National Card and Letter Writing Month

April is International Customer Loyalty Month and also National Card and Letter Writing Month – What better time to send customers a Thank You card for their continued business?

People do business with people they know, like, and trust. It is five times harder to get a new client and it cost six to seven times more money, than it does to keep an existing client. Statistics say that if a business retains only 5% of their customer base, it can increase their business by 50%.
68% of all customers are lost due to perceived indifference! A customer who feels appreciated will not go elsewhere when the competition comes calling.  Repeat customers spend 67 percent more. They are your referral engine After 10 purchases, a customer has already referred up to 7 people.

Customer service = Good
Customer Loyalty = Great!

Only 3% of the postal mail is personal. Imagine going to your mailbox and there amongst the bills and junk mail is an unexpected greeting card and you open it and it’s from someone you know and the person is saying thanks, or congratulations, or you made a difference to me. Someone thought about you and followed through and sent a card.  It feels good.

Electronic mail comes and goes but hardcopy thank you notes last.  66 % of consumers surveyed indicated that business greeting cards sent to show appreciation for a purchase or a referral makes them more likely to do future business with that company.

"Even though business thank you cards offer a tangible way for companies to demonstrate customer appreciation, only 44 % of the consumers surveyed received a thank you greeting card from companies with which they do business," said Marc Wagenheim, product marketing director for Hallmark Business Expressions.

Sending cards throughout the year is a great way to increase customer loyalty.  In a previous blog I outlined how to set up Greeting Card campaigns for customer retention which will increase loyalty and referrals.  Click here to read about different types of Greeting Card campaigns and examples for various industries.

With April being International Customer Loyalty Month and National Card and Letter Writing Month, what better time to send customers a Thank You card for their continued business?
To keep relationships strong, companies need to regularly remind clients that they are important to them. They also need to remind them who they are, what they do, what services they offer, and why they are their best choice for their product or service. Busy people tend to choose the fastest solution to a problem. By keeping in touch with greeting cards, a company makes themselves stand apart from the rest of the crowd and their clients are more apt to call them the next time they need their product or service.

Tradition says greeting cards are personal. Greeting cards have a traditional feeling of warmth and sincerity; our culture maintains that greeting cards are personal and are sent from someone with whom there is a relationship. In a world of impersonal form letters and mass email, memorable greeting cards are a refreshing marketing tool that will add a personal and memorable touch to the interaction with clients. By incorporating greeting cards into a retention strategy, the message is being sent to the client that an important relationship exists.

“We must not, in trying to think about how we can make a big difference, ignore the small daily differences we can make which, over time, add up to big differences that we often cannot foresee.”
                                                                                 - Marian Wright-Edelman

I invite you to check out a simple and easy way to send greeting cards directly from your computer with just a few mouse clicks.  Pick a card, personalize it and your card will be printed, stuffed, stamped, and mailed for you.  You can set up campaigns with several cards, as mentioned above, to go out at pre-set intervals.  Log onto  www.SendingCardsMadeEZ.com and register for a gift account today.   

Your feedback and comments are welcomed and appreciated.
 
Happy Card Sending,
Annette
Painted Lady Enterprises
“Helping My Clients and Their Business Look Good”

Thank You and Happy New Year!

Looking back at 2014 feeling accomplished and grateful, I would like to thank all who gave me the opportunity to help them and their business in some small way.  I created a slide show to highlight some of my wonderful clients.


I wish everyone a Happy and Prosperous New Year!  I look forward to all the possibilities that 2015 will bring.

As everyone else, I am in the mist of setting goals and resolutions both personally and for business.  Would love to hear what your goals and resolutions include.

If your resolutions include outsourcing some of your less favorite tasks, I hope that you will give consideration to letting us offer some suggestions for solutions for you.  You can find a list of services on our website at www.PaintedLadyEnterprises.com.

Sincerely,

Annette
Virtual Assistant
Painted Lady Enterprises
Please 'Like' Us on Facebook - www.Facebook.com/PaintedLadyEnterprises

Why should we show appreciation to our clients and customers?

