You’ve tried all the conventional follow-up strategies: email, direct mail, phone call, greeting card and personal visits. Some worked but you didn’t get your return on time and money invested.

Let’s examine the conventional follow-up methods and how the new business trend has emerged.

Email

The most common business follow-up method is to send an email “Thank you for ...” or “It was nice meeting you”. It’s easy and personal and bypasses any possible gatekeeper. The downside, your email can be overlooked or quickly forgotten when competing in an overflowing inbox.

Phone Call

With the common usage of mobile (or cell) phones, you reach people directly but not necessarily at a convenient time for them. Your friendly call becomes intrusive and unwelcome. What are the chances you catch a businessperson at an opportune time without interrupting their work?

Unannounced Personal Visits

Impromptu personal visits “I was just passing by, thought I’d say ‘hello’" are time consuming for callers but what's more, annoying for busy business people called on. This follow-up method is disrespectful of people’s time and can be interpreted as “Your time is not important, I can interrupt your work when it pleases me”.

Greeting card

Of all the business follow-up methods, the greeting card is the best received. Just imagine getting a greeting card. What happens then? The distinctive format sticks out from a pile of letters and you open it first “Who sent me a card? Why for?” A carefully selected follow-up card puts people in a positive frame of mind, therefore receptive to your message.

It’s probably the best follow-up solution for the recipient but … not for the sender.

Have you ever thought of sending a card but didn't follow through? Sending a card is a chore. You have to go to the shops, choose a card, buy a stamp, write the card and find a post box.  Too much hassle!

Direct Mail

Direct mail can take the effort away from sending greeting cards. Choose one design, write one message and the mail house will take care of printing and mailing thousands of business greeting cards.

It’s a convenient method for sending cards on special occasions e.g. invitations or seasonal wishes but this bulk mailing method doesn’t work for sending an individual card with a personal message such as ‘Let’s do lunch’.

Yes, greeting cards offer many advantages:

• You can write a personal and meaningful message.

• Your card will stand out in a pile of bills and other business correspondence.

• You’ll impress people with your thoughtfulness.

• Your special card may go viral, circulating among colleagues and friends.

• An appealing card usually remains on display in a prominent position, keeping you fresh on their mind.

But nowadays, people don’t find time to send greeting cards. How many cards other than for Christmas wishes did you receive this month or this year? Probably very few, if any.

Is sending cards out of fashion or a golden opportunity to having someone's undivided attention?

This is a marketing dream, no competing messages and people happy to be contacted.

I can hear you say..."but I can't afford the time and money for sending cards!"

What if you could send a greeting card with the convenience and ease of use of email and direct mail?

The new trend is to systemize sending ‘real’ greeting cards (not e-cards) using internet technology.

From your desktop, you can choose one card from thousands of designs or even create your own with a user-friendly software, type your personal message as you would write an email and, send your personal card to a specialised company that takes care of the printing and posting, affixing a real local stamp.

To my knowledge, SendOutCards is the only company that provides this unique system of sending cards.

Remember, to maximise your marketing effort, choose an irresistible card that someone will proudly display and share with colleagues and friends.