A Little Extra - A Lot of Goodwill

There's a word - or maybe it's more of a concept than a word - that I came across in Louisiana a few years ago: Lagniappe.

If you look it up in Wikipedia you'll find the etymology laid out pretty clearly, along with examples of how and where it works, but in the simplest of terms it refers to giving someone a little extra: someone buys a dozen breadrolls and the baker throws in an extra one (by the way, this is NOT the origin of the baker's dozen. That's something else again).

Do you remember that time you ate in a restaurant and the owner offered you a complimentary drink after your meal? Well...that was an example of lagniappe, whether the guy called it that or not, and of course you remember...people alwways remember a generous gesture. Even if you never went back to that restaurant, you would probably recommend it to others (assuming the food was OK of course).

Why not take that concept and put it to work in YOUR business? Surprise your client with a little extra; a gift, a freebie, call it what you will, but something with a value to the recipient. That client is going to remember you, recommend you to colleagues, have a good feeling about you and your business, and it will cost you little beyond the foresight to have something on hand to give.

If you want loyal clients, repeat business, an advocate for your products and services, referrals...all that good stuff, then don't just give great service and value, give a little lagniappe too.