Often times when I write a blog I search for material from online articles and blogs.  Recently I've been writing about the 'Why' we should do things.  Usually when we know and understand our 'Why' then the how is much more doable. 

When I did a search on 'Why' we should show appreciation to our clients and customers, I didn't find much.  I found more on the 'How.'   I believe our 'Why' has to be more than to increase our bottom line.  If the perception you want associated with your business is that of friendliness, gratitude, and humbleness, then this is an area to focus some time and resources.

Showing appreciation is important, yet not all of us practice that consistently with our customers, co-workers, volunteers or connections.  According to a SoulPancake video, The Science of Happiness: An Experiment in Gratitude, showing gratitude benefits the party being thanked and the person showing gratitude as well.

Being busy is often cited as the reason there’s a delay or oversight in sharing appreciation, followed by the awkwardness.  In the video, the experiment of thanking those who had been most influential in our lives was a bit awkward for some.  However, the results were very beneficial to both parties.

Probably showing appreciation to clients and customers may seen a little time consuming.  Good habits take time and showing gratitude is no different. 

The most important part of this is that it must be sincere and communicated in a way and form that the recipient can hear.   

Keep in mind people do business with people. A strong, appreciative culture growing in your business will exude and become a part of your brand culture. That will be evident in every interaction with your customers.

People are far more willing to associate and do business with someone who appreciates and respects them. By focusing on showing gratitude, co-workers, colleagues, customers and others around you feel valued and important.

I think this quote sums it up - “Gratitude makes sense of our past, brings peace for today, and creates a vision for tomorrow” - Melody Beattie

In appreciation,

Annette

www.PaintedLadyEnterprises.com

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*Excerpts from US News article - 'How to show appreciation to colleagues and clients.'

An Attitude of Gratitude

The time has changed. The days are shorter, but it seems the years are getting shorter too.  I would like to think that 'time flies when you're having fun,' rather than it being because I'm getting older. But with every passing year I cherish my life and my loved ones even more. For who knows how much time we have left to be with them and enjoy their company.

I found a wonderful inspirational article I want to share with you.  It's called 'Keep an Attitude of Gratitude.' It is from the book 'Attitude is Everything.'  The article was written by Vicki Hitzges and features Zip Ziglar, who is one of my all time favorite motivational speakers.  (The book is also by Vicki.)  Be sure and read all of the article and learn about the marbles.  Click Here to go to the Article.

The book is available on Amazon - 


November is most noted for Thanksgiving, let us give thanks for All the things for which we are grateful. What are you grateful for?   I am grateful for my wonderful family, my health, my marriage, my friends, my home, my business, and my list goes on and on.

Thank you for your time.  Your feedback and comments are welcomed and appreciated.

In gratitude,
Annette
Painted Lady Enterprises
"Helping You and Your Business Look Good"

Show Some H.E.A.R.T.

 It's almost Valentine's day and love is in the air.  Our thoughts are of hearts and love.  Do you Love your customers?  Do you appreciate their business?  When was the last time you let them know?  Did you at least let them know the last time they did business with you?

Over the past couple of months I have done business with several local businesses, i.e. HVAC, handyman, mover, bank, and carpet cleaners.  All of these people I know from various networking groups in which I participate.  I choose them to do my work because I trusted they would do a good job and they all did.  I have no complaints on their timeliness, the quality of their work, or their price.  So, you ask, what is my beef.  Two of the five sent me a Thank You card expressing how much they appreciated my business.  And just a side note, they didn't use my service, but at least they took the time to send a Thank You note.  The other three, not a phone call, not an email, nada, nothing.  Now I know that being 'in the business' I am a little sensitive on the subject of sending thank you notes, but not to get ANY kind of thank you from these three businesses really shouts volumes to me.

Following up and saying thank you is a simple little thing that makes a business stand out from all the rest.  It doesn't cost much and it doesn't take up that much time.  I believe it is essential to express appreciation to clients when they make a purchase, but I also believe it's important to let them know periodically that we appreciate them.  Valentine's Day is a good time to do that. So show some H.E.A.R.T. to your clients and let them know you care and appreciate their business.  I believe it will yield tremendous results and make some very loyal clients.

