If you’re a business owner, you know that “quiet” feeling. The phone isn’t ringing as much as you’d like, your inbox is a little too empty, and you start wondering where your next lead is going to come from.
When this happens, most of us do the same thing: we go hunting for strangers. We spend money on ads, post a dozen times on social media, and try to find brand-new people to notice us.
But there is a much faster, cheaper, and more rewarding way to grow your business. You don’t need new strangers; you need your old friends.
The Problem of “Customer Drift”
In a service business, we often assume that if a customer hasn’t called us in a while, it’s because they don’t need us anymore—or worse, they didn’t like our work.
90% of the time, that’s just not true.
The reality is much simpler: Life got busy. They didn’t forget why they liked you; they just forgot you are there. This is what we call “Customer Drift.” They still have the problem you solve, but they’ve drifted away from the solution you provide.
The Secret Weapon: The Friendly Check-In
You don’t need a complicated marketing funnel to fix this. You just need to reach out as a human being. We call these Friendly Check-ins.
A Friendly Check-in is a “nudge” that reminds the customer you exist without asking them to buy anything. It’s about showing you care about the person or the result, not just the paycheck.
3 Simple Ways to Check In Today
You don’t have to be a “salesperson” to do this. You just have to be helpful.
- The “Thinking of You” Text: If you’re in a personal service (like pet care or coaching), send a quick note: “Hey [Name], I saw a [dog/article/photo] today that reminded me of you. Hope you’re having a great week!”
- The “I Saw This and Thought of You” Email: Send a link to a helpful article, a video, or a tip that solves a small problem for them. “Hey, I saw this tip on how to keep your laptop running fast and thought of our last session. Hope it helps!”
- The Integrity Check-Up: Call or email someone you worked with three months ago. “I was just looking through my notes and wanted to make sure the [repair/service/setup] we did is still working perfectly for you.”
The Golden Rule: Relationships Over Revenue
The goal of a Friendly Check-in isn’t to get a sale today (though that often happens). The goal is to be the first person they think of when they finally are ready to buy.
If you give your customers value and show them you’re looking out for them even when they aren’t paying you, you aren’t just a “vendor” anymore. You’re a partner.
Get Shogun on Your Team
Not sure what to say or who to contact first? This entire relationship-first philosophy is built directly into Hello Gecko.
Shogun, your friendly AI sales assistant, is designed to help you implement these exact ideas. Shogun can help you categorize your contacts, draft personalized “Friendly Check-ins” tailored to your specific business, and remind you when it’s time to reach out so nobody ever “drifts” away again.
