Thanks For Your Business: How Do You Say It?

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The thank-you note has gone away like the paper it was once written on. I don’t mind an email, or god forbid, a phone call – to thank me for using a service. The problem I have is that I don’t get any of those anymore.

I bought my first home last spring. I couldn’t count on all my fingers and toes the number of service providers we’ve used to fix-up the house and lawn, but I can tell you exactly how many of them have stayed in touch with me…

One.

I met my real estate agent at a networking breakfast 2 years ago. We exchanged information (I wasn’t even looking for a house) – and she kept in touch regularly. As soon as I needed a house, I didn’t even look for other agents – I just called her and set up a meeting. I already “knew” her, she was even a “friend.”

(If anyone is looking for a house in the Madison, WI area – let me know and I’ll forward her info.)

See? I even tell everyone I know about her. The reason is simple – she’s a real person who cares about relationships. I’m sure she cares about other things – like making money – but I can guarantee you that she’s more interested in helping you out.

Do you know why this is? How in God’s name could a business owner not have profit as the number one thing on their mind? Because she knows that if she’s good to you, you’ll tell someone else.

That’s it. It’s networking at it’s most fundamental level. It’s the reason why word-of-mouth is still recognized as the best marketing program ever. It’s why affiliate programs have made millionaires out of people who refer people. It’s the concept that you don’t need to sell anything to anyone – all you need to do is be nice to people and make sure they know what you do.

That’s it. That may be the one line that all of us should read, re-read, post on our mirror, and repeat to ourselves 10 times per day.

“You don’t need to sell anything to anyone – all you need to do is be nice to people and make sure they know what you do.”

How To Thank People

Saying ‘thank you’ after you provide a service is expected (even though that rarely happens anymore either). Calling someone on the phone to say thank you is great too. A follow-up can clear any bad air that people might be experiencing. You know it’s common that people have questions after-the-fact but don’t have the time or energy to call and ask about it, right? When they don’t get a follow-up from you – the next time they need your service, they go back to the yellow pages instead of your entry in their address book.

The best way, in my opinion, is to follow up with each and every person you come in contact with by mail. Yes, good ‘ol mail. A thank you note/card can make an immediate – and lasting – impact. Add your own handwriting to the card and the impact doubles. Add a picture of your contact/customer to the card and the impact doubles again.

This is Too Much Work

You may feel like this process takes too much time for the amount of return. The process can be slow to heed results, but you have to remember that networking is a long-term deal. This is your business for life. Work on this for 6 months and it’ll be easier, a year later you won’t remember not doing it, a year after that you’ll be having so much fun and rolling in so much money you’ll look back and laugh that you didn’t start this earlier.

Make it Easier

I use a product that does most of the hard work for me. I log-on to a website, pick a greeting card, write a note in my own handwriting font, add a picture if I have one and click send. The card is printed, stuffed into an envelope, stamped, and mailed for me. I can even create campaigns with several cards that send out over time – it’s like an email autoresponder for the ‘real’ world.

If you want to see how this system works, click here to try it out for free. You can also contact me about it. I promise I’ll make time for whoever takes the initiative to contact me about this. It’s THAT important.

No Matter What, Say Thanks

Even if you don’t take the steps to write notes or make phone calls, at LEAST say thank you to the people that do use your business or buy your products. We live in an age where whatever we need is at the tip of our fingers on a search page. People don’t need to remember you when they can just as easily find a provider with another search.

MAKE them remember you next time. Especially in a down economy, don’t let yourself get stressed out – or worse yet, go out of business – because you’re short on sales. There is PLENTY of business out there for the people who have built relationships. You just need to make sure you are one of those people.

Just remember it’s never to late. You can choose right now to turn your business around by creating lasting relationships with your customers and contacts.

Do it.