When was the last time you sent a customer or colleague a thank-you note? Time spent building relationships is time well spent.

You'd be surprised how little time it takes to jot down a few words of appreciation on a high-quality note card or letterhead. Handwritten cards grab attention and make a personal connection often missing in our techno world of email and text messaging. So drop your customers a note from time to time, just to thank them for their business - without asking for anything in return. As a bonus, consider including a coupon for a product or service that he or she has purchased in the past. You'll never go wrong by giving a sincere note of thanks to someone with whom you work or do business. People never get tired of hearing the words "thank you."

Thank You Note Examples:

Dear________________: Thanks to faithful customers like yourself, this past year has been a profitable one. As the year draws to a close, we wanted to let you know how much we appreciate your continued patronage.

We understand that you have many options in the marketplace, and truly appreciate that you have made {XYZ Company} your primary choice for {service/product}.

We are committed to providing you with the best products at the lowest prices.

As a token of our appreciation, we've enclosed a $2 coupon for {XYZ Product}, a product that you've bought from us several times. We look forward to serving you in the years to come.

Dear________________: New clients are vital to our growth. That's why I wanted to send you a note of thanks for your recent order. I have enclosed some additional information on our company as well as our terms for your review.

Our sales manager, John Doe, will be in touch later this week to set up a time to meet. At that time he will answer any questions you may have, and explain our product line more fully.

We look forward to working with you.

Sincerely,

Dear________________:

It was a pleasure chatting with you last week. I'm certain that we can help you with your {project}. If you have any additional concerns, please don't hesitate to contact me. (include your business card)

Sincerely,

Dear________________: We truly appreciate your business, and are grateful for the trust you've placed in us this past year. Please don't hesitate to call me if ever a problem should arise. We hope to have the pleasure of doing business with you for many years to come.

Sincerely,

Dear________________:

Just a simple note to say thank you! We want you to know that your loyalty is appreciated and that we truly value your business at {company}.

We look forward to many more years of working with you, and wish {company} the success it deserves. Should you need anything, please do not hesitate to ask.

Sincerely,