A True Story About the Power of Personalized Cards
Apr 25th
A Canadian auctioneer by the name of Theresa Taylor found a new marketing tool that has proved extremely effective in her small company: personalized cards! She uses them as reminders, holiday greetings and to say thank you. According to her, the cards – which feature a caricature of her on the front – have clearly generated business.
The cards have helped her pick up two auctions and several referrals, and have generated lots of email responses. Theresa, who holds monthly consignment and antique auctions, was thrilled to see a much higher crowd attendance at the auction following her first mailing.
The personalized cards are one of the effective and inexpensive marketing strategies she uses on a limited budget. Hers is a small business – she has no full-time employees; only 10 part-timers who help with cataloging, moving products and setting up sales.
She initially started with standard thank you cards, but then decided to make them more visual and more personalized. So, before Valentine’s Day, Theresa asked a graphic artist to draw a caricature of her from a photograph. Then they developed the text and look for her Valentine card, using the phrase “My bid’s on you” on the front, with “You’re the heart of my business” below it. She further personalized the cards by handwriting words of thanks.
Theresa developed three other personalized cards – two for general use and one for Thanksgiving. Take a look: http://www.theresataylor.com/auctioneer-mag2004-240a.jpg.
Theresa gives this advice: “You gotta go that extra mile to keep clients. I used to use blank or embossed cards, but now I only use personalized cards.”
The Importance of Greeting Cards in Your Follow Up Strategy
Apr 18th
Following up can be an innate or an acquired skill. It comes naturally to some people, while others need time to develop it over the course of their careers. The importance of follow up in your business is enormous because this is where the application of your ability and skill to deliver services or products becomes evident.
The two best ways to retain clients, beyond providing exceptional service and knowing their needs, are:
- Adding a personal touch to your business relationship
- Staying in touch
You can achieve both by sending greeting cards and thank you notes to your clients. Bob Burg, the author of Endless Referrals, has this to say about the impact of sending notes to customers: “People who send notes are remembered. They stand out from the competition.”
Here’s Why:
- Greeting cards or thank you notes are opened and read immediately. Frequently, they are displayed on the recipient’s desk.
- Cards and notes convey non-intrusive messages of appreciation.
- Your personal signature demonstrates that you value your client’s business and that you care.
Entrepreneur Magazine says: “Cards are not interpreted as a hard sell or an interruption, but they do let prospects know that you’re available when they are ready to do business.”
With the ever-increasing use of computer-generated communications, emails, faxes, text messaging and voice mail, adding a personal touch to your business relationships is not just a good idea – it’s imperative in a world that has become so impersonal. Today, even putting a face to a name is rare!
The Basics of Writing Thank You Note Cards
Apr 11th
If you use thank you note cards in your business, you can show appreciation to employees and clients – and earn loyalty from both. However, there are certain basic thank you note card rules to follow. Unlike writing thank you notes for gifts, business thank you note cards must be professional, with an appreciative, personalized tone. Here are some tips.
It’s Not Always About Sales
- Of course it’s essential to thank customers who have raised your sales numbers, but it’s just as important to thank those who recommended your business, even if it didn’t result in a sale. If you acknowledge the efforts of others who promote you, they will continue to do so.
What and Why
- Business thank you note cards should mention why you are appreciative, and for what. This is particularly important when thanking employees.
Build Morale and Performance
- Corporate thank you note cards can help improve employee performance and build morale. You can thank teams or individuals.
Formal Business Thank You Note Cards
- These are recommended for high-end clients or superiors. They look and sound much more professional than a thank you scribbled on a sticky note, or a verbal one.
Informal Business Thank You Note Cards
- Not all business transactions have to end with formal thank you cards. Sending regular clients or employees informal cards enables you to say thanks without making it look like a big production.
CAUTION: When using thank you note cards to boost employee morale, don’t send a card every time someone does something well – they’ll become expected and will eventually have no impact. Save them for exceptional performance!
Choose a Contact Manager That Works for Your Business
Apr 10th
At some point, every business will find itself looking for an affordable and effective contact manager. In addition to contact management features, any software should also include sales force automation, customer relationship management (CRM) functions and lead tracking.
Most businesses start with simple contact manager software, or they use email programs like Outlook to manage their contacts. When the time comes to move on to something more advanced, the decision is usually determined by issues facing the business at that moment in time. For example, the existing contact manager may not have the ability to track referrals and leads.
Although it might be tempting to choose the first solution that comes along, or the most popular one, it pays in the long run to choose a lead management solution carefully, because you’re likely to use it for many years to come. How do you choose the right contact manager software? First, you must define your company’s unique issues. Here are some of the most common issues:
- Identifying the best marketing programs
- Identifying your best customers
- Lack of access
- Security
- Losing track of leads
- Customer product preferences
- Inaccessible client information
- Dispersal of client information (spreadsheets, Outlook, etc.)
When you have identified your issues, you’ll know exactly what you want your contact manager to do. There are so many companies out there selling contact management software or offering contact management solutions. Researching them all can be overwhelming. Therefore, it’s better to start with a few companies that enjoy good reputations in this field. Compare features and prices.
Internet Network Marketing – Two Keys to Success
Apr 4th
In the last several years, Internet network marketing has exploded, and a phenomenal number of network marketers are using the Internet to grow their businesses. The trouble is that many people who venture into this arena don’t know how to succeed. There are essential tools and keys that must be understood and implemented in order to attract people into your Internet network marketing strategy.
Establish Trust and Give Value
All too often, people see the Internet as a magical place where you can make thousands of dollars in days. This will not happen. If you have not established trust with prospects, they won’t join you. If you have established trust and have something of value to offer, people will eventually join.
Give Something Free to Pique Their Interest
It’s true in real life, and it’s true on the Internet: people are always searching for bargains. If you’ve got something similar to what they’re looking for, you’ll spark some interest in what you’re doing. A great way to get into Internet network marketing is to offer free information.
