How Thank you cards can grow your business

How Thank you cards can grow your business

Want to learn how thank you cards can grow your business as simple as it sounds then keep reading.

People remember beginnings and endings—the brain guesses that the beginning of an interaction (hello and welcome) and the end (good day and farewell) are worth recalling. We’ve all heard about the importance of making a good first impression. But we often forget to create a clear and memorable ending to customer interaction. And as it turns out, the end of a transaction can stay in your clients’ minds for a while.

This is why we must ensure a positive and memorable end to customer interaction. Show that you care, that the transaction mattered to you, and that you’d like the customer to come back and refer you to their friends.

Why Send Thank You Cards?

First and foremost, because we’re all humans, and enjoy when people let us know we are valued. Everyone appreciates being thanked, and your heartfelt gratitude encourages positive business relationships as well as reliable service delivery from that person in the future. Who wouldn’t prefer to do business with someone who took the time to thank you?

There are many opportunities to use thank you cards as a business, below are just a few. Whether it’s an employee appreciation card or a “thanks for the service,” consider embracing as many opportunities as possible.

Here are a few ways to use thank you cards to grow your business:

• Thank you for choosing me to work with you. After you’ve been selected to be the service provider, you can send a note to remind them you’re there—if they need anything or have any questions, you’re just a call, text, or visit away.
• Thank you for your business. For ad-hoc projects or product purchases, send a note. It doesn’t have to belong; you can simply recognize that the customer stopped in and made a purchase or worked with you on a single project. Adding some personalized details about the purchase helps your customer feel extra special.
• Thank you for the referral. When someone liked your products or services enough to recommend you to others, that’s worthy of gratitude. What better way to build your business than through word of mouth?
• Thank you for your testimonial. If you have a customer or client who loves you enough to tell the world, you want to thank them for their endorsement of your products and services.
• Thank you for your great work. An employee appreciation card says thank you to a team member who has done a great job. Whether or not it’s Employee Appreciation Day, cards can go a long way toward improving morale—who doesn’t like to feel appreciated?
• Thank you for partnering with us. The people who provide services at your business deserve recognition for their efforts, as well. Let them know you appreciate what they do for you.

Try using this simple tool and see how you begin to create a positive business environment as well as establish stronger relationships with your old clients who will gladly refer new clients to you.

Tips for better outcomes

 Handwrite in your Cards

If you’re going to take the time to create cards, do it well. Hand-write as much of the inside as possible, but at least the recipient’s name and your signature. If the whole thing is pre-printed, it usually doesn’t look sincere. Remember that the whole point is to build relationships, and that needs a personal touch.

I think of these as the most formal way to say thank you. Not because writing is necessarily formal, but it feels like the most traditional way to be appreciative and acknowledge something. Though they work for anyone in your life, notes tend to imply you know someone well enough to have their address and say thank you. Here are a few things to keep in mind:

• If your handwriting isn’t legible perhaps consider a different method of thank you or ask someone to write for you.
• Make sure you spell everyone’s names correctly

Use a beautiful envelope

Use different envelopes than your regular business stationery. When you think about thank you notes, you might not immediately consider what kind of envelope to use. By choosing the right envelope, you can influence the recipient’s perception of the card before they even open it.

You don’t want to use the same kind of envelope you send invoices or statements in, because the recipient will immediately assume it’s a bill. That’s not the impact you want! Choosing a standout envelope gives the recipient a bit of anticipation before they even open it. Decorate the envelope or package with hand drawings, stamps, or appropriate details for the recipient.

Consider including a little gift.

Think about the last time you got a bulky envelope. You were probably excited for a moment, wondering what was inside. Thank you cards for employees, clients, and customers will feel the same way. A bulky envelope with a small treat—a gift card or coupon, a bit of candy, a pen—will make it obvious that it contains something fun to open.

Check out a variety of our wooden products here which serve as unique gifts for your clients, friends and family.

Just be sure whatever you enclose adds to your brand’s message and aligns with the quality of your products and services. Sure, it may cost a few dollars or naira, but it’s a small amount of time and effort to deliver premium satisfaction.

Send business thank you cards promptly and consistently.

Send a thank you card as soon as you can after an event. That way, you’ll be perceived as being sincere; waiting too long will make the thanks look like an afterthought. I think the most important thing about saying thank you is doing it promptly. Of course, a thank you at any time is better than none at all, but I find I’m more likely to give thanks if I do it quickly and succinctly. No matter the size of the gift/support, a simple thank you sent within a few days of the event or transaction is always best.

Keep your note simple and straightforward

Don’t taint your thank you note with overt promotion—this isn’t time for a sales pitch. A note of appreciation is best used as a passive sales tool; they’re good for customer relationship building, not for advertising. You can, however, mention an upcoming event you hope they’ll attend. I think a lot of the time, people get hung up on what to say in a thank you and end up not sending one. But honestly, something simple is always best. Yes, it’s lovely to get something long and meaningful, but a simple thank you that mentions the thing you’re thankful for is always enough.

Giving sincere thanks is a simple way to show kindness and appreciation in your business. You don’t have to spend a lot of money to make the people you work with a little happier with a nice note. And, since sending thank you cards can help with your customer retention rates and referral rates, you don’t have a lot to lose.

At its core, giving thanks for something you’ve received, whether it’s an object, an experience, or something intangible like forgiveness or support, is something that just needs to be done, period. The form, timing, and details are rarely as important as the simple act of saying thank you. So when in doubt, a simple thank you in any form is the best thing you can do to show your appreciation.

Things to Avoid:

• Spell-check. Make sure you spell everyone’s name correctly.
• Rudeness: You’d think it goes without saying, but sometimes people can use thank yous as a way to be passive-aggressive about not liking a gift. If you don’t like it, leave that thought to yourself- notes are about thanking the gesture, not the specifics. (Unless it’s an offensive gift, etc.) If someone sent you a green sweater and you’d prefer pink, this is not the time to say “Thanks so much for the sweater. I haven’t worn green since I was little, but thanks anyway”. I’ve seen that done before, so it’s worth noting that that’s not the best way to truly thank someone.
• Don’t OVER thank: If someone treats you to coffee, sending them a few dozen roses to say thank you might be overkill. And it can potentially make them feel uncomfortable or feel like they now need to thank you and start the vicious cycle of “Thank you”, “No, thank YOU” that can happen. Keep the level of the thank you near the level of kindness you received. It’s about making the recipient feel appreciated, but not like they now owe you something in return.
• Thank you gifts should be appropriate and not about promoting. 

Saying thank you in any form is better than saying nothing at all. While the world won’t end if you DON’T say thank you, the best way to keep and maintain business and good work relationships is to acknowledge the support someone has shown you.

Did you enjoy reading how to grow your business with thank you cards? Need help with your Thank You cards? Give us a call at 08184523196. Speak to a live print expert to get started on your note card printing today!