Thank you ... do we ever say it too much?

Tuesday, September 18, 2007  by Susan Julien-Willson
Category: selling, sales etiquette

Expressing gratefulness with a simple thank you, a warm smile, a handshake. Is it ever too much? I say never - as long as it is genuine.

I have finally started writing my thank-you notes for the wonderful birthday gifts and dinners and flowers I received. I could say it's too late to write the handwritten notes - make an excuse that I don't have time - or my family and friends know I am thankful even if I don't write a note ... but a thank you note conveys so much more than just the words "thank you." It's a chance to let someone know how much they're appreciated, how much you value the time they spend with you, how much they make a difference in your life and/or your business. It's a way to remind them they are accepted, loved, admired, respected ... all those things we forget to say out loud in day-to-day life. I often assume people know how I feel. Why is it that I think others can read my mind if I can't read theirs? Life is short. Tell your family and friends they matter- but don't forget about your colleagues, coaches, neighbors, supervisor, sponsor, customers, and prospects. They matter, too.

When you're selling ...

Do you thank a prospect for their time, even if they don't purchase a product during your first sales conversation?

Do you send follow-up notes to thank a customer for their order?

Do you prefer to use email or handwritten notes to thank someone?

What's your favorite way to let your best customers know they are valued and appreciated?

Please share your ideas and thoughts.

 

 

Comments

# Bridgett said on September 18, 2007 8:30 PM:

I do most of my communications via email. However, my thank yous are always handwritten via "snail mail".

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I don't thank prospects for allowing me to show them the biz opportunity.

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I don't have a "first sales conversation", the way Q University shows. Mine are more on-the-fly, so a thank you note would be weird under my circumstances.

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I do thank customers. I send a thank-you note (handwritten via "snail mail") within 48 hours of placing their first order.

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I do thank repeat customers. I send a handwritten note with a little something (usually a product from a line they haven't yet tried).

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For DITTO customers, who've shown loyalty for several months, I send them Ribbon Gift Albums with a handwritten note of thanks.

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I have a fracquaintance (not yet a friend but more than an acquantaince) who sells houses. She makes it a point to send out five (5) thank yous a day. And some are just thank yous for being you. Recently, she sent me a thank you card for sending her a thank you gift! I told her, in person, that I was completely dumbfounded. I asked her, "Was I then supposed to send you a thank you for your thank you of my thank you?"

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That sent her laughing out loud, really loud as a matter of fact, for several seconds. But ya know what? I'm not in the market of selling or buying houses, but when I am, she'll be the first person I call. And, if I know anyone in the market, she'll be the first person to whom I'll refer them.

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As far as family, particularly my husband, I've found that saying "thank you" (and handwritten notes) even for things he "should" do, makes things much more pleasant around this home.

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I learned how to say/write thank-you often primarily from reading the book The Five Love Languages. If Words of Affirmation is someone's primary "love language" then saying "thank you", "I appreciate you", "I'm glad you are in my life", to them, feeds and nourishes their soul.

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Since Words of Affirmation is not my primary love language, I had to learn how to speak it. It was a foreign language to me. I was clumsy and awkward for a long time. I still stumble. But I'm much better than I was. Someday I'll become "fluent". :)

 

WOW! Thank you, Bridgett. I appreciate your honesty about words of affirmation not being your primary love language--and your thoughtful advice about writing thank-you notes.  I think many of us (including myself) have gotten away from the language of kindness and gratitude. We're all rushing around "doing" in life so much of the time, we forget the small yet enormously important kindnesses. I love having the door opened for me and holding it open for others. I love smiling at people at the grocery store, even if they almost bang into me with a cart. I always ask the waiter or checkout person or greeter how they are ... and many seem surprised that I ask about them. You are the sixth person who  has mentioned The Five Languages of Love book to me in the last month. I'm going to read it. Glad you mentioned it. sjw

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