H  heartfelt

E  expressed

A  appreciation to clients yields endless

R  referrals in no

T  time

Happy Valentine's Day,
Annette
Painted Lady Enterprises
"Helping You and Your Business Look Good"

 

Mamas Teach Your Children to Write Thank You Notes

I find that society has become more and more dependent on computers and that the art of saying thank you in the form of a real paper card or note is fading away.   But I think sending a real paper card is one of the nicest little tokens of appreciation you can give someone these days. I know when I open my mailbox, I'm excited when I find something personal, like a card.   I smile and I usually keep that card to remind me of that person especially if it was a genuine heartfelt personal card.

This is the time of year we usually receive a lot of thank you cards from such occasions and events like graduations, showers, weddings, etc.  I think one of best things we can teach our children is the importance of writing thank you cards and the proper way to write thank you cards.

The key is very simple – you really have to mean it when you say thank you!  People get it when you genuinely mean something and also when you are just going through the motions.

The most beautiful thing about truly thanking someone is that it creates a deeper and instant bond between people.

In 1922 Emily Post wrote, "In writing notes or letters, as in all other forms of social observance, the highest achievement is in giving the appearance of simplicity, naturalness and force."

Keep it Short - Only one or two sentences at the most. Anymore than that and you are running the risk that it will not be read at all.

Post It - Always use the traditional mailing method for your thank you notes. There is more of a chance that they will remember your note if it is delivered in an envelope, more so than they would if it is just another email on a long list of emails.

Time it Right – Write and mail your thank you notes immediately or as soon after the event or receipt of the gift as possible.   Sending notes weeks and months after the occasion or event loses sincerity.

Be specific about what you are thanking people for.  Sometimes it means even more when people know what they are being thanked for e.g. ‘Thanks so much John for the book on resume writing.  I will certainly put it to good use.’  Or 'Thank you so much for the coffee pot with the timer.  You know how we LOVE our coffee.'  It makes the whole exchange richer and more meaningful than just a casual generic “thanks."

“Gratitude makes sense of our past, brings peace for today, and creates a vision for tomorrow” – Melody Beattie

Smile - Smile while you are writing the note because it will put a positive slant on your words and your happiness and enthusiasm will be conveyed to the reader.

Such a small gesture of appreciation and gratitude should be a habit in everyone's personal and business life.  

You may also reference the Seven Rules for Sending Greeting Cards  for more information on sending thank you notes and other greeting cards.

In Appreciation,

Annette

Painted Lady Enterprises

"Helping You and Your Business Look Good"

Good Home Training

Today, January 11, is International Thank You day. In my research of this wonderful day, I came across this great article by Michael de Jong. He consented to allowing me to post it here. One of the points in the article is to teach our children early the importance of sending thank you notes. Hope you enjoy this as much as I did.

"Thanks to the morning light, thanks to the foaming sea, to the uplands of New Hampshire, to the green-haired forest free." --Ralph Waldo Emerson

When receiving a gift, my bother John sometimes reacts with, "Well...Thanks a lot!" And when he says it in "just that way" you can bet that he's already mentally digging a hole way back behind his house for it to be buried. (He's got a heart of gold, but he can really be that transparent.)

Said with fussy embossed and engraved cards, a two-second email, a bouquet from the corner deli, or even a bottle of re-gifted Chablis -- the thank-you gesture and the words "merci," "gracias," "xie xie," or just plain old "thank you" can go a long way when you really mean it.

When I was about eight years old my mom's sister bought me a box of greeting cards, each with an image of Charlie Brown and Snoopy hugging on top of a doghouse. With mom's encouragement, I then scribbled a few thoughtful words to my aunt on my new stationery, stuck it into the envelope mom had addressed and stamped, sealed it shut with a swipe of my tongue and then ran and tossed into the corner mailbox. Easy lesson learned -- someone gives you a gift, you're happy; acknowledge that gift, they're happy. (Our dear friend, Clarence, calls this "Good home-training.") Our nieces and nephew, Lindsay, Hayley and Matt, are so good at it that often (so it seems) we get a thank-you card even before the arrival of presents...now that's good home-training.

