In the age of emails, writing and sending out Thank you notes is becoming a lost art. I wrote two posts recently about the importance of sending thank you cards. But let’s say you’re busy, and you don’t have the time to compose a nice card.
No worries. There are actually companies that will do that for you for a small fee.
Below is a list of five (5) companies that I found –
1). MailLift claims that nearly 900 companies are currently using their service. With each letter handwritten (no fonts), they guarantee that each one is reviewed by two or three people before being mailed. To further enhance quality control, each letter is also photographed. And to make your thank you letter even more authentic, each one is shipped from your location with a local postmark.
MailLift can even help you automate your mailing by integrating with Salesforce.com, HubSpot, Marketo, Infusionsoft, and Zoho.
And finally, MailLift can send your clients swag such as books or T-shirts for an additional fee.
Pricing starts at $6.00 for a single letter. However, if you have more ambitious plans, they offer three programs for Prospecting Letters, Marketing Automation, and Sales Automation. The prices for those services range from $250.00 to $2,000.00, with monthly plans and a one-time setup fees.
Still not convinced? You can even request a free sample letter.
2). Postable does not offer handwritten letters, but you can select from 20 different handwriting fonts. You can import addresses from Excel, Gmail, Yahoo! Outlook, and other sources. You can select not just Thank you cards, but cards for other occasions, including Birthdays, Holidays, Weddings, Congratulations, or even Blank cards where you can upload and do your own design. Postable will print, stuff, stamp and mail the cards for you. Unlike MailLift, they cannot mail the cards with your local postmark; however, they will mail your cards to you and you can send them out yourself.
If you need help on how to write a card, they offer advice on their blog posts “Tips and Tricks.”
Prices range from $3.00 for a single card on up to $2.00 per card for five or more cards.
3). Handiemail states on their website that “in an age of emailing, texting and social media, we believe that sending real handwritten mail, both personally and professionally, is more important than ever.” Like MailLift, each letter is handwritten – no fonts. And like MailLift, Handiemail also photographs your final letter and reviews it before it’s mailed. You will receive an email once your letter is sent, along with a photo as proof for your records. The Chicago based company will also work with large-scale orders.
Pricing for a single letter mailed domestically costs $9.95 or $10.95 internationally. If your letter is more than 230 words, they request that you complete their price quote form.
4). The Handwritten Card guarantees that each card is “100% genuinely handwritten by a real person using a real pen.” In fact, they show you handwritten samples of their work on their website. You can select a cursive or printed script. You can compose your own message or they can help you. They will also scan and email you a copy of the card once it’s completed.
Unlike some thank you letter companies, they emphasize that they are a card service and that your note should be of no more than 25 to 40 words in length. You can either use their “100% cotton stationery” or yours. While the Cincinnati based company will only mail from their post office, you can request to have the finished card mailed to you if you want to send it from your local post office. And finally, unlike some companies, they will not put their advertising on your card which they feel is “too cheesy.”
The pricing starts at $5.00 per card. If you want larger orders or have special requests, please contact them.
5). That’s Gratitude not only provides personalized handwritten cards and letters but can also help you with branding and print services. For example, the Maryland based company can help you with ads, postcards, brochures, catalogs, booklets and more. Unlike some companies mentioned here, they don’t mail your cards for you. Instead, they send them back to you stamped and ready for you to send directly from your local post office.
Like most companies mentioned here, you can either use their stationery or provide your own. They also provide handwritten stationery for other occasions, including weddings and holidays.
For business clients, they don’t provide pricing on their website. While there are no minimum orders, they prefer to have their business client’s work on a retainer arrangement based “on an average quantity.” They recommend that new business clients sign a four-month trial agreement.
Also, here are two articles on how to write effective Thank you notes –
“Write Memorable Thank You Notes: 8 Steps,” by Nathan Parcells, and “How to Write a Thank-You Note,” by Trent Hamm.
Note: If you like this post, please check out my book – Advice for New Salespeople: Tips to Help your Sales Career for more help.