The Lost Art of Hand Written Notes
Digital technology has made communication easier and more casual than ever. In a crowded, noisy world, a hand-written note can set you apart from the competition.
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The Lost Art of Hand Written Notes
One of my good friends asked me to guess how many text messages his thirteen year-old daughter sent last month. I guessed 1000, the correct answer, according to my friend was 15,000. My mouth dropped open. I didn’t even think that was possible. With email, text messaging, social networking and cell phones communication zips through the cloud back and forth effortlessly and endlessly. But because it is so easy to communicate, it is hard to stand out amidst all of the clutter. In this episode I’ll address one of the best ways to stand out in the crowded market place and connect with your prospects and customers.
It’s the same routine, you grab the stack of mail and flip, flip, flip, bill, bill, pre-approved credit card, bill, pre-approved credit card and then, there it is, in all its glory: the Holy Grail of snail mail – the handwritten note. It’s the real thing. Blue cursive writing, a familiar name in the upper left hand corner, and a genuine, US postage stamp!
You smile with anticipation as you slowly open the envelope and pull out the note card. It feels great. You can’t really explain why – it just does. Technology and the speed of communication in the 21st century have made the personal note, a dying art. Most of us have to think really hard to remember the last time we got one. There is good news though. In this void, your simple, handwritten note will stand out. Your customers will remember you. They will associate you with the good feeling they received when they pulled your note out of their stack of junk mail.
Here are my Quick and Dirty Tips for Winning with Handwritten Notes
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Be Prepared: Develop the habit of carrying note cards and stamps with you at all times. Set a goal of sending three to five handwritten notes each day.
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Time is of the Essence: Note cards should be sent within 24 hours after a meeting, event or if you are thanking the recipient for something specific. Make it a habit to send a handwritten, thank you note after every meeting with a customer or prospect. Write the note before your next appointment. Drop your notes in the mail box at the end of the day.
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Personalize: Go to your local printer and invest in stationary with your name on it. You don’t have to break the bank to get a quality print job. Use good paper, a conservative font, your name engraved in black ink, and don’t forget the envelopes. Your unique, personalized notes will send the message that you go the extra mile in everything you do.
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Ping Your Network: Develop a correspondence schedule, ensuring customers, prospects, friends and your professional network are “touched” several times each year.
If you are looking at your schedule, your blackberry, the 300 new emails you haven’t answered yet, and the sales report you owe the boss and thinking to yourself “Yea right, like I have time to mail note cards!” Think again. In today’s competitive market place you simply cannot afford to be like everyone else. Hand written notes do require extra effort and discipline (which is why so few people send them). However, with just a little extra effort, handwritten notes will help you connect with future prospects, strengthen your business network, and build stronger personal relationships.
This is Jeb Blount, the Sales Guy. If you have a sales question please send it to salesguy@quickanddirtytips.comcreate new email.
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