I was calling a friend today for no other reason than to see how he was doing. Then I realized a good rule of thumb, "the best time to call an acquaintance or a friend is when you don't need something."
It only strengthens the relationship. The same could be said for your brand’s sales people. How great would it be if they reached out to their contacts just to say hi? They wouldn't be sales people at that point. They would be trusted advisors.