It's always somebody's Birthday

How will you connect? Every birthday I receive a handful of advertisements from businesses that have managed to get hold of my special digits. Generally,these are glorified advertisements: "10% off on your birthday" or "come visit us (and spend money) on your special day". This leads me to wonder...since a birthday is such a personal thing, the one day in the year that you are allowed to celebrate life with reckless abandon by sticking your face in a plateful of frosting and cake or indulging in some exotic and fruity libation or going on a spending spree to replace old socks and underwear, why don't businesses bother to personalize their offer a little more. Naturally, for the consumer market their is only so much personalization that can be cost-effectively accomplished but for boutique shops or professional services it seems like an ideal opportunity to connect in a memorable way with your clientele.

Find a partner in the community. Give a restaurant or spa discounted or trade services in exchange for gift certificates to send to your elite customers on their big day. You could be the hero lest their friends and family forget.

Spend a little dough on dough. Donuts or pastries are a relatively inexpensive way to brighten some one's morning...drop them off in person and you've really gone the extra mile.

Send a hand-written note or card. Least expensive but perhaps the most memorable option is a surefire way to stand out. People seem to have forgotten the potency of pen and paper.