I grew up in a home where the importance of "an attitude of gratitude" was stressed. We were taught to bring little gifts when we visited others (as a thank you for their hospitality), to write thank-you notes for everything we received, and, if the giver was in earshot, to say it out loud.

Understanding how to form those two golden words and knowing when to speak them greatly influenced the kind of person that I am today. Sure, just like the next person, I can be irritable, grouchy, unpleasant (and, even at times, a downright "B!+@#"), but I'm never ungrateful.

Therefore, when I'm expecting a "thank-you" and don't receive one in any of it's many potential incarnations, I'm usually thrown off course. I rationalize it as other people being too busy, or just forgetful, but deep down inside, it feels like my social order is out of balance.

Appreciations are those deep-seated, primal reactions, yet some people are either reluctant, too rude, or were just never "home-trained" to openly show theirs. But even the teeny-est of gestures can let others know just how appreciative we are. International Thank You Day (Yes, there is such a holiday!), which was January 11, is a wonderful opportunity to identify and reveal things for which you're grateful, and express them with simple acts of thanks.

Are you overdue in expressing thanks to your family (hmmm, when did I last thank my partner Richard, sister Mags and hubby Jim, brother John and wife Lori?...you get the idea), pets (in my case, our deaf dog 'Jack,' and four goldfish: Phil, Jill, Bill and Gill), friends, co-workers, neighbors, the mail carrier, or the Universe (God or whatever you like to call him or her)? If so, now's the perfect time to put that "thank you" out there.

Say it and show it again and again and again because practice makes perfect.

And in the event that someone, like my brother, should actually bury a gift? Remember the old adage "God made dirt and dirt don't hurt."

Michael de Jong is the author of a forthcoming series of books on clean, green living, the next of which is Clean Body. Future companion books will cover food, first aid and other topics. Michael's website is www.mykindofclean.com

Thank you Michael for this insightful message.

Who needs aThank you from you? Have you sent those Thank Yous out yet from the holidays yet? Visit www.WeHaveACardForThat.info for a simple and easy way to get all your cards out in a simple and timely manner.

In gratitude,
Annette
Painted Lady Enterprises
"Helping You and Your Business Look Good"

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August Winner

In August I made the offer again to give away Chocolate Brownies. In order to be eligible to win you had to send a free greeting card*.

I am pleased to announce that Maureen McKeown owner of the Atlanta Kids Directory will be receiving decadent Chocolate Brownies in her mailbox very soon. Here is what Maureen has to say about the greeting card system, "I love SOC! It is so easy to put what were once thoughts of Thanks, Happy Birthday, Sympathy, etc. into action. Using Send Out Cards for both my business and personal use has enabled me to enrich my connections to family, friends and customers in a way that is uniquely me. The cost and time savings is just an added plus!"

Maureen liked the system so much, she signed up for an Entrepreneur account.

There are over 14,000 greeting cards to choose from. There are new ones being added each month. Cards for every conceivable occasion. And also gifts for everyone on your gift list. A record was set in June with over 40,000 gifts sent. Chocolate Brownies is just one of many gifts that can be sent with your greeting card. No going to the store or to the post office. Just a few mouse clicks and your greeting cards and gifts are on their way.

One great feature about this system is you can schedule cards to go out at a later date. Imagine getting all your holiday cards done now and scheduled to mail in November or December. Don't procrastinate, call me today and I can help you get this task done early rather than frantically worrying about it later.

Since this has been such a great promotion, I've decided to continue with it. Is your mouth watering just thinking about Chocolate Brownies? In order for you to be entered in the drawing for your very own Chocolate Brownies go to www.RememberGreetingCards.com/PaintedLady and register for a Free Greeting Card Gift account. I will email a link to the website to send two free greeting cards. These are real cards, not E-Cards. You select your cards, personalize your cards, even add digital photos, click send, and we will print and mail your cards anywhere in the world where postal mail can be delivered. I'm sure there is someone you need to send a card to, i.e. Thank You, Birthday, Happy Anniversary, Congratulations, Just Because, Thinking of you, etc.

