SalesTool Talk Newsletter: Oct 8th Issue
The Review:
It may not be considered “Green” to send out physical greeting cards for the upcoming holiday season. But the truth is, customers and prospects like to get them. Electronic greetings just aren’t the same. The holidays are a time when we can reach out to our customers and prospects on a much more personal level.
If you plan to send out cards, then now is the right time to put that plan in place. Normally this would entail designing the cards to include your logo, working with a printer, getting them printed and then sent out to the various sales offices. Next, a set amount needs to get distributed (maybe even shipped out) to each salesperson. Then, they have to address the envelopes, sign and insert the cards, seal the envelope, stamp them and send them off. The excruciating process kinda takes the joy out of what should be a wonderful feeling (not to mention that it sucks up a whole lot of resources and time from selling).
That’s why we plan to use SendOutCards instead.
Send Out Cards is a web based online greeting card store with over 13,000 greeting cards to choose from, and a contact manager for your names and addresses. With SendOutCards you can send a printed greeting card or postcard from your computer in less than 60 seconds and it costs less than buying a greeting card at the store: Send Postcards for 57 cents and Greeting Cards for $1.05 each (that includes postage). With a click of your mouse you can mail out individual cards with your personalized messages or multiple cards with a single message and have them personalized for each person!
SendOutCards: product review & implementation plan Personalized greeting cards that get signed, sealed, stamped and delivered on your behalf
The Implementation plan - 10 easy steps:
SendOutCards uses a multi-level-marketing model. We’re not used to that in the business world. But you shouldn’t let that turn you off. It will just work a little differently for you then it would for someone else who plans to become a distributor (you do not have to be a distributor!). Here’s what you do.
Step 1
Click here to go to the SendOutCards website. You’ll see Mary Jean Schmunk’s name and picture. She’s the smart and savvy saleswoman who introduced us to SendOutCards.
Not just for the Holidays
We’re talking about holiday cards here because its that time of year (Yes! It really is!) However, it makes a whole lot of sense to use SendOutCards throughout the year. How easy would it be to send a quick thank you card to a prospect or a valued customer. How often do you do it? How often should you do it? What kind of an impression would it make on you if someone sent you a thank you card after meeting with you (and the other company’s representatives didn’t)? Thank you cards are one of the best ways to demonstrate the type of service customers can expect from you.
Good Intentions are only intentions until we take action
They make it easy to take action.
1. Choose a card
2. Type your message
3. Select the recipient from your contact list
4. Hit the Send Button
SendOutCards takes care of the rest! They print it, stuff it into the pre-addressed envelope, stamp it and mail it for you within 24 hours – a REAL Card with a REAL Stamp for less than the cost of a cup of coffee!
Perhaps your New Year’s resolution should be to get all your reps sending thank you cards on a regular basis.
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Step 6
Complete your credit card information and submit payment. You’ll be taken to the Card Manager main menu in your account (you will automatically be logged in). You’ll see a welcome message with your member ID number. MAKE A NOTE OF THIS ID It will be your user ID going forward (along with the password you created during registration). You’ll want to share this id and password with your reps so they can get their cards done.
Step 7
The Nitty Gritty
SendOutCards uses “points”. As a wholesale subscriber, your account set-up fee includes 200 points to spend on cards. A greeting card uses 2 points so you’ll start with 100 greeting cards worth of points. If you have 5 reps who each need 100 cards, go to Purchase Products and buy 800 points (enough for 400 more greeting cards). These points will cost you $248. In this example where 5 reps each need 100 cards, the total you will have spent is $298 for signup, $248 for additional cards, and $215 worth of postage. That’s a total of $761. A grand total of $1.52 per card.
You can’t beat it. $1.52 per card and it’s signed with a personal message, printed on high quality card-stock (using 100% recycled paper), and envelopes are stuffed, addressed, stamped and mailed for you. You no longer have to hire a temp! Save your money.
Additional options
You can use their Picture Plus feature to design your own greeting cards using a photo of your choice. Have Marketing design a nice card with your logo if you’d like. If you do use your own picture, it will cost an extra point per card - in our example of 500 greeting cards, you would spend an additional $155 bringing your per-card-price to $1.82 - still a bargain.
Step 8
Import Contacts: How you do this is up to you. You may want an admin to get the contact lists from all the reps and import them all at once, or you may ask the reps to do it individually. Either way, it’s a simple process. If you need help though, call their customer service and they will walk you through it.
Join the Smart Selling Tools LinkedIn Group
If you’re one of the next 50 people to post a comment or start a discussion, we’ll send you a free gift for your desk.
Step 2
Click the “Join Now” button on the left side column.
Step 3
Select the Wholesale package for $298 (unless you want to become a distributor). It will auto-select a monthly billing for additional credits to replenish your account each month. You’ll use the monthly credits for thank you and follow-up cards throughout the year. Determine how much postage you’ll need depending on how many cards you’ll be sending. If you’ll be sending 500 cards, you’ll need $215 worth of postage (500x.43) Make the appropriate dollar amount selection in the EXPENSE ACCOUNT box.
Step 4
Complete the registration form. If you’re using Roboform or LastPass it will take you 3 seconds (these are two Smart Selling Tools). If not, then get your wallet out and fill in the blanks.
Step 5
You’ll see the following statement: “By clicking the button below, you agree that you have been shown how to send a card and you have been shown basic features of the SendOutCards system. The person showing you this system has committed to be available for your ongoing coaching needs. They have also committed to guide you to the live system coaching webinar schedule upon completion of this application.” Click I agree (note: I’m streamlining this process for you. If you want coaching on how to use the system, you can email or call Mary Jean directly and she will step you through the process and make sure that you’re 100% satisfied and 100% up and running. This woman is a dynamo! and there is no doubt in my mind, that she’s committed to your success. You can also attend pre-recorded training webinars at any time).
Step 9
Send your cards: Have your reps log in. They can either select their own greeting card cover, and create their own inside-message, or you can select one standard card and inside message ahead of time. From the Card Manager Main Menu, they’ll select the card from the Card Catalog.
Then they will select recipients from the list (or send the whole list).
Then they’ll select the date for the card to be sent. Everyone can get their cards done now knowing they will be sent when specified. For special recipients, you can select a gift or a gift card to send. You’re given this option after selecting the recipient. They make everything easy!
Step 10
Pat yourself on the back. You’ve just got the holiday cards done in record time and you and/or your team are back to selling. Now that you know how easy it is, you’ll be sending cards on a regular basis to thank clients and partners, to invite prospects to events, and to celebrate or acknowledge other worthy occasions. You’ll simply use the points that you get each month with your plan.
SendOutCards has solved a huge problem for those of us who want to demonstrate an attention to customer service. In the age of electronic communication, we need to maintain a personal touch more than ever.
SendOutCards is a no-brainer, fast, easy, high-quality, professional and affordable way to do it. Now go do it!
Click here to go to the SendOutCards website.
