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Personal Branding "Magic" - An Excellent HabitThe Power of Personal Notes and Cards - belonging to a Professional Referral Business group we are always learning proven methods to improve our skills.
This is a new photo of our BNI Richmond, BC Chapter where we learn the skills.
Very few people in business ever send hand-written notes and even fewer (and far between) do it on a regular basis.
The "Wow" Factor. We're constantly looking for extraordinary ways to WOW! the people around us -- to get their attention and appreciation -- at the same time discounting the most obvious and most effective tools.
A personal hand-written note is such a tool.
An Emotional Expression.
Isn't it nice when someone sends you a short note thanking you for your help on a project or for the wonderful dinner you shared?
Isn't it uplifting to receive a handwritten note from someone in your network recognizing one of your recent accomplishments?
Doesn't it make you feel good - even great? Sure it does.
Aren't you more likely to remember that nice salesperson who dropped you a note?
More likely to call him or her again?
And....Doesn't it feel good when YOU write a note and send it to someone? No doubt.
A Powerful Personal Success Weapon.
It literally takes only about three to five minutes to write a note, fold it, stick it in an envelope and mail it, but the power of it is awesome.
It is one of the ultimate success weapons.
People who send hand-written notes are thought of as gracious, well mannered -- and since so few people do it -- also a clear cut above the rest.
A Memorable Personal Branding Element.
You see, personal notes build relationships, the most important element in any business.
They demonstrate your commitment to your employees and your business contacts and to the service you provide.
Hand-written notes can be a memorable personal branding element.
Personal notes can be used to:
Show appreciation to someone who did something nice for you
Let someone know that you appreciate the special-effort service they gave to you
Recognize a great job on a work project or important task
Let someone know you observed them doing something nice for someone else
Recognize achievement -- personal achievement, the achievements of someone's children, etc.
Recognize a job promotion or a new job
Welcome someone new to the team
Share kind words during a time of family or personal illness or hardship
The power of personal notes is unquestionable.
Establishing the Habit
The KEY to making handwritten notes a PERSONAL HABIT is to deploy a system or process that MAKES IT EASY and CONVENIENT for you to write "custom" notes and cards that you send to your contact network.
A Couple of Ideas to Systematize the Note-Writing Process:
Keep a stack of "Specific" Thank You Note Cards on your desk, ready and available when you need them. A great idea, but also get some that are designed for specific situations, e.g., "Congratulations", "Great Job", "Thank You for the Business", etc.
This is something that our web based publishing system is well aware of. So they've prepared some wonderful templates that you can use with your own account. So besides the regular variety of Birthday, Baby, Wedding, Valentines, Christmas etc check out these other templates.
All will allow you to even personalize the cards with your own photos built right into the design. What an excellent way to stand out - why not put THEIR personal photo onto the card. It is doable.
You can also choose a font that resembles your own handwriting (or your fav), enter text boxes of your own words and have them mailed directly through your Heritage account Address Book. They print them, stuff them, address them and attach your return address all for a fee of $1 in Cda and .60 cents per envelope in USA.
Here are some previews and once loaded you can move your mouse over the card, and rotate, open and zoom to see. all sides and angles.
Here is a Thank You Card: http://tinyurl.com/ojpa33
or long link
http://www.heritagemakers.com/?event=projectBrowse&projectId=76b04217-6342-42af-a317-54535758c9ad&productId=15&projectSponsor=173517
or http://tinyurl.com/o2t5db
or long link
http://www.heritagemakers.com/?event=projectBrowse&projectId=ef4c95e6-1ec9-fcc3-1b56-da3cc55c7d22&productId=15&projectSponsor=173517
Here is a Friend Card http://tinyurl.com/p7p8pq
or long link
http://www.heritagemakers.com/?event=projectBrowse&projectId=dd3af83c-3048-6168-a850-e16260c60c9c&productId=15&projectSponsor=173517
Here is a Congratulations Card: http://tinyurl.com/qwa466
or long link
http://www.heritagemakers.com/?event=projectBrowse&projectId=1a0e57ec-1e82-464f-8ac2-1e069eff86f4&productId=15&projectSponsor=173517
Deploy the System
1) So take advantage by creating an account at www.recallwhen.com; contact me for the best pricing of the cards $2.95 us to $1.87 us depending on volume and purchase your best package.
2) Add contacts to your Heritage Maker Address Book under www.recallwhen.com My Account tab
3) Choose your favourite templates from the Template Gallery and customize them your way if you want to add more features (photos, art or text)
4) Either order cards in bulk to be shipped to you directly or order one at a time using the 'Direct Mail' service.
Now as your business contacts grow you can make a habit to add them routinely into your HM Address Book so when an occasion occurs you can simply spend 3-5 minutes and send out that personal card to them. WIN ! WOW !
There you have it! A user friendly way to put the WOW FACTOR into your outreach to friends, family and future business contacts.
Barb Ashcroft
Personal Publishing Consultant
www.recallwhen.com
BarbAshcroft@shaw.ca
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