The Number 1 Customer Retention And Business Building Tool Of All Time

Amid the emails flying through cyberspace, it is clear that the written word on a nice card or colorful stationery still has its place in the business world. Email is cold and impersonal and is sent by an unforgiving metallic and plastic hunk of circuitry, wires, lights and buttons. Email is associated with quick and easy. Email is thought of as fast, efficient and requiring little effort.

Let’s say you’ve been invited to a large corporate banquet, fund-raiser or event that is exclusive. You know it is an honor and a privilege to be invited. Why, then, would you choose to shoot an acceptance email to your hosts? Do you value their perception of you?

If you value your clients, both big and small, then you’ll push away from the computer and get out your dusty old gold-rimmed ink pen. Hold it for a few minutes and the feeling will come back to you. Yes, writing is much like riding a bicycle and you’ll be surprised how easily it comes back to you. More importantly, you’ll be amazed at how your business constituents and customers respond to your hand-written notes.

Due to the economic atmosphere, customers and clients are feeling “less-than-loved.” Investing your time and money toward helping your clients feel good during this time is appreciated and noticed. People that receive a handwritten note understand that you took the time and care to pick out quality, personalized stationery, write a gracious note and then send it to them. They are not a “click” away or just a number; they are a valuable human being and you have taken the time to show that you care. It is a very small price to pay in order to really stand out and gain the trust of your customers.

Most businesses have migrated over to the electronic age with such force that they soon realize they haven’t even invested in quality paper products and stationery for their business. Most printed and personalized cards, thank you notes, and stationery sets are available online and will fit within any budget. There is no excuse for businesses to be without quality stationery on-hand to respond quickly to gracious invitations, important correspondence and events that require an earnest “thank you”. The oldest online stationery company, www.ImpressInPrint.com, has experienced an increased interest in printed business and corporate stationery, from custom blank note cards and stationery sets to thank you note card sets. Their selections spanning over 8000 designer stationery products makes it easy to order the perfect style, colors and customizations.

Industry trends reflect the move back to true customer service. Realtors are returning to the tried-and-true practice of intimate written “snail mail” contact with their buyers and sellers. Why is it “intimate”? Written notes reflect a personal involvement with the act of sending the correspondence. It creates a bond between you and the recipient that can not be duplicated by anyone else. Realtors have relied on this service-to-customer bond for ages and have found that electronic mediums can not take the place of it.

In fact, electronic communications have formed a level of disconnect never experienced before. People are inundated with email and spam. They know it is easy to send the same “personalized” (but canned) message to thousands – or even millions of people in the blink of an eye. What’s special about that? Email is associated with work; it’s a chore. Scan and delete. Scan and delete. In consulting with realtors about their communication initiatives, it has become clear that the only way to bridge the disconnect is through rebuilding the relationship between the realtor and the client through personally written communications.

If you want to increase trust and build strong relationships with your clients and business constituents, you should turn back the clock and embrace the use of the written word as a strong relationship-building, customer retention tool. It works.