A handwritten thank you letter to your customers can increase referrals and repeat business.
We will examine some strategies for how your business can utilize thank you notes to increase customer engagement. Below is some sample customer thank you letters that you can use as templates to start your campaign of gratitude.
Should You Personalize Your Thank You Notes?
It depends on the type of business you run and how many customers you need to thank. Generally, a more personalized note will have a greater impact. Some industries, however, will be delighted to receive any acknowledgment at all.
You might only need to write 20 – 40 thank you notes in any given year if you’re a realtor. The ROI on a thank you note is significant if the referral is a result of one of these notes. Personalizing each note is probably worth the time.
However, if you are a large company that needs to thank 500 vendors, a templated note is going to make more sense.
Handwritten or E-Mailed?
Handwriting is the best method.
Keep your thank you letter from getting lost in a sea of e-mail. Your handwritten mailed thank you notes will stand out that much more, giving your brand a huge boost.
When To Send Them
A thank you note can be sent at any time, but there are times when it makes more sense than others.
After a Promotion
Sending a thank-you note to your customers after a recent promotion can help you turn one-time buyers into brand loyalists. (Think of Groupon….)
At The End of The Year
It is common to thank vendors and valued customers at the end of the year. However, there are a few reasons to avoid holiday thank you cards. Maybe you should send them at a time of year when receiving cards isn’t as common and people are less busy with family?
Directly After a Sale
It is a good idea to send a thank-you note shortly after a large sale (real estate, cars, etc…) is completed. By doing so, the customer will associate the positive feeling of receiving your note with the experience of buying from you.
Include a Special Offer?
Offering a special rate or discount when thanking an existing customer is a good way to express your gratitude.
Don’t try to hard sell. First and foremost, this letter is to say ‘thank you’. It is important that your clients don’t think you’re just looking for more business.
Customer Thank You Letter Samples
Annual Thank You to a Vendor
Dear Somerville Espresso, Thanks for carrying our coffee throughout the year. As the year comes to a close, we want to thank you again. We are successful because of coffee shops like yours representing our company. Thank you so much for carrying our beans, and I look forward to working with you in the years to come. Yours In Espresso, David Simmons Founder of Ace Coffee Roasters
Template for Customers Retention
Dear Lucy,
I really appreciate you trying out Bonsai Salon last month. We love it when new customers try us out. We look forward to seeing you again soon, and I hope you are enjoying your new haircut.
Warmly,
Susan T.
Bonsai Salon
Note to Encourage Referrals
Dear John and Sarah,
It has been a couple months since we closed on your Seaside Hills property, and I just wanted to take a moment to thank you for choosing me to represent you during your search.
I enjoyed showing you two all of the beautiful - and not so beautiful ;) - homes in the Bedford area. I'm so glad we found the perfect place for you guys in the end. I take pride in knowing how much you love your new home, and it motivates me to work even harder to find great properties for my current clients.
In the event you or someone you know needs a realtor in this area, I hope you will think of me. I would like to thank you again for the wonderful experience.
Sincerely,
Adam Singer
Bedford Realty
Generic Template for Corporations MM/DD/YY [Name] [Title] [Organization] [Address] [City, State, Zip Code]
Dear [Customer], For choosing us as your best [xyz] service provider/product dealer, we are truly grateful. It has been a pleasure to serve you this year, as one of our most highly valued customers. In the name of the company, we hope you have enjoyed the enhanced quality of our products/services. We will continue to strive to meet your needs and expectations in the future as well. We get out of bed in the morning because of your unwavering support and patronage. As a result of your suggestions and feedback, we've shaped our business to best meet your standards. To show our appreciation, we will soon be introducing a discount offer for our regular customers. Also, if you make more purchases and referrals, you will be eligible for bigger discounts with our upcoming offer. Again, thanks so much for choosing [company name]. Let us know if there is anything we can ever do to assist you further. We look forward to serving you for many years to come. Sincerely, [Your Name]
Template With Personalization MM/DD/YY [Name] [Title] [Organization] [Address] [City, State, Zip Code]
Dear [Customer],
We appreciate your recent business with [Company Name]. Your support keeps our lights on, and we couldn't be more grateful.
{personalized} It took us some time to figure out the optimal order size for your busiest stores, but I'm glad we have been able to keep your stores adequately stocked since that first bump in the road.{/personalized}
I hope you enjoyed working with us as much as we enjoyed working with you and your extraordinary team. Please enjoy a complimentary 20% discount on your next order (code: 20dpor) as our way of saying thanks.
Thank you again for your business. Thank you so much. If there is anything we can do to help your business succeed, please let me know personally.
Sincerely,
[Your Name}It is not necessary to personalize the entire letter, as you can see. In the example above, all but one sentence could be used for multiple customers, even though it sounds like an individually tailored letter.
As an example, here is a generic email that can be sent out to a broader audience.
More business thank you help…
Business Thank You Notes
Business Thank You Quotes
Donation Thank You Letter Samples