My one and only class in marketing came in my college days, and I hate to tell you how long ago that was, but my love of the business world probably began with that one class. I am now able to use some of those ideas to expand my own marketing plan. When the idea of appreciation marketing came my way, I was sold immediately.
Sharon Lagina
Appreciation is not a new concept. We have been trained to appreciate and thank our parents, our teachers, our friends, our family, and spouse. However, attaching the word marketing to appreciation brings another dimension to the whole concept of appreciation for the businessperson. With appreciation marketing, we can and should thank our customers and client base. What a novel concept!
Building better and stronger relationships with our inner circle of business partners and our client base is so important in this time of electronic communication. Not only is the concept of appreciation marketing fundamentally wise, but our present and future success as businesspeople is dependent upon it. No longer can we depend upon the revolving door of clients. We must cultivate, appreciate, and acknowledge every one of our clients so that they do not get “a wandering eye.” We want to make sure the grass is greenest where we are.
One of the best ways to ensure the “wandering eye” syndrome is eliminated is by sending a heartfelt thank you. While an emailed thank you is better than no appreciation at all, it has come to be recognized as a path of least resistance. It will suffice, but it doesn’t do much to set us apart from all the other businesses. A phone call is nice, an email does the trick, but it’s the actual note or card that sets us apart from the crowd. Think of the “wandering eye.” There is something about a heartfelt note or greeting card that makes a person feel special.
Perhaps great American writer Maya Angelou said it best when she offered that unforgettable quote: “I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.”
Today, I challenge you to write three heartfelt thank you cards a day for thirty days. At the end of the thirty days, record your results. What have you achieved? Has your client base increased? Is your phone ringing off the hook? Have you reached your goals? Let me know about your success.
~ Sharon Lagina
About the author: Sharon Lagina comes equipped for the business world with a Bachelors degree and Masters degree in education. She is a certified ISO QS 9000 quality auditor. With those experiences, Sharon is focusing on appreciation marketing. Sharon is the 2010 Ambassador of the year for the Dearborn Chamber of Commerce and a manager for SendOutCards. Sharon’s email is [email protected]
Sharon’s recommended reading list:
- Unlimited Power by Anthony Robbins
- How to Win Friends and Influence People by Dale Carnegie
- Words to the Rescue by Steve Fadie
- Appreciation Marketing by Tommy Wyatt and Curtis Lewsey