Do you struggle with what to say in your messages? This is the third blog in a three-part series that shares tips for writing effective messages that will help you to be remembered as someone who cares. Click to read the first and second blog in this series.
Write a Meaningful Message with Graphics
Let’s say that a grateful client treated you to lunch. You ask the waiter to take a photo of you sitting at lunch together and you make a mental note of something that was said during lunch. Next, you create a thank you card with that photo on the cover. In the example above, I added thought bubbles including something funny that was said during lunch. You can include something profound, thoughtful, or humorous…whatever will make it memorable!
If you don’t have a picture of the person you had lunch with, think of someone that person really admires. Let’s say your client is really worried about something coming up in the future and you want to offer reassuring support. You know that he loves Abraham Lincoln. Find a picture of Abe and include an encouraging customized quote in a voice bubble coming out of Lincoln’s head: “Jim, the best thing about the future is that it comes one day at a time.”
For great quote ideas, visit BrainyQuote.
A Picture is Worth a Thousand Words!
If you are in sales, create an image of your prospective customer with whatever it is that you are selling that they want to buy. For example, if you are a car salesman, put your customer in the driver’s seat and snap a photo of him/her behind the wheel of their dream car.
If you are a Realtor, get a picture of the couple you just spent the day with. Here’s an example of a thank you card with the couple pictured on the front. Tell them how much you enjoyed being a part of helping them find their first home. Personalize the message further by mentioning something meaningful that was discussed during your time together. (Example: “Congratulations on your recent job promotion!”) They will never throw your picture card away, and they will take it around and show it to friends, relatives and colleagues … all great marketing for YOU!
If you do work that provides great “before” and “after” photos, be sure to take comparative photos (with the customer’s permission, of course). At the end of your work together, send them a thank you card with both photos printed inside.
Great professional uses for before and after photos:
- personal training
- professionals doing cosmetic work
- hair stylists
- orthodontists
- home remodelers
- house painters
- interior decorators
- professional organizers
- landscape architects
…the possibilities are endless!
How to Write Effective Template Messages to Several Recipients
When you are drafting a message that will be sent to multiple people at the same time or over time, here’s a tip that will help you to write a template message that feels more personal. Examples: thank you for your business, thank you for the referral, thank you for speaking/meeting with me.
Begin by thinking of your favorite or ideal customer. Do you have a specific person in mind? Do not proceed until you do!
With that person in mind, write your message as if it was just going to be sent to that one person. Do not do any editing right now…just write the most heartfelt message you can. Once you have finished writing it, go back and edit your message to remove anything that is so personal that it would not be appropriate to send to everyone who will receive it.
By using this technique, your message will come across as much more personal than if you wrote it to “the masses” without any particular human being in mind.
I’ve found an app that enables me to add photos to a real paper greeting card. I can also create cards with template messages in them, which save a lot of time and can still be personalized for the recipient before sending it. If you’d like to learn more, please ask.
Did you like this article, Be Remembered? Click to read the first and second blog in this series. What’s one thing you could start doing now that would make a difference in your business growth? Please comment below.
