Some time ago I started donating blood — if I remember correctly it was yet another one of those extra things you just had to do instead of sitting yourself down and writing your thesis. When I found that my blood type was AB RhD negative, the most seldom type, I felt that I was being especially helpful. Right until, of course, that I also found out, that then less people demand AB RhD negative blood :-). It seems, that the O RhD negative blood type is actually the most helpful, because everyone can receive it — at least according to Wikipedia.
But regardless of your blood type, the people working at the blood bank makes you feel special. Just this morning, I went to donate blood yet again, and, now having been to two different banks (four visits in total, so I don’t have that many data points yet :-)), I must say, every company should be a blood bank. At the very least, they can learn from them:
- Blood banks are good at donor retention
When enough time has passed so that I’m allowed to donate again, I get an e-mail. If I don’t respond I get a call, and they are flexible, yet persistent, in getting an appointment agreed on the spot. Companies should be good at customer retention as well — it is much cheaper to get a customer to return, than to get a new one. - Blood banks are good at word of mouth
They have merchandise, they have stickers, and they have a “feel-good-product” that people love to talk about. The Danish organisation even has a rather popular Facebook group. Companies should make you proud that you’re using their product as well. - Blood banks are good at understanding donor needs
They are open early, so you can go there before work. They are also open late, so you can go there after work. You can book time via e-mail, you have easy-access parking — there is no end to the madness of customer friendliness. And the front-line staff and nurses are right up there too: When you lie down with blood running out of you, you for sure don’t want a grumpy nurse, but I nice person to interact with. - Blood banks realize that if they have no donors, they have no blood bank
No blood, no bank. No money, no bank (does your bank think this way?). In fact, no customers, no company. Blood banks can lecture on this.
Blood banks do it well, in my experience, and the best companies do too. Every company should be a blood bank.
And you can be a donor :-):
- Wikipedia: Blood donation
- GivBlod (Danish website — click here to find out how to donate blood here in Denmark)