Now is the best time to use client and employee incentives. Budgets are tight but if you want to maintain business, retain employees and grow along with being ahead of the competition now it is the perfect time to use incentives. 

As always we experience economic cycles. Like all other cycles this one is on its way to a economic strength once again. Those who use incentives now are not just working for today, the are culivating their crop for the future. Smart companies are retaining their customers by demonstrating their appreciation of their continued business and retaining their valuable employees with incentives for jobs well done.

Watch television or open the newspaper and you will find incentive after incentive. The once considered red headed step child of incentives, the gas card is now the most popular kid on the block!  General Motors set off fireworks in the eyes of the car buyer with their gas incentive campaign. The promotions promise to either lock in lower gas prices ($2.99 a gallon in the case of Chrysler’s offer) or pay for gas outright for a set period of time.

Landlords are offering a variety of incentives trying attract tenants in a slow economy.  They’ve become common enough that brokers say incentives are required in some markets to close deals. “They have become ground rules for the way do business - they’re expected,” said Rob Hughes, a vice president with Colliers International.

 Using incentive gifts boosts employee performance or recognize faithful clients is a time-proven business success strategy. Everyone loves getting a free virtual visa incentive to shop at over 200 online retailers, e-certificates for gas or a vacation. Employees and customers are no exception. Most importantly is the way the incentive reflects on you and your company as the givers–it’s sure to make your employees and customers appreciate you all the more and share their experience with others. More referrals, happy employees and retain business.

A cash incentive is soon forgotten but an incentive of their choice is remembered.