Build Your Business By Sending Personalized Greeting Cards

In order for someone to do business with you they need to know you, like you and trust you from a business perspective. Below I am going to share with you numerous ways to speed up the 'like you' aspect through the use of greeting cards.

For starters, when was the last time you got a greeting card from someone that you purchased products or services from? Most of you will answer 'NEVER' and some of you may even be laughing at this point! Which brings me to my point; most people are over looking this simple, very inexpensive means of marketing their business and staying in touch with prospects and clients on a regular basis.

I remember years ago when I received a birthday card from my car insurance agent. I was absolutely amazed and it made me feel good. Good and bad that is. Bad, because it was the only birthday card I received that year. Good, because this guy took the time to 'remember' and 'mail' me a card on my special day. Receiving that card (and subsequent birthday cards) really made an impression on me and made me all the more willing to continue doing business with this particular insurance agent for many years. And, I told others about his card sending habit and passed on his contact information many times.

You can send greeting cards to your business contacts for many reasons, not just birthdays. Receiving greeting cards will make your prospects and clients feel good. They will know you remember them and they in turn will feel good about you or 'like you'. And remember, 'liking you' is one of the requirements before someone will do business with you or refer others to you. Below are numerous ideas on how you can effectively integrate greeting cards into your customer service and marketing programs and speed up the 'like you' process.

You can use a personalized card to 'Thank' someone for:

• A referral that they gave you

• Their order or their business in general

• Taking the time to meet with you

How about a card 'Congratulating' a prospect or client on:

• Receiving a promotion

• Winning a large contract for their company

• Getting married or having a new baby

• Moving into a new home

• Receiving a degree they've worked long and hard for

• Landing a new job

I sent a greeting card to a local business person that I had only spoken to once. It was congratulating her on her new job with our local newspaper. She called me out of the clear blue to ask questions about my business and to thank me for the card. She said it was on her desk for everyone to see and that it was the only card she received congratulating her on her new job. The card made her feel great and her reaction made me thankful that I had taken the time to reach out to her. We now talk and network on a frequent basis. Wow!

Make someone feel good by sending a card that says:

• Happy Home Anniversary (this works great for anyone that provides a product or service to home owners)

• Happy Business Anniversary (anniversary of your first business deal with them)

• Happy Wedding Anniversary (this will definitely get their attention and probably be one of the few cards...or the only card...they receive)

Make an impact with 'Birthday' cards by sending them to:

• Your customer, their spouse AND their children (they'll remember that you remembered them and their family)

• Business and networking contacts

Send an 'I Enjoyed Meeting You' card:

• After meeting someone for the first time at a chamber mixer or networking event

• After doing a presentation for someone

• After meeting someone on an airplane that could be a good business contact

Use personalized greeting cards to 'Announce':

• A sale, promo or special offer

• A special event or open house

• A milestone business anniversary

• A new product or service

• A move and your new address

Greeting cards that give you a lot of mileage include:

• Photo greeting cards (people will keep a card with a meaningful photo longer than they will a traditional card)

• Calendar greeting cards (just about everyone can use an extra calendar for their desk, purse, refrigerator, car, day timer, etc...)

• Cards with a little something extra like a gift card to Starbucks or a book store

As you can see, there are many reasons to send greeting cards. Use this list to spark your own creativity and start integrating personalized greeting cards into your customer service and marketing efforts. You will be amazed at the positive impact it will have on your incoming referrals, your business network, your bottom line and you personally.

Kimberly Yow is the owner of Gifted Lady Gift Baskets & More. She sends ‘PRINTED’ greeting cards and greeting card campaigns as a way of staying in touch with prospects and clients, showing her appreciation for their business and expanding her network. You can learn more about the online client retention system that Kimberly uses and/or get a Free Trial Account to test out the system by visiting Mail A Greeting Card.