No fees, no minimum. Send one card for less than $1.00 plus postage or send hundreds of cards at one time. Try it today and see how quick and easy it is to send a card and a whole lot cheaper than going to the store. Maybe you'll be my next lucky winner.

*This offer is for anyone who has not tried the system since January 2009. Log in today and see all the new features and all the new cards.

*Want more chances to win? Here's how:

- Refer your friends. - You receive one entry for each friend you refer who sends a card. Tell them to be sure and state how they found out about the system.

- Set up your own auto order account of at least 20 points per month. That's only $9.80 and buys you points for 20 postcards or 10 regular greeting cards. That's a whole lot cheaper than going to the store.

- Upgrade an existing account to a:

- Picture Plus Account - Gives you the capability of making your own custom cards by uploading your digital photos and placing them on the front of your cards

- Wholesale account - Gives you a 35% discount on your points, Picture Plus, and your handwriting font so you can send 'handwritten' notes.

- Entrepreneur account - All of the above plus make money referring others. www.BusinessIncomeOpportunity.info

See how many times you can be entered for additional chances to win decadent Chocolate Brownies. The Chocolate Brownies are just one of the many gifts that you can send with your Greeting Card.

Looking forward to seeing who the next lucky winner will be.

In gratitude,
Annette
Painted Lady Enterprises
"Helping You and Your Business Look Good"

How Gratitude can bring an increase in your bottom line!

I hauled myself out of bed the other morning at 4AM in order to attend a Breakfast networking meeting that was entitled 'How Gratitude can bring an increase in your bottom line!' When I first got the invitation to this meeting, I thought Oh Boy! This is right up my alley. But after a long week at getting up early going to meetings and then attending more late night meetings also, not to mention suffering from a head cold and sinus infection going on 4 weeks now, when the alarm went off, I thought, OMG what was I thinking. I got ready anyway because I had to pick up my team mate who had registered and paid for us to go.

It was very well worth the trip. It was not your typical business meeting. This is a new group focused on all the right aspects of business. The very first exercise we did was to talk with those at our table and to tell what we were grateful for not in our business, but in our life. That was different, but it is close to Thanksgiving, so I could understand. But as the presentation went on, I began to see the true theme of the meeting and the organization. It was very refreshing because it hit right on my core values and beliefs, that of building relationships with people and trying to establish a helpful giving attitude will come back to you ten fold.

I go to a lot of face to face networking meetings of all kinds and meet a lot of people. My primary purpose, of course, like everyone else, it to find new business. Along the way I meet a lot of people who are doing the same thing. Now we all know we can’t all do business with each other, however we can try and help each other. How you ask? Listen and ask questions. Find out about the person and their business, what makes them unique and different from others in their industry. One of the questions that you can ask, which was presented in this meeting, “Why should I do business with you?” Try that one sometimes and you’ll be surprised at the answers you get. Also think about what you would say if someone asked you that question. Now you still might not need their services at the moment, but you can use that information in a number of ways.

Here are five things you can do:

• Introduce that person to a good referral partner for them. Example: Introduce a Real Estate person to a mortgage broker.
• Suggest/invite them to other networking meetings, groups, organizations, etc. that they might attend. I have a ‘Networking Opportunities’ list posted on my website that I refer people to.
• If it’s someone you really want to establish a relationship with, make the effort to follow up with them. Send them a note or card. Call and set up a meeting for coffee with the intention of ‘How can we help each other’ or ‘I want to get to know you and understand your business better.’
• File their info, so you will have it when you hear someone needs that service. Establish yourself as a ‘Who do you know that does?”
• Refer that person whenever possible.

