The Power of a Hand-Written "Thank You" for Business Success

When was the last time you received a hand-written thank you note? More importantly, when did you last write to someone to express your gratitude? With the fast pace of life and the ease of technology, we've fallen into the trap of communication devoid of any real personal touch.

Consider for a moment the power of a hand-written thank you note. It says, "I care enough about this relationship to take the time to give you thanks." You can type out an email or dictate a letter, but it doesn't have the same personal touch found in a note that is in your handwriting.

As business owners, we're trying to make a difference in the lives of others every day. Writing thank you notes is a simple way to make someone feel special and appreciated. It's a habit that should be fostered and promoted in every area of your company. Just think of the impression you will leave with your customers, friends, and vendors!

Hand writing a thank you note doesn't take much time. You don't need overly elegant words and it doesn't need to be written in a fancy calligraphy font. Simple is better. Acknowledge the person and let them know you appreciate whatever it was they did.

Write a thank you note when:

• You are first introduced to someone, whether it's through a customer, friend or an associate. Let the person know you enjoyed meeting them and thank them for their time.
• Someone refers your business to one of their friends, family members or associates. They just put their reputation on the line for you and should be thanked.
• You are the recipient of a special honor, gift, or someone does you a favor.
• You are invited to speak at an event.

One can find many more reasons to write a thank you note. And you don't have to stop there! Write a note to wish someone a Happy Birthday. Send your customer a hand-written note on the anniversary of their doing business with your company. The whole point is to bring that personal touch back into your daily business dealings.

Let's get back to caring about people and we'll build stronger and better businesses.