Thank You Cards for my Customers

[Hedgemaster]

I think it's important to let your customers know that you appreciate their business. This is what I did... I'm just starting out and I don't have that many customers to thank, so that kept my costs for doing so relatively low. (I sent out 25 cards) Also, to keep costs to a minimum, rather than buying "blank" thank you cards, I chose to make my own, using some nice, heavyweight ivory paper that I happened to have lying around. I set up a template so I could cut two cards from each sheet, and found matching "greeting card" envelopes at W-mart for about $4.00 for a box of 50. I printed a big "Thank You!" on the outside, with appropriate text inside. I did a search for "thank you" letters for business and used one that was closest to my needs, re-wording it to my liking. I already had the post cards printed in advance and designed them (I designed my own logo, and promotional pieces) to be somewhat "multi-purpose" in their usage, so I included one in each envelope along with a magnetic business card, and two regular cards, one having a handwritten "offer" on the reverse. I couldn't justify having such a small number of cards printed with an offer on the back, so while not looking the most "professional", it's what I decided to run with. I numbered the offers to track their usage, and included an expiration date of two weeks before Memorial Day weekend so I wouldn't get hit with a bunch of calls at the last minute to do discounted work for people getting their yards ready for a party. I also included a handwritten note in each that noted the work I had performed, or some other personal touch in case they didn't immediately make the connection as to "who" the card was from. (I had worked for most of these people before I had a business name) and the text inside the card... I used clear Avery address labels and printed them using the same font used in the card to give it a nice, uniform, and "formal" appearance. While I was at it, I printed a second sheet of labels to have handy should I decide to send anything else out at a later date. (I'm thinking website announcement/seasonal offer) Note that before "packaging" these mailings, I took two envelopes with the enclosed items to the post office to have weighed to ensure that the envelope would not exceed the weight for standard postage. I was good to go. In addition to those I did work for, I sent a few to people who had contacted me for estimates, but I did not do work for. (some jobs were beyond my scope at the time) They were all very pleasant people, and it never hurts to let folks know that you are still available. I had my business cards, magnets, and post cards printed at Overnightprints.com. So far, I've been very pleased with the quality of the products. Although that photo doesn't show it well, the cards are nice and heavy, bright white (whiter than the Vistaprint sample card I have), and include a glossy finish at no charge if desired. They run really good specials on different products all the time and it's worth getting on their e-mail list for the discount codes. Anyway, that's what I did. Feel free to comment or ask questions!

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Last edited by Hedgemaster; 02-11-2011 at 10:55 PM.

[picframer]

Lawn care business tips

Very good idea! Handwriting the clients name and your signature adds the personal touch.

__________________
Andy
Halifax, Nova Scotia

[Hedgemaster]

Originally Posted by picframer

Very good idea! Handwriting the clients name and your signature adds the personal touch.

Yes, and believe it or not, that is the reason behind choosing blue ink over black for my signature. A black pen could have been mistaken as a part of the "printed", text, and thus, appeared more "cookie cutter", than a hand-signed note.

Sometimes I tend to over think things. LOL!

[picframer]

Originally Posted by Hedgemaster

Yes, and believe it or not, that is the reason behind choosing blue ink over black for my signature. A black pen could have been mistaken as a part of the "printed", text, and thus, appeared more "cookie cutter", than a hand-signed note.

Sometimes I tend to over think things. LOL!

Funny you mention Blue, many years ago when I worked at the bank one of our sessions held at a resort included colors, in business Blue anything is the best color one could use as it means trust.....the color thing has stuck with me over the years although I do wander from it

Anyhow what you are doing really cements a relationship, we as providers like hearing that our work is appreciated, clients like hearing that their business is appreciated just as much.

[Steve]

I used clear Avery address labels and printed them using the same font used in the card to give it a nice, uniform, and "formal" appearance. While I was at it, I printed a second sheet of labels to have handy should I decide to send anything else out at a later date. (I'm thinking website announcement/seasonal offer)

First off, let me say, outstanding job! Very very nice.

Now in the past, I have read that people are more inclined to open letters when they are hand addressed vs ones that use mailing labels. What is your view on that and how important is that to you?

Second off, what would you say the function of this mailing is? A lot of newer business owners may not understand this marketing technique. Do you feel there is a specific goal with this mailing?

[Hedgemaster]

Originally Posted by Steve

First off, let me say, outstanding job! Very very nice.

Now in the past, I have read that people are more inclined to open letters when they are hand addressed vs ones that use mailing labels. What is your view on that and how important is that to you?

Second off, what would you say the function of this mailing is? A lot of newer business owners may not understand this marketing technique. Do you feel there is a specific goal with this mailing?

Thank you, sir.

As for the labels... well, my handwriting is horrible, and my printing isn't as nice as it once was. I don't know how much of a difference it makes, but I think using labels was the right choice.

First and foremost, I truly wanted to thank those people. Without them, I may have lost my house.
Secondly, while many of them knew that I had talked of starting my own business, I needed to let them know that I had actually done so.
Lastly, you need to keep yourself "out there" in front of people. As my neighbor who is in marketing stated when I asked if she thought it would be "tacky" to include business cards in this mailing, "It's not tacky at all ... you have to hit people over and over and over and over ... ex: everyone knows McDonald's yet they keep running ads ..."
By "reminding" people that you are available, you increase your odds of making sales.

This is simply advertising on a personal level. There are no less than 4 items in each envelope that can be stuck up on a refrigerator, or handed to a friend, or relative. My phone number is included on the card as well.
If only a few of those people give my name to someone who uses my services, it will have paid for itself.

[Steve]

Do you think this package could be utilized again next year to thank your customers along with trying to get them to re-sign up with you in the new year?

If so, would you change anything on it to make it functional for that purpose or would some other way be better?

[Hedgemaster]

Originally Posted by Steve

Do you think this package could be utilized again next year to thank your customers along with trying to get them to re-sign up with you in the new year?

If so, would you change anything on it to make it functional for that purpose or would some other way be better?

I don't see why not.
I'm sure I would re-word it, and perhaps add some sort of "coupon/incentive"... not sure yet.



BTW, one of my snow removal people today used the "$10 Off" discount.

[Steve]

That is fantastic news!

Do you ask any of these customers for referrals when you are working on their property?

[Upscale2]

Ummmm, your cards are nice and that is a great idea, I can't stress that enough. Handwritten, Blue ink, all of your points are correct.

I've been on this forum, own a landscape co. and utilize cards every month for various things, from thanks, promotions, seasonal offerings, holidays and birthdays.

If you want to take the labor out of it try this: www.marshallscards.com

This is my winter business. You can add your own signatures, photos, fonts, color of fonts etc...PLUS it is a contact manager that holds all of your clients.

When you want to send a bunch of cards it only takes about 10 minutes and the card is sent from a production facility. Completely customized.

I have a video on my youtube channel under upscalelandcarellc check it out.

Good luck!