Ingratiating yourself to clients

I have a policy that when a relative of a client passes, I do the writing for free. They don't know it but it's my way of providing comfort during a time of distress. A client's wife died and asked me to help with writing the obituary and to be the liaison with the printer.

While the work was time consuming, in the end I responded to the client's request for an invoice by saying that it was my way of providing comfort and that there would be no charge.

He was so glad...and that made me special in his eyes -- particularly during a time of bereavement. And the relationship was strengthened.