You know a lot of people who could hire you (or hire you again), share your content, or send you referrals. You have their email address and would like to stay in touch with them, but you don’t want to look like you’re hungry for business. Or you don’t know what to say.
What can you do? Send them a “thank you” email.
Thank them for being your client, colleague, or friend. Don’t ask for anything, just say thanks.
Thanking your clients and contacts can:
- Build trust and foster loyalty
- Make them feel important
- Reduce “buyer remorse”
- Remind them you are still available to help them (or someone they know)
- Encourage them to think about you and perhaps visit your website or call to ask a question
In other words, saying “thank you” is good for business.
And what could be simpler than thanking people for their patronage or friendship?
Your email should be short, informal, and from you, not your firm.
You can make it more effective by mentioning something about them, their case, their business or family, your last meeting or conversation, or by simply addressing them by their first name.
NB: Mention their first name in the subject line and you should get more “opens”.
If you want, you can do more. You can encourage them to connect with you on social media, for example, ask them about their new product or project, or tell them about your latest article or upcoming event. Or invite them to sign up for your newsletter or subscribe to your blog.
Or you can save these for your next email, and yes, there should be a next email, but you don’t have to think about that right now—for now, sending a thank you email is enough.
