This is the time of year when many businesses send out Thanksgiving cards, holiday gifts and greetings. Most often, these heartfelt good wishes are a way of saying “thank you” for being a good client throughout the year and are sincere.

But every year, I see a few businesses that miss the point. Yes, they say thank you, but they don’t stop there. Be sure you don’t water down the sentiment by making one of these mistakes:

Including a sales flier or sales offer. This is not the time to sell. If you do, the “thank you” will look like a gimmick to get more business. Not only is it tacky and ineffective, but the thank you gets lost in the process.

Asking for referrals. Now you look as if you’re just sucking up so they’ll say nice things to their friends about you. Asking for a referral is smart, but not in this context. In fact, if you really want to say thank you, why not turn the tables and refer someone to your clients’ businesses instead? That’s a gift that keeps on giving.

Announcing a price increase. This is your basic “say two nice things to soften the blow before you drop the bomb” technique. If you have to raise your prices, that’s fine. But don’t mix that news in with your holiday gratitude.

No matter the season, every savvy business leader knows that thanking clients for their loyalty and patronage is smart. If we don’t appreciate them, our competitors would love the chance.

So don’t taint your efforts by trying to squeeze out another dollar or another referral at the same time.

The words “thank you” are best served alone!

Drew McLellan is Top Dog at McLellan Marketing Group and blogs at www.drewsmarketingminute.com. He can be reached at Drew@MclellanMarketing.com. © 2010 Drew McLellan