Brian is a massage therapist. Here’s what happened:

“I signed up at the end of March. Through the last few days of March and throughout April, I got to know the system and had fun sending cards. Birthday cards, thank you cards, thinking of you cards, etc. I sent them to friends, family, and clients.   I did nothing else different in my practice.   The results blew me away.

“I have been self-employed since I graduated massage school in June 2003. So, almost 4 years. April 2007 turned out to be my best month ever. My gross income increased just over $300 from any previous month. Before SOC I would average 4 clients a month. In April I saw 8 new clients. Double the amount of any previous month. Needless to say I was thrilled with the results.

“May is trending to be at least as successful if not better than April. As of May 8th, I already have 4 new clients scheduled this month and 2 clients who I haven’t seen in over 2 years who are returning.

I’d like to explain why sending cards to your prospects and clients is so effective.

See, there are many businesses that have been using postcard and greeting cards for marketing very successfully. They have kept the lid on that pot very tight so as their competition won’t learn their tricks.

Most businesses make a big mistake and opt towards a ‘Madison Avenue’ type of marketing, unaware that building a brand is an almost futile exercise unless you have a marketing budget comparable to that of Coca Cola or General Motors.

So why do greeting cards work so nicely when it comes to marketing a small or even a home- based business?

I pondered this questions and came up with

7 reasons:

1. Very few people send cards these days.

When you do, you immediately stand out.

2. Everyone likes receiving a card: Cards are personal, unlike fliers or “junk” mail people are so tired of. Cards are not ‘spam’.

3. Cards get opened and read. Many of them end up on the mantelpiece or on the person’s desk for others to see and have a lot of ‘hanging around’ value.

4. Cards are very forgiving: You don’t need to be a ‘Charles Dickens‘ to whip out a few words and put them on a card.

5. With a card, you can be funny, edgy, and you can cross many lines — and still get away with it. It is safe to show your personality.

You can be formal or informal — either one is perfectly fine, as long as it reflects who you are.

6. You can outfox your competition: When you advertise in the paper, everyone knows what you’re up to; and when you send a card, it’s only between you and your prospect. It is true ‘stealth’ marketing.

7. Cards are inexpensive, especially when you compare them to other marketing methods.

That’s it for today.

Be remembered, recognized, and raved about.

I appreciate you,

Roth

Here are a few suggestions:

• Every time you meet someone new and get their contact information (i.e. a networking function, a business meeting, a training session, on the plane, a social party, waiting in line at the grocery store, etc.)
• When a customer makes a major purchase from you or sends a referral your way.
• When you embark upon a joint venture with a new company

www.SimplyConnecting.com

Customers and clients want and need to be appreciated, remembered and thankedAccording to a study conducted by the Technical Assistance Research Project in Washington DC, 68% of customers leave because of ‘perceived indifference’. In other words, customers don’t think you care about their business. As Sir William Jones said, ‘The deepest principle in human nature is the craving to be appreciated’. Our customers and clients want and need to be appreciated, remembered and thanked.

Another great advantage in sending a personal note….people tend to keep these cards. Whenever I receive a nice note from someone, I display it one my desk for awhile. Every time I see the card, I am warmly reminded of that person or business.

www.SimplyConnecting.com

A hand-written note differentiates your business from every other business

 - Make it a practice to send out hand-written thank you notes to everyone you meet while networking

- Hand- written notes are a physical manifestation of your company (your brand) to that potential client, strategic partner or referral source.

- Did you know that a hand-written note sets the tone for your company?

- Hand-written notes also differentiate you from most other businesses. Ask yourself when the last time you received a hand-written note from someone you met at a business setting was?

Quite simply, hand-written correspondence is a wonderful way to build your business. When I say build your business, I am not just referring to acquiring new customers. I am also referring to keeping the customers you have!

www.SimplyConnecting.com

Networking practices BEST PRACTICES.

The point of networking is to make contacts, connect and stay in contact.  Many people are good at showing up but fail to follow up.  Those who fail to follow up aren’t remembered.  Following up in the networking world is often referred to as “pinging”.

The word ‘ping’ takes comes from submarine sonar search — where a short sound burst is sent and then you listen for an echo or a ‘ping’ coming back. In the world of networking, when you send out a ping, (email, a phone call or a hand- written note), you’re inviting that person to ‘come back’ and communicate with you and…

Begin a relationship with that person…one that will hopefully benefit you both long term.

Something to think about as you go through your work week…  www.SimplyConnecting.com

Why Customers Leave

1% Death

3% Move House

5% Buy from a friend

9% Sold by a Competitor

14% Product Price

68% Perceived Indifference

WOW!  68% leave because of a perceived indifference.  Is that true with your business?  If not, don’t let it become that way.  Personalize your business with a written card – show your customers YOU CARE!  It’s NEVER to late to set yourself apart from the rest:  www.SimplyConnecting.com

All of these greeting card etiquette issues we explored this week an effect on your marketing efforts.  Something as simple as a card and knowing how to use them effectively can be appreciated by everyone you come in contact with.  Don’t underestimate the power of a greeting card!

Have a great weekend!

Here’s more you need to know when sending business related greeting cards:

Knowing who and when to send a card. You’ll want to pay attention to what makes good business sense. Holidays, work celebrations or that special thank you card can have a lasting impression for businesses, employers or employees, and customers.

Even employers can benefit from paying attention to employees by doing something as simple as sending business greeting cards. There are never enough ways to encourage employees and simple written praise can return so much more on this investment.

Recognizing employee anniversaries by sending greeting cards is only one of many opportunities to show your employees that they really matter to the company. This simple gesture can do wonders for the work environment and can strengthen employer-employee relationships.