The Power of Business “Thank You” Notes

Dale Carnagie said “You can make more friends in two months by becoming more interested in other people than you can in two years by trying to get people interested in you”

Let me say that another way…The same is true of business as with friendship. You will earn more business by being interested in other peoples lives than you can by trying to get people interested in your product or service.

Sending Thank you cards is a very powerful marketing tool. I quickly Googled how many books had references to the sending of Thank you Cards to build business. Here’s a summary of what I found:

Here’s a quote from Make Million$ Selling Real Estate: Earning Secrets of Top Agents By Jim Remley

…when I do receive these cards or letters in the mail, they are something that I stop and read. Even when I am busy, tired or stressed out, I put what I’m doing aside and stop to read what someone took the time to write me in longhand. A Thank You card is special.

For this reason, by far the most powerful of any mailing program is a personalized handwritten note, and the most powerful handwritten note is a thank you card. Unfortunately the handwritten note is quickly becoming a lost art. Now that email has surpassed all other forms of communication for overall use, very few people take the time to actually write a note to someone the old fashioned way with paper and ink.

How long did you hang on to you last thank you card? I bet you still have it. Your clients are just like you. I don’t care how jaded we have become; when we receive a card in the mail we all carefully open and read it. Why? It’s human nature. We love to be treated as special, we love to be the center of attention, and we all love special recognition.

The author Jim Remley provides readers with the following list

Twelve Reasons to send a handwritten note to members of your Sphere of Influence

1. Follow up after a transaction
2. Thank them for their business
3. Thank them for a recent referral
4. Congragulate them on career achievements
5. Welcome them to new clubs or organizations
6. Invite them to an annual sphere of influence event
7. Follow up after a recent phone conversation
8. Send a note with a clipping containing interesting information
9. Wish them a happy holiday
10. Wish them a happy one year home anniversary
11. Follow up on a business achievement
12. Congratulate them on family events, such as new children

I use thank you cards in my business and I’ve discovered a wonderful way to make the “job” of writing and sending the note – less like a “job.” I shop, write and send from a website called Send Cards Get Business.

The selection at Send Cards Get Business is amazing! there are over 12,000 cards to choose from in hundreds of catagories…AND you can also create a completely customize your card by uploading your own photo or artwork.

It takes about 30 seconds to send a card – including a customized message. Send Cards Get Business will print, stamp and mail your card for you in ONE BUSINESS DAY!

But what about handwritten notes – oh that’s easy – you send the alphabet written in your own handwriting and they create a font from it. So everytime you go online to send a real printed greeting card the personal message is produced in the font of YOUR HANDWRITING!

I’m telling you this system allows you to touch so many more people – This year alone I have sent over 300 cards to business contacts, friends and loved ones.

My favorite way to use the card is to send a gift card to someone who has sent me a referral. Wnen I get a referral that does business with me I add a $5 Starbucks card. Whoa! I get some wonderful feedback and MORE referrals! I love it. Make me feel wonderful to know that just a small gesture showing my gratitude has such a profound impact on my customers. Yeah, can you believe that not only does this company print the cards with my handwriting, stamp and mail them – they will also insert a gift card or even a CHECK up to $50.

David Frey, of The Small Business Marketing Bible, created a wonderful video about using Send Cards Get Business to create a stream of Instant Referrals. Click on this link to watch.

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