Last time we talked about the uncertain times we are living in and how that impacts the field of sales. We also talked about some ways that we can still provide quality customer service to our existing customers. One of the things that we discussed was writing a quick note to our customers to see how they are doing and if there is anything that they need from us.

Along those same lines is something that is too often viewed as a thing of the past, but it should not be. Thank you notes are an excellent way to provide customer service and maintain your relationships with customers through these difficult times. With that in mind, here are a few reminders of what a quality thank you note should entail.

• Handwritten: Thank you notes should always be handwritten. It shows that you care enough to take the time to sit down and write a note.

• Make it personal: Talk about something in the note that might be of a personal nature that you learned during a non-business conversation. Maybe it is asking how their daughter is doing in college or asking about a recent trip that they may have told you about. For example, I hope you and Becky enjoyed your trip to Mexico last month. I would love to hear about it the next time you guys are in.

• Use their name: This should go without saying but I will say it, anyway, make sure you are using your customer’s first name when writing a thank you note. It is the easiest and best way to make the note personal. Grammar and spelling: Make sure your thank you note does not contain any spelling or grammar errors. The note will lose sincerity if it contains misspelled words.

• Watch the length: No one is expecting you to write a book in a thank you note but it should also be longer than a sentence or two. A short thank you note can actually have the opposite effect of the intent. Some may be offended if they think you did not take the time to write a longer, more personal note.

Thank you notes are a great way to maintain relationships with your customers, but only if they are done with sincerity. Take the time to do them right and you will reap the benefits.

FINAO - Brad Huisken