Thank
You Notes - Are They a Thing of the Past?
Sometimes it's the simple approach that means the most to customers and colleagues.
Do you remember when you used to write real thank you
notes to people in your life. Maybe some of you still do from time to time.
The value of the thank you note goes much further than the words you write.
The best thing about these notes is that they rarely get discarded. I still
keep a box of old thank you notes which I look at on a day when I have had
some business disappointments, friendship disappointments and family issues.
And if the truth be known I read each one of them sometimes more than one time.
And I always feel better afterwards. When my daughter
in law was visiting last year, she wrote me a personal note on a paper
plate. It is still sitting where she left it, and I read it every single
day. It always makes me feel appreciated and cared for.
I have purchased a variety of thank you notes throughout the years. Some of
them have been very fancy, some cute and some with just my name on them.
Today when I need one I make it on the computer. But that is okay, as long
as my message is in long hand.
It is almost a sad thing that people do not get a pen out, take some time
and write a special thank you. There are many reasons to say thank you. Some
reasons are for a present, a kindness or just a thank you for being a good
friend or business associate. People always appreciate the fact that you
took the time to write out your feelings, put a stamp on an envelope and go
to the post box to mail it.
Okay now the big one; the proposition of writing thank you notes to insure
more loyalty from your clientele. What a daunting thought that a note would
stay in the hands of a business associate for a very long time. It certainly
beats the time an e mail stays on the computer before being deleted. Your
cents can really get a lot of mileage.
When you put your true feelings down on paper it resonates to another
person's ego and heart. What a great business strategy to keep your name in
front of your clients and customers. What if you sat down today and sent a
bunch of your customers a thank you for being such wonderful customers and
how much you appreciate their business.
Sound like a lot of work and money? It is a lot cheaper than putting an ad
in a magazine or newspaper - and it will last much longer. Do you think they
would feel pretty special? I know that I would be delighted.
After reading this article I am hoping many of you will go out and purchase
some thank you notes and start writing. Today, with the economy in shambles
we need to do all we can to keep our customer loyalty. The joy of making
someone feel good is worth the time.