Improve retention with a thank you note.

Retaining Consultants
When was the last time you sent a handwritten, not email, but hand written thank you to the consultants on your team? It’s such a simple act, but one that is far too often overlooked. If you want to increase your retention, stay connected to your consultants. A handwritten note can make all the difference when they are at a crossroads about their business. They won’t always let you know they are in doubt either. If consultants have a few notes from you acknowledging their ability, appreciating their participating, and congratulating their improvements and accomplishments, you’ll increase your retention. 

Though Thanksgiving is just days away, it’s not too late to start thanking your team members for being a part of the team. Look at how many consultants you have on your team, divide that number by 14 for the next two weeks, and then write that many thank you’s a day. You may need to simply commit to writing five thank you’s a day until you’ve reached each one of your consultants if you have a big team.

How about your clients?
Do your thank you’s always come with strings attached? Do you send a discount card or “dollar amount off when they spend more” kind of thank you? Just for the sake of good will, send them a thank you just for supporting you in business and being a wonderful client. I’m betting the department store at the mall didn’t send them a personal thank you.  Why not build that relationship and send a thank you. 

A year after I bought my Yukon, I received a thank you from the sales rep telling me she hoped I was still enjoying my Yukon and thanking me for being a client. Although she included her business card, she didn’t ask me for a referral. I did however tell a dozen people about her and her thank you. I will go back to her when I’m in the market for new vehicle again too. 

Do you want to be in business a year from now? Direct sales is a relationship business. Improve your relationships with handwritten thank you notes and stay in business.