Do you want to know one of the best ways to get someone’s attention?

Send them a thank you in the mail.

My team and I always say “thank you” in our business. In fact, one of the most successful things we’ve ever done in business development is to send out an initial email about the work we do, and if people click the links to learn more, we thank them.

Human nature is often consistent, and the fact is that people appreciate being thanked for taking a few moments of their time to do what you want them to do.

old school magic

Recently, we were in a client meeting with one of our clients in our marketing division and we talked about another technique that we use. A thank you in the mail with the personal touch. I’ve written about this in the past, but it works, well, and yet in the digital age, many people hear that this is a great way to communicate with audiences over 40, that it’s almost like magic, but they never try it. for themselves.

Job Interview Tracking

I know that Millennials seem to think that putting pen to paper is one of the worst things they can do; It’s like going to the dentist. Maybe even worse! But, not long ago, I heard about a Millennial interviewing with a manager who was in his 50s. Like any smart interviewee, he knew he had to follow up a great interview with recognition. But he didn’t send the email as we expect in today’s age.

Instead, he wrote a note on a professional card and then took it to the UPS office and sent it for overnight delivery. The manager received the personalized note, and not long after, the candidate was awarded the position.

Why did you get the job, other than the fact that you were a talented candidate?

He got the job, when the manager told him later when he was working on staff, that the manager appreciated the receipt of the personalized card. The candidate outperformed other talented and qualified candidates because he went the extra mile and did it creatively.

• It showed that the job candidate was serious about the job.

• The personalized note, which was brought to UPS, set the candidate apart from the rest and showed the manager that he was willing to go the extra mile.

• Finally, and very importantly, Generation X grew up receiving mail from the postman, not emails. So the manager told the candidate he hired that it showed he understood what resonated with him. And, since the job was in sales, the candidate demonstrated that he was willing to understand what motivated the other person, and not limit himself to what he preferred.

The biggest mistake millennials and Gen Z make in business

I’m going to mention Millennials and Generation Z in this article because there’s something I’ve noticed. It is not limited to their generation and others before them have. I have seen that many times the “thank you” is lost; forget about a note in the post. I can’t tell you the number of times candidates come and meet with my managers and don’t bother to follow up in any way. It is such a small act that can make such a big difference and it always amazes me that this simple thing is so often overlooked.

Not long ago, a successful business professional who was connected to wealthy people met someone who impressed her. The young Millennial was building a new business, and the successful professional was fascinated by the young entrepreneur’s platform for college students. The young businesswoman sensed the enthusiasm of the senior professional and asked for two or three contacts that she could introduce to her and who might consider investing in her business.

Within a few hours after that day, the young Millennial feels like the top executive has a quick text. This was the scope of it, “I look forward to meeting the two people you would say you would introduce me to!”

That was it.

The senior professional waited, hoping to hear a simple thank you. A day, two days, a week passed and there was no other message from the young entrepreneur. The senior professional never introduced the Millennial business owner.

Why?

The younger professional hadn’t mastered the art of saying thank you, let alone going the extra mile with a personalized note, and that didn’t impress the older (and networked) professional. In the least.

The best business professionals understand that success in business comes with building relationships. Always close with a “thank you,” and if you want to succeed with older professionals, try some old-school thank you magic if that’s who you’re talking to and want to impress.