A Little Touch of KindnessBeing kind is important in business networking as well as in life. Build customer loyalty with wholesale greeting cards from Send Out Cards

I found this posted on Ivan Misner’s blog a couple of weeks ago. Since I thougth it was very powerful I wanted to post it here to share with all of you. So I sought the author’s permission to re-post it. Enjoy!

1. Thou Shalt Not Sell To Me. If we’re trying to help one another get more business, you tell me your target market, I tell you my target market and when we are out in the world, we speak well of one another and refer one another. Do not try to sell me–I’m your referral resource. If I need your product or service, know that I will call you.  Use our relationship to sell through me, to get to those 250-plus people I know.
2. Thou Shalt Understand The Law of Reciprocity. If I’m sending you business, please keep me top of mind. Giving me a new client is the best thank you I can receive, and I will continue working to find you referrals if I know you appreciate me.
3. Thou Shalt Not Abuse Our Relationship. Sending me a bogus referral just to use me, my expertise or my resources for free without asking permission first is the fastest way to lose my respect.
4. Thou Shalt Not Be Late . If we have a meeting set to get to know one another and strategize how we can refer each other business, do not reschedule our appointment more than twice. I blocked a chunk of time in my schedule FOR YOU, and I respect you enough to be on time.
5. Thou Shalt Be Specific . Specific Is Terrific! If you tell me your target market is “anybody” or “everybody,” that means nobody to me. The more specific you are, the easier it will be for me to find you business.
6. Thou Shalt Take Your Business Seriously . As your networking partner, I need to know your intentions.If your company is a hobby business, it will be difficult for me to assist you. If it’s part-time, you are limited in the time you spend working on your business and working to find me referrals. However, if you’re working your business part time with a goal of making it full time, I am there for you, 100 percent.
7. Thou Shalt Follow Up On Referrals. When I send you business, please follow up with that prospect in a timely fashion–say 24 hours. If you’re going out of town or will not be available for some time, a quick e-mail or phone call to the person to let them know when you will be available will preserve your credibility and protect my reputation in recommending you to someone I know and care about.
8. Thou Shalt Communicate. If I do something to upset you, send you a “bad” referral or cause you to have ill feelings toward me, please communicate with me as soon as possible. I may not be aware I have caused a problem for you; if you tell me, I can try to fix it. Referral networking is about relationships! Relationships and referrals are at the heart of my business.
9. Thou Shalt Protect My Reputation. Most people would rather die than risk their reputations. If I receive feedback from a referral I have sent you that is disparaging or derogatory, it is as though you cut me off at the knees. Please do what you say you will do and live up to the ethical standards of your profession.
10. Thou Shalt Prepare For Success. If you really want to grow your business, then prepare to receive it. I will move mountains for my networking partners to ensure they get referrals on a consistent basis. I am a Ninja Networker–you may not always see me working on your behalf.

This was posted with permission from Melinda Potcher.
Please visit her website at:  HomeLoansAlbuquerque.com

These eye-opening statistics below only confirm why it makes good business sense to use SendOutCards to keep in touch with employees, customers and prospects.

1. Most businesses lose 10-17% of their business every year.
2. 62% of your clients aren’t taking advantage of all your products or services.
3. 91% of our customers say they would give us a referral.
4. 80% haven’t been encouraged to do so!
5. You lose 10% of your influence for every month that you don’t have contact with your client.
6. A 5% increase in customer loyalty could yield 20-80% to your bottom line.
7. Studies show that an average prospect won’t do business with you until they’ve seen or heard from you or your message at least 7 times.
8. 79% of all trade show leads aren’t followed up.
9. 66% of your business within the next year will come from your sphere of influence.
10. Only 3% of the mail we receive is personal.

Of course you won’t know what this system can do for you until you try it out for yourself. So go ahead…send a free greeting card to anyone you chose today. See how easy it is. SendOutCards not only saves you money (at just 0.62 cents a card) it also saves you a lot of time.

• No running to the card store to pick the perfect card.
• No stuffing envelopes
• No rummaging through drawers to find a stamp.
• No running to the mailbox or post office to mail it.
• Send one or a hundred with the click of a button.

Let your customers know you care by remembering their birthdays. Send them a special “Thank You.” Remember them on holidays. Let them know of any upcoming promotions or specials. They will appreciate your thoughtfulness and reward you with their business and bring  you referrals.