Let’s be honest: most marketing today feels noisy and forgettable. You spend time crafting the perfect message, only for it to get lost in someone’s inbox or scrolled past on social media. That’s why surprise and delight marketing is so powerful. It grabs attention in a different way, by making people feel something real.
Instead of blasting more information, surprise and delight marketing focuses on creating small, personal moments that make people feel seen. It’s not about going viral or pushing out promotions. It’s about deepening the connection with someone so they remember you for how you made them feel.
You’ve probably felt it yourself. The flood of cold emails, generic newsletters, or automated messages that barely feel human. People have gotten good at tuning those out. And if you're trying to build trust, whether you're in insurance, nonprofit, real estate, financial advising, or any other relationship-driven field, that kind of communication just doesn’t stick.
Surprise and delight works because it cuts through that noise. It shows your client or prospect that you’re paying attention to them, not just running through a list. It helps you stand out in a way that’s more about emotional connection than marketing strategy.
And in a time when most people expect generic follow-ups, something personal is a breath of fresh air. These little surprises can create a ripple effect that leads to better engagement, more referrals, and stronger long-term loyalty.
The good news is, you don’t have to spend a lot of money or time to create these moments. It’s all about being thoughtful and intentional.
Let’s say a client just mentioned they got a new puppy. You send them a small toy and a quick note that says, “Saw your pup joined the family, here’s something they might enjoy!”
Or maybe a prospect tells you they’re a huge fan of a certain coffee shop. You send a $10 gift card with a message like, “Here’s your next coffee on me. Looking forward to our chat!”
Even something as simple as remembering someone’s birthday and sending a video message can make a huge impact.
You could also celebrate unexpected milestones, maybe a client’s kid graduated or they just finished a big home project. These are the kinds of life moments that often get missed in business conversations but mean a lot when recognized.
These aren’t giant gestures, but they’re powerful because they’re about the person. Not you. Not your business. Them.
The real trick is consistency. Surprise and delight marketing works best when it’s not just a one-time thing. Use tools that help you track client interests and key moments so you can plan thoughtful gestures throughout the year.
You don’t need to be a natural gift-giver or keep everything in your head. That’s where having a process in place can make a huge difference. Whether you log notes after each meeting or use software that helps you automate reminders, making it part of your routine helps it scale.
At Levitate, we help professionals make this easy. With our system, you can organize personal details, get reminded of important dates, and send messages and gifts that feel genuine, because they are.
Want to start building stronger relationships through surprise and delight? Book a demo with one of our product experts. We’ll show you how to make it effortless.
We’ll give you a call to set up time for your team and ours to meet virtually for a personalized demo.
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