If you want to know one of the most effective ways to grow your referrals it’s called Appreciation Marketing. The act of sending out unexpected, non-promotional cards is so easy, simple and affordable, that every small business and sales professional should be doing this many times throughout the year.

When was the last time you received a card from your landscaper? Your accountant? Your dentist? Your attorney? Think about that for a minute! Now…what if they had sent you heartfelt cards, not stock greeting cards that some companies send out. How would that have made you feel?

I just received one of those stock (cheaply made), generic cards from my insurance person. It wasn’t even personalized. It didn’t impress me at all. This was a completely automated service she was using. So great idea on her companies part, failure in the execution.

Appreciation Marketing With Cards

What I’m talking about is holiday cards. Not just Christmas, but Thanksgiving, Easter, and any others you can think of. Not only holiday cards, but just an unexpected Thank You card at a random time, with no business logo’s, no promotional offers. Just a pure and simple, genuine card of appreciation.

In this day and age, with it being the digital world, business owners think they can send an email or even an e-card, and that’s good enough. I can tell you firsthand, email has lost most of its luster. People don’t read most of their emails, and they know that it’s the easiest thing to do is send something via email.

Appreciation Marketing Equals Results

But when they get a REAL CARD, with a REAL STAMP, it’s impacting! It leaves an impression that lasts for days, if not weeks. The kind of cards I’m talking about are left out on their coffee tables for weeks. Their family and friends will see it and want to know who sent it. There you go! Top of the mind awareness from a $1 dollar card, that you made on your computer. How about them apples?

And as always, I’d love to hear from you! Give me a shout out down below and some FB or Twitter love! Thanks so much!