Thank You

9 Tips for Writing Follow-Up Letters:

1. Send reminders about meetings and appointments in advance so that the recipient has sufficient time to prepare or fulfill assignments. You may send other reminders as the need arises. The message should be brief and clearly stated to avoid misunderstandings.
2. Take advantage of follow-up letters to reiterate the positive aspects of your service or product, and gently urge your potential client to take the next step in negotiating a sale. If the reader has already expressed interest in your business, give a firm sales pitch, highlighting the benefits of your product or service, without pushing too hard.
3. Don't duplicate previous sales pitches, but offer something new, such as more information or a special discount.
4. Send your follow-up letter promptly, especially after an interview (usually within 24 hours; 48 hours at the most).
5. When following up after an interview, indicate that you are willing to provide additional information or references (if applicable).
6. Send a follow-up letter to remind others of an important meeting or other event that was scheduled several weeks or months in advance. Include in the letter the date, time, and location of the meeting, along with any other important information.
7. Indicate to the recipient of the letter whether or not you need a response, and specify how the person can respond to you: via phone, e-mail, in person, or by mail.
8. If you do not receive a response from an initial follow-up letter, you may want to write a second letter. Include a copy of the previous follow-up letter with your new one, or repeat the message. Reiterate the importance of receiving a response.
9. Avoid negative remarks. If you do not receive a response after a first letter, do not imply in later letters that the reader is forgetful, thoughtless, or negligent, as this will likely make him or her feel defensive. Showing your frustration will usually make the situation worse.

With a well-written follow-up letter you can:

• Remind individuals who attended a meeting of the decisions and assignments that were made, thereby helping to move the work along.
• Establish or renew a relationship.
• Thank an interviewer and remind him or her of your name and qualifications (after applying for a position with his or her company).
• Show appreciation for a contribution made, for the opportunity to interview with a company, for exceptional work done on a project, and so forth.
• Add important information that did not come up during an interview and remind the interviewer of your interest in the position.
• Remind a customer or potential customer of your continued willingness to serve him or her.
• Emphasize the advantages of doing business with your company, and propose a course of action that the customer can take.
• Thank a customer or announce a special sale or limited-time offer. (A follow-up letter keeps your company's name before the customer and reinforces the impression that you are a good person to do business with.)
• Remind an interviewer of some aspect of an interview that went well, briefly elaborate on an idea brought up in the interview, or work to repair any damage that may have been done during the meeting.
• Reiterate your interest in a position or organization.
• Send information the employer may have asked you to provide during an interview.

Show that you are courteous and professional, and gain an edge over job applicants who do not send thank-you or follow-up letters (many do not).

WHO WILL YOU BE TOMORROW?
By Steve Goodier

One man sat at a stop light. The woman in front of him was going through papers on the seat of her car, and when the light changed to green she didn't go. A green light is not a suggestion, you know, it is more of a commandment. But she didn't notice.

When the light turned red again, she still had not moved. The man in the car behind her now started screaming epithets and beating on his steering wheel.

A policeman tapped on his windshield. "You can't arrest me for hollering in my car," the man said. The cop asked for his license and registration, returned to his car, talked on the radio for a while, and finally handed the papers back. The driver protested, "I knew you couldn't cite me for yelling in my own car!"

The officer replied, "I didn't want to cite you for shouting in your car. But I was directly behind you at the light. I saw you screaming and beating your steering wheel, and I said to myself, 'That man is out of control. He's going to hurt someone!' Then I noticed the cross hanging from your rear view mirror, the bright yellow 'Love Is a Choice' license tag, the 'Give Peace a Chance' and 'Prayer Changes Things' bumper stickers, and I was sure you must have stolen the car."

His behaviour did not reflect his bumper stickers. But let's not be too critical. Are we always the people we want to be?

We make changes by stretching. Personal transformation can happen when the person we presently are does not yet resemble the person we hope to be. Better to set high ideals and occasionally fall short than to settle for mediocrity and succeed.

The important question is not, "Who are you today?" It is better to ask, "Who will you be tomorrow?"

Remember: if nothing ever changed, there'd be no butterflies.

__________

Steve Goodier's books & Newsletter:http://LifeSupportSystem.com