Let Them Eat Cake

Okay, be real with me... If you paid for bread, but someone offered you cake instead, would you take it?

It is certainly the sweeter option. Definitely more of a delight for those taste buds.

And what if that cake was actually better for you too? Lowers cholesterol, helps maintain a healthy weight, and improves your general health... I'm pretty damn sure we would all take the cake!

If you went to a bakery for the first time, and were offered this fantasy magical cake instead of bread... You'd probably go back again and again, wouldn't you?

Now, apply that logic to all purchases in life... If you paid for one thing, but were continuously offered something better, or given something extra, you would go back time and time again.

It's simple, and yet it's hard for us (as small business owners) to do.

We wear a thousand different hats on any given day to run our business, on top of all the work we do for our clients. It stacks up until our necks are breaking from all the to-do lists and responsibilities we carry. Most days I feel like I'm rocking a wig the size of Texas.

And as sexy as that may look on me, it can be very taxing on the body and the mind.

But this logic should still apply, especially for the growth stage of your business. If you want your clients to come back for bread, you need to give them cake instead.

Give them more than they expect! It doesn't have to break the bank or your neck to do, just surprise them with a little something extra, add some stellar customer service, and they'll feel like you genuinely care about them and their business.

Even if they don't come back, it certainly won't hurt for word-of-mouth referrals. No one is going to turn their noses up at free cake.

Someone comes to you for a logo design? Great, throw in a free business card design.

Someone purchased a hat from your clothing site? Great, throw in a free hair clip.

I know there isn't enough hours in the day - trust me, I get it. But do this simple thing for each client or customer, and they'll return time and time again, allowing your business to grow to the point where you can actually hire someone to do your admin and marketing for you... And doesn't that just sound as amazing as a good pamper session?

Start doing yourself and your business a favour, and let them eat cake.