Thank You Notes: A Guide For The Successful Person

Thank You!

I was listening to my top rated playlist recently and Joe Walsh’s I’m An Analog Man came on. This song reminded me that everything has gotten so digital that we have forgotten how to employ the tried-and-true methods of marketing, PR and just good human behavior.

The most neglected, in my opinion, is the thank you note.

I’m not talking about thanking someone via email. I am talking about a real, hold-in-your-hand handwritten note that is actually sent via the US Mail. Oh, and send it promptly after the event occurred.

As you know, I’m a big believer in gratitude. Everyone should embrace this virtue. One of the best ways is to look for new things that make you grateful. Once you find them, write them down. There is something about the physical act of handwriting something that helps you internalize it. The thank you note provides an excellent medium for this.

As my marketing mentor once told me, when everyone else is zigging, you should zag. Today, this means going analog to stand out from the digiterati. Are you sending out handwritten notes to customers to stand out from your competition?

It takes five minutes to write a short note to a client, but the effect on your relationship is beyond measure. Receiving a…