over an extended period of time. In addition, who doesn’t love to be on the water for a little friendly competition?
While fishing with standard equipment can work, you can make a bigger splash by using some of the latest technology, such as the Magellan eXplorist 510 Pro Angler or Goal Zero Guardian Solar Panel. The Magellan eXplorist is an incredibly sophisticated fish finder that can be purchased for a reasonable price. Add one with the solar panel trolling motor for a memorable giveaway.
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Golf weekend. It’s a pretty safe bet that many of your clients enjoy golfing. Instead of spending a day on the local course, why not make a weekend of it? Find a beautiful resort and invite clients for a couple days on the links. As a bonus, you can include high-tech gadgets such as Game Golf, which acts as a unique scorekeeper; or GolfSense, which operates on your smartphone and develops 3D renderings of your swing.
Entertaining clients should be anything but a drag. These days your time, effort, and money will be wasted if you can’t find unique ways to entertain.
While interactive outings are fun, try spicing things up a bit by incorporating high-tech gadgets or using them as giveaways and prizes. Turning client entertainment from a burden into an exciting chance to impress people will enhance the way you do business in the future.
