Category Archives: Sales Strategies

Benefits of sending out Thank you cards, Part 2

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In part 1 of this post, I explained why I send out thank you cards to my clients. In part 2, I’m going to provide you with tips on preparing thank you cards.

1). Keep your thank-you note short and to the point. This is not the time to make another sales pitch or close the customer. You are just one human being thanking another human being for being nice to you. There are plenty of websites where you can find sample thank you notes. However, I would encourage you to try to be a little creative and use your own words.

But if you do need help writing thank you cards, please check out the list below –

Examples.yourdictionary.com
Hallmark.com, how to write a thank you note
Thesimpledolloar.com, how to write an effective thank you note
Southernliving.com, thank you note

2). Use high-quality cards with super thick gloss or recycled matte cover.  It goes a long way of telling that customer he’s important.

3). Attach a real stamp. I know postage is expensive and it’s tempting just to use the company’s postage meter, but I believe using a real stamp (especially one that is unique), will send a clear message that you took a little extra time preparing and sending out the card. (For example, President Truman was known for using real stamps when he personally corresponded to people).

4). Send out the card within 24 to 48 hours after an order or speaking with the client. Immediacy is important here. You want to be front and center of your customer’s mind, and be ahead of the competition. The longer you wait, the less impact your card will have on a client.

5). If you are lucky to work for a company that can afford swag, I would encourage you to send it with your card. For example, you could send a magnet. Or better yet, a mouse pad that will stay on someone’s desk for a while. Everyone wants to receive a gift. Sending out a gift with a funny slogan or picture can brighten up your clients’ days and make you appear more human. This is especially helpful when you are an inside salesperson competing against field reps who can meet clients face-to-face.

Benefits of sending out Thank you cards, Part 1

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Thank you card for salesI’m a big believer in sending out thank you cards to anyone who places an order with me. Not only is it common courtesy, but it makes good business sense. In this age of e-mails, receiving an old fashion thank you card will really make you stand out with your clients. You don’t have to be Shakespeare to write a note – keep it short and sweet. I always include my business cards when sending out a card for my clients to keep or give to their business associates.

Besides sending out thank you cards for orders, you may want to send them for other occasions too. That would include thanking a prospect for meeting you, offering you a referral, or a one year anniversary of being a customer. Some people go a little overboard by sending thank you cards for almost every occasion. Those occasions would include talking to you over the phone, analyzing your product or even taking the time to talk to you even after they refuse to buy from you. While you should use your own judgment about when and who you send out cards to, I would only use them for unique occasions. If you start sending out too many cards to the same client or prospect, the uniqueness will begin to wear off.

If you are lucky, you may be working for a company that already provides thank you cards monogrammed with the company’s logo and address. However, if you are in the habit of sending out more than one thank you card to the same person, I would buy some other types of cards. I personally prefer sending out funny cards because they brighten up everyone’s day. The more unusual and interesting the card, the more likely it’s going to be on someone’s desk for a while. And nothing would make your competitor more anxious than seeing your thank you card on the desk of the prospect that he’s trying to win over.

Below is a shortlist of places you can order funny thank you cards online –

Zazzle.com
Cafepress.com
Americangreetings.com
Bluemountain.com
Greetingcarduniverse.com

In Part 2 of this post, I will outline some tips for preparing Thank you cards.

3 Strategy Lessons from Apollo 13

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Ian Heller in the video below does a great job outlining three strategy lessons from Apollo 13.

The lessons are –

1). Base your strategy on data.

2). Develop detailed action plans

3). Set goals that build excitement and conviction.

Why are the above lessons important? Because too often many sales and marketing teams are winging it, rather than developing a solid strategy based on facts and reality. Sure, sometimes you need to trust your gut. It’s always good to experiment. But it’s also a good idea to take a hard look at the facts, brainstorm, and come up with some solutions. Put it down on paper. Review it. Get a consensus and move forward. And have some enthusiasm for whatever you do.

It’s also a good idea to bring your sales team in the process. Sometimes decisions are made behind closed doors by upper management, but they don’t seek advice from some of the smartest people in the company – their sales team. After all, it’s the sales team that is serving on the front lines every day. They, more than anyone else, have a good handle on how clients are feeling, and what problems they are trying to solve. In short, they are taking the pulse of their industry.

Here is his video below –