Greeting Card Marketing Tip #10 - Six Powerful Words

“It was nice to meet you.”

Clearly those six words aren’t very difficult to write. They’re also easy to understand. They don’t imply anything. They aren’t asking for anything. In spite of its simplicity, that short sentence can be one of your more powerful marketing statements – when you write it in a greeting card.

If you send a greeting card to someone within a day or two (at most) of meeting them and include just those six words plus the recipient’s name and your name, here’s what you’ve accomplished:

• You’ve acknowledged someone’s existence.
• You’ve made a positive statement about them, to them, without going overboard.
• You’ve demonstrated courtesy.
• You’ve demonstrated their professionalism by virtue of their providing you with their address.
• You’ve demonstrated your own professionalism by getting, keeping, and using their address to make contact.
• You’ve shown that you take positive action and don’t just float by meeting people.
• You’ve revealed that you may have a systematic method for contacting people and that you implement it – both gives positive impressions about your professionalism.
• While you’ve not commited to or asked anything, you’ve opened the door for more contact, whether it’s a response from the other person or more follow up on your part.
• You’ve also shown that even though you’re in business, you aren’t just about making sales, which can be a relief to others and allow them to feel better about continued contact, including the likely much more welcomed sales opportunity

Pretty cool, huh? You’ve done a lot with that simple card. If the card itself is personalized (like with their photo, or something personal (but still apppropriate) about you), then the effect can be even greater, but by sending a simple card you have laid good groundwork for building a new business relationship.

It’s interesting that the same exact words, “It was nice to meet you,” when spoke on leaving are almost social throw-aways and don’t really have much weight (though they are important enough that you shouldn’t neglect them). If you want to be in the top few percent who will actually follow up after meeting someone, and do it in a professional, none sales-y way, those same six words take on much more power.

Brunswick County Tri-Chamber Business After Hours 11-19-09

Marge and I just got home from another successful business networking event, this one hosted by the ever-expanding and impressive Brunswick Community College. We met in a room at the Odell Williamson Auditorium (you may recall the same place where The Buckingham's played in concert last summer for a North Brunswick Chamber of Commerce event). Tonight's Tri-Chamber Business After Hours was for the Brunswick Chamber of Commerce, North Brunswick Chamber of Commerce, and the Southport/Oak Island Chamber of Commerce. Catered by our own ('our' meaning Leland's) Antonio's Pizza and Pasta restaurant, there were drawings galore and many connections for those who showed up and met new people.

The first person we met entering the room was NBCC board member Frank Williams of Pioneer Strategies and Cape Fear Business News.

Next was Frank Bullara, owner of Bugsy's Cigars, also in Leland.

Leland's Magnolia Greens Comfort Suites Hotel was ably represented by Sales Manager Lee Ann Mitchell and Front Desk Manager Nicole Neuendorf.

Chamber stalwarts Carolyn Pirnat of Asset Storage, Mary Anne Fagerquist, and Prudential's Sharon Furman were dressed so similarly I thought they were going to entertain. Mary Anne, by the way, seen here laughing, is such a good sport and lively spirit that if asked she'd probably jump right up and do a great job.

We all know he'd rather (and I'm not joking) be called Santa Claus, but their names are really Scott and Connie Reeves.

Laura Patterson of Leland's Mulch and More and uber-proud grandmother of twins that put a brilliant sparkle in her eyes.

Barry Eagle, the honcho at the Magnolia Greens Comfort Suites Hotel.

Part of the NBCC crew, Scott, Marge Brown of SendOutCards, Jeff Harvell of Cape Fear Business News, and Executive Director Terry Grillo.

Santa and Me.

Marge and Bradford Mortgage's Dana Fisher. Dana is also a board member of NBCC.

Electrician Brandon Shaw of Artisan Electric and John Denison, owner of LogoDesigns, Inc.

A line up of North Brunswick Chamber of Commerce folk.

Photographer Bob Baer loves to climb on chairs.

Marge and our new friend Tom Roberts of Beach Property Solutions.

Okay, so there's Santa on the left, Wilmington City Councilman Charlie Rivenbark, George Patterson (in the blue shirt turned away from the camera, but just for those who are keeping score here, he's the grandfather of those twins I mentioned a while back), Tom Roberts, and Dana Fisher.


So yes, it was another good time. You can probably tell why many of us don't even need ovens or cookware at home - there's always another networking event to attend in our area.

Tweeting at Cardinal Lanes in Wilmington, NC

I arrived a bit late and had to leave early, but I was able to bowl two games at the Wilmington Tweetup held this month at Cardinal Lanes on Shipyard Boulevard. There were some seriously good bowlers present. And, then there was me. As a cruel joke a few years back someone gave me bowling shoes as a present (those are my shoes on the table, doing as much good there as on my feet when I'm bowling.

The group really got into it and had a lot of fun.

Gayle Tabor of Glynne's Soaps told the story of how her team won the league championship the first year and pointed to a plaque on the wall. She also explained the winning was based on most improved average and it was her team's first season ever bowling.

Sarah Barbee of FussBudget Promotions organizes the Wilmington Tweetups and always helps us have a good time in a nice place.

Renee Jones has her own bowling ball. It even has her name on it! Wow, my ball used to belong to someone named 'House'.

It seemed like every time I looked up, Renee was getting a strike! (Do you think it would be a good idea if we all bought balls with the name 'Renee' printed on it? Would we all bowl better?)

It was a good time. Thanks Sarah for organizing it and thanks to all who came out.