Powerful Business Building with Greeting Cards

Have you heard of Joe Girard? The Guinness Book of World Records listed Joe Girard as the "World's Greatest Retail Salesman" for 12 consecutive years.

Would it surprise you to discover one of the BIG things he credits with his success is that he understood the value of building and maintaining relationships and so he sent all of his clients AND prospects 13 greeting cards every year?

YEP! He knew the value of keeping his name on their mind so he sent a card every month and an extra one for Christmas!

That's how he managed to sell 6 cars a day, everyday... here's his simple but focused checklist:

* Keep in touch with people regularly.
* Send them "Thank you" notes.
* Send them season's greetings.
* Send them news and information that will be beneficial to them.
* Send them free goodies.

So what do we connect about?!?

It's one thing to make an outrageous statement like SEND 13 CARDS a YEAR and another thing to actually send 13 cards effectively!

That's going to require a bit of thought and a willingness to pay attention. But to complicate it is to make much ado about nothing so let's talk a little common sense.

You do NOT build relationship by sending out blatant ADS for your business every month...

You DO build relationship by being mindful of the needs and wants of your clients and prospects.

So connect with them about that! Some service industries will lend themselves easily to this. For instance, if you are a VETERINARIAN it's probably going to be quite easy. If you don't share a love of animals in general with all of your clients and prospective clients you certainly can share a love for their particular pet!

So in addition to sending a birthday card to their pet, the typical appointment reminders along with a monthly Pet Care Tip would no doubt be welcome (and remarkable) plus it's likely to warm their hearts and ramp up your referral business!

The idea is to freely give more than people expect. And when you listen to people and their concerns you'll be amazed at the things you run across that you'll find yourself wanting to share.

A simple inexpensive greeting card with a heartfelt message will be a welcome treat in the mailboxes of clients. And the thing about the 'right' greeting card is that it often gets tacked up on a bulletin board, held up by magnet on the Fridge or left standing on a shelf for all who pass through to see! (Unlike those circular ads that litter up a mailbox often ending up in the trash unread *wink*)

Do you own a home-based business?

Maybe you're a network marketer...have a direct sales business...or run a small business in your local community. If so let me ask you this...


WHAT are you doing to STAND OUT from the others selling the same... or similar...products?

Sure, you're online and people can easily order from you online. You're even likely to have your own replicated website. And you make GREAT use of email, perhaps even offering a newsletter.

But c'mon...we all know that people lead BUSY lives and receive TONS of email and hardly have time to read all the newsletters dropping in their email box BUT...


Imagine your clients, customers and prospects opening their mailbox outside their house and finding a heartfelt, unexpected greeting card from YOU!

NOT a sales piece... NOT soliciting them into your business... Instead, just a greeting acknowledging a point of connection.

If you do that a few times a year what do you think the odds are YOUR name will pop into their heads when/if they find themselves wanting to look deeper into the kind of products and/or services YOU offer?


I can tell you that if you take the time to nurture your relationships then people will even be pleased when they receive a card that includes an image of a new product you're announcing... especially if you include a tip about how to use that product to benefit them the most!

Commit yourself to listening to what your customers want... then send them a card to let them know you hear and appreciate them! Your loyalty to them will be returned in equal measure.


Today you CAN keep it High Tech AND High TOUCH!
Don't underestimate the power of a Greeting Card to touch people.


Don't settle for credible... BE INCREDIBLE! Send Cards!

Think about this...when you send out cards for your business are you sending to GIVE or sending to GET?

There's a BIG difference. IF you're sending out to GIVE, the recipient of that message feels that. And they will want to GIVE back.

What you send out is truly what you get back!

IF you don't think this applies to your business then let's look at the latest promotion you sent out. Did you use that promotion to talk about how wonderful YOU are? The deal YOU are offering? The percentage YOU are marking things down?

What are you doing?!? You're sending out a message to GET!

What I want you to understand is the value of sending to GIVE. APPRECIATION wins over self-promotion EVERY SINGLE TIME!

If your customer feels genuine appreciation from you they will give you their business AND send referrals to you.

Here are just a few business types that absolutely could benefit from sending out cards --

Accountants
Automotive
Chiropractor
Cleaning Services
Construction
Dentist
Florist
General
Health and Nutrition
Home Improvement
Hotels/Motels
Insurance
Medical
Mortgage Brokers & Lenders
Movers
Optometrist
Pest Control
Real Estate
Referrals
Restaurant & Bar
Spas/Salons
Thank You
Travel
Veterinarian

Why not make 2008 spectacular -- SEND CARDS!

When it comes to building your business your job is to ATTRACT the people who will most benefit from your product or service. It's the difference between being on their mind... and in their face.

The right words, at the right time, dripped slowly and unobtrusively over time will be far more powerful,when delivered with genuine appreciation.

No matter what your business you need to know that people are usually looking for INFORMATION... they are rarely looking for YOU! So doesn't it make sense to be the steady source of information?

Let's use Dr. Shelby as an example. Dr. Shelby, though being a new dentist, seems to know something other local Dentist's don't understand. He's building a business using greeting cards and discovering that people are willing to drive 40 miles for his service now, when previously the bulk of his patients came from within a 10 mile radius.

Why?

Because he took the time to build credibility and trust. People like him as a result!

He sent cards with short, friendly notes. He mentions the receiver by name and signs the card himself... not from 'The Office'... it's a card from him.

Remember... Dr. Shelby is a new dentist and he remembers the many interesting things he learned in school. He's serving people on his card list by sharing interesting tidbits and tips on oral hygiene and taking care of teeth; sometimes even recommending the products he prefers. And he's doing it without being preachy, just being a credible, knowledgeable and very down to earth expert!

Now... if he's a really clever guy he'll even build a website where people can sign up to be added to his Greeting Card list. Traffic to that website will be driven by his happy patients and current card receivers giving him time to do what he does BEST!

Now you may not be a dentist... but I'll bet you already have some ideas about how this approach can work for you, too!

Oh... and you'll be amazed at how easily the PERSONAL touch can be easily automated... a demonstration COMING SOON!

Don't underestimate the power of a Greeting Card to grow YOUR BUSINESS!