Sometimes Marketing is Saying "Thank You"

A couple weeks ago I received a card at my PO Box from Kate Gaffin of Beautiful Futures, a reader of Quick Tips from Marketing Mentor. I don't know Kate personally, but she took the time to write to me to thank me for my efforts. As a small token, she included a Starbucks card inside. I don't know about you, but this is not the type of mail I get every day.

So I responded to Kate to thank her for thanking me. That's when I found out she hadn't exactly handwritten that card to me. You see, she's using that new service, www.sendoutcards.com which other readers and commenters have written us about before. It seems to be catching on.

Here's what Kate wrote back to me:

I'm so glad you liked the card and I hope you had a nice Starbucks treat.

I actually sent similar cards to six other folks who have also provided such great resources to me (and thousands of others) over the years.  I was really touched by their responses and it reminded me that we just don't show appreciation enough anymore.  When we do, it's so nice to know that we might have put a smile on someone's face.

In the last month, I began sending out cards to my steady customers...just to say thanks for thinking of my company when they needed a gift for a little one in their lives. I got back dozens of emails telling me that no other company had ever thanked them for being a customer. Many orders came in as a result.

What a great marketing tool personalized cards are!  And using the system I did to send yours, it's all automated and I can send a card with just a couple of clicks in a font created from my own handwriting.  It then gets printed, stuffed, stamped and mailed for me.  And it all happens with just a couple of clicks whether sending to one person or 1,000.  This is really amazing stuff in a time of technology overkill...simplicity and personalization really makes one stand out.

Check it out here.

Comments

[Donna]

What a great idea! (Both the thank you note w/enclosed gc and the service.)

Question though: Did you feel like the value of the thank you note and gift was slightly reduced after finding out it was sent from sendoutcards.com? I'm worried that recipients might not be quite as impressed if they found out it wasn't *actually* handwritten.

[benebop]

The wonderful thing about Send Out Cards is that they create a font out of your own handwriting. You fill out a grid with all the letters of the alphabet and they scan it for you to use. When these cards are printed, it fools even the toughest of critics. You'd be amazed when no one can tell the difference. Why not give it a try by getting with the person mentioned in the post.

[Crissy]

I'm all about the handwritten, personalized card. In regards to the comment that Donna left, the value would be reduced (for me, at least) if I found out that a person had really just sent the message to me by online means (as it's done in a click of a few buttons). However, if someone actually had a beautiful card on hand and personally sent it themselves, that would be an entirely different story - that would be above and beyond what I'm used to, and I'd be thrilled.

I send out cards to contacts a few times a year, and the email responses and phone calls I get afterwards are amazing (I've made their day and they've made mine!)

Cheers!
Crissy

http://www.paraviondesign.com