"Sealed With A Kiss" is the 33rd in my 2022 series of articles based on my real life experiences, professional insights, personal views and fun stories.
My hope is that in them you find joy and inspiration.
SEALED WITH A KISS
With the bulk of present day written communication taking place in electronic format by way of e-mails, social media messages and online forums, letters of the hand-written variety have become a rarity – and that’s a shame. Receiving a personally scripted note delivered by mail through the post was, and remains, a far more personal and tactile experience. It is so much more intimate. Especially when the note is from a lover!
The excitement of opening a billet-doux (love letter) is heightened by the fact that you can actually touch the letter and the words of endearment on it; just as you know that the writer has done. The sender may have even have kissed the seal of the envelope with rouged lips, thereby leaving their beautiful impression on it. The ultimate sign of affection - Sealed with a kiss!
I have not, sad to say, received many such amourously adorned epistles in the recent past – none in fact – but I have sent them. Or rather, let me hasten to add, I have sent their metaphorical equivalent. By that I mean that I have posted out real hand-written letters to readers and ‘fans’ of my work in order to display my respect and gratitude for their support. No, I do not kiss the seal on the envelope, rouged lips or otherwise! But recipients appreciate my approach. It’s personal and memorable. It gives me an advantage.
In marketing to prospects and clients in this way I am -
Showing I care
Engaging my niche
Using a unique approach
Standing out from the crowd
I concede that my present line of work, that of a professional author, lends itself well to this highly personal approach. Then again, I choose this tactic for that very reason. But I have employed variations of this same strategy in many diverse businesses over the years. It has worked superbly for me in every instance. It could work well for you too!
You needn’t employ the strategy exclusively but can integrate it as an element in your overall approach. This is what I do. I use e-mail messaging for the bulk of my general contacting and maintain a social media presence with articles such as this one.
My e-mails however, are all personally written. I don’t use automated systems.
This is where I differ from the vast majority of internet and affiliate marketers who use automated systems and ‘bots’ to approach hundreds of people - and hopefully convert a handful into paying customers.
My approach is contrarian for sure, but not contrarian just for the sake of it. Rather, it succeeds because of one simple and devastatingly powerful fact. It is this -
I aim to turn just ten contacts into ten customers
Not just into ten customers but into ten repeat customers
And not just into ten repeat customers but into ten loyal and enthusiastic promoters of my enterprise
- I succeed at every level.
I succeed because I establish a close rapport with my audience. Through personal contact we get to know each other. Trust is established. This is where letter writing comes into its own. It is an intimate act where an auto-generated message is not. Writing to friends (that is what my clients are) is -
Enjoyable, not work
It takes minimal time
It is intellectually stimulating
It is spiritually rewarding
It brings joy to everyone – and -
It’s seriously profitable!
- What is there not to like?
Okay, there may not be an actual ‘smacker’ from luscious pouted lips adorning the seal of the envelopes sent and received but, in every other way imaginable, each letter truly is – Sealed with a kiss!
I am Tom Riach. I live and write in the sunny south of Portugal.
Read more about how to communicate happily with all people, in all circumstances, in my highly acclaimed - 'The Simplest Sales Strategy'. Claim your special copy when you Click on the image below.
'SEALED WITH A KISS' is an original copyright Tom Riach feature.
I hope you enjoyed this presentation and found it to be of value.
To learn more please visit me on my Author Page.
See you there! Regards, Tom.
Comments
Know, like and trust is how you develop relationships that last a life time. This is exactly how I work it and I use the phone to call people if it's just to say hello and check on them to see how they're doing. Your friends will always think of you when the opportunity presents itself when it's pertaining to business because you have a good relationship with them. This is good for you and of course your business. Very good blog post as usual and the information presented can help so many people who need to know it.
Nothing, imho, beats direct contact Terri. As regards modern 'electronic' selling, doing direct contact 'properly' in the ways I've developed takes less time, is fun and convivial - and produces infinitely more return. It's no contest!
Being different has its advantages and it is fun. In sales, the kind where you call on businesses, here is a twist, this strategy will get you past the one that keeps you from seeing the boss or the buyer. If you are a real salesman, selling is easy, getting a first-time audience with the buyer is the key. A note to the secretary or whoever guards the buyer, later followed up by a rose opened almost every door! In my day, the guardian of the buyer was usually a female secretary. When selling to the public, several notes a day were sent out, followed up by a phone call. I cannot tell you how many times customers told me they bought from me because no one else did what I did. Guys and Gals, this is solid gold! Stand out and you will be rewarded. Thank you, Tom.
Of course George, the majority of people can neither see nor understand how what I do works. It's neither mainstream nor fashionable. Suits me - I have the field to myself!