Here is an example of how gratitude helped my bottom line this week. I help co-host a women’s monthly networking meeting. We had a professional organizer who attended our meetings a few times. She impressed me because besides just introducing herself and telling about her business, she would offer helpful tips on organizing. We established some rapport and she started using my greeting card service for which I was grateful. When someone asks if I know an organizer, I refer them to her. One of the referrals was to my sister in law, who just raved about the ideas and information she provided, and she would definitely be using her services. I also asked her to be a speaker at an upcoming business meeting in January. So even though I have not used her services personally, I know she’s very good and knowledgeable at what she does and she is very reliable.

Here’s where the story gets interesting. I recently acquired a new client for my greeting card business and when I talked with her and asked how she found out about me and my service, she said she had been a speaker at a recent meeting of which my friend the organizer had sent her a thank you card. Do you turn cards over to see what brand it is? My website was printed on the back of the card. She liked the card so much, she set up her own account, tried it, liked it, and then upgraded. Was I grateful? You better believe it. I not only sent a Thank You card, but a gift as well.

So, I believe, the point of all this is showing gratitude and appreciation and helping others can help to build your business because they in turn will do the same for us.

I leave you with these quotes:

God gave you a gift of 86,400 seconds today. Have you used one to say "thank you?" ~William A. Ward

Silent gratitude isn't much use to anyone. ~G.B. Stern

“Send Out to Give” Kody Bateman

“What goes around, comes around” - Proverb quote

Happy Thanksgiving to You and Yours!

In gratitude,
Annette S. Walden

Are your Holiday Cards done yet? Log on and find out how to create, personalize, and mail your cards with just a few mouse clicks. Register for a Gift Account and send them a REAL greeting card with my compliments at Painted Greeting Cards.

Gifts, Greeting Cards, and Promotional Products
www.PaintedLadyEnterprises.com
"Helping You and Your Business Look Good"

How do I stay in front of my prospects and customers? I’m worried that out of sight translates into out of mind.

I love it when I find or receive information from experts that reconfirms the marketing products and services that I offer. I read this and just went WOW…did she write this for me or what!

I had the great pleasure of hearing Liz Goodgold with Red Fire Branding, http://www.redfirebranding.com, speak several months ago. She is just a wealth of information on a common sense approach to marketing. Here is an excerpt from her latest e-zine that I just received.

Answer:

The good news is that you recognize that people must think of you in order to do business with you. Earning top of mind awareness can translate into over the top sales. Here are a few action items you can implement:

1. Thank you Cards - Who in their live feels that they are over appreciated? (Not me!) A simple, handwritten, snail mailed card to thank someone for a little extra effort is a welcoming touch.

2. E-mail Newsletters - Yes, this tactic works, but only if it offers timely, useful, and valuable. E-mail newsletters that are all about you without delivering value are destined for the delete button.

3. Speaking - Offering your knowledge to a trade group meeting or monthly get-together positions you as the expert. You don’t have to become a professional speaker (no more competition, please!), but you do have to have an organized, coherent talk peppered with real examples. Audience members become your prospects and your referral base.

4. Relevant Premiums - Remember that the goal is not share of desk (how much real estate can I capture with my imprinted stapler, Post-It Note pad, ruler or pen), but rather share of mind. If you are an orthodontist, like Dr. Melanie Parker, your pen isn’t an ordinary pen, but a severely crooked one that represents the state of her patients’ teeth. Or, perhaps it is a simple fly swatter, compliments of Lloyd’s Pest Control. As long as it relates to your business and your prospects, it works!


One easy way is to literally keep your name in front of prospects is by placing it when and where they are. Bill Howe plumbing always puts stickers on customers’ pipes just in case there is a leak.

Discount Purifiers of San Diego places its information on water filters, and 1-800-APPLIANCE supplies magnets for your refrigerator to increase recall.

Sean Farrell, a top Mercedes Benz salesman, succeeds by being a wealth of information about the great bells and whistles found on the new models. One of my favorite tactics is that he programs his phone number into your car’s phone memory database. He’s always there when you need him. Vroom!

By Liz Goodgold from Red Fire Branding e-Zine.
Website: http://www.redfirebranding.com

In gratitude,
Annette S. Walden
Marketing Solutions Consultant

www.PaintedLadyEnterprises.com

"Helping you and your business look good!"

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