Your Handwriting Font

Today I want to share with you a couple of things I've learned about SendOutCards' ability to use your handwriting and signature in generating the text of your card messages.

First and foremost: it's an incredible feature! When combined with the mail-merge ability of the system, sending a note in your own "hand" makes for a profound level of personalization.

I didn't realize the impact that it could have until I received a card from Jordan Adler in our upline. Even though I KNEW it was computer-generated and most of the text was boilerplate, seeing his words in his own handwriting capped off with his signature made me feel as though he were thinking of me when he sent the card.

If you don't read another word of this post please come away with this message: GET YOUR HANDWRITING FONT CREATED AND LOADED INTO THE SYSTEM AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.

In spite of my initial skepticism, I am now convinced that this is one of the most important features of this system for salespeople and business owners.

The problem lies in creating a handwriting font that you will be happy with.

My handwriting is terrible and my first stab at having SendOutCards create a font out of it was disappointing to say the least. So I am spending $49 to have a new font created and I wanted to share what I've learned in the process.

Follow the instructions on page one of the font package PDF regarding the size of the tip of your pen and staying inside of the boxes.

Print several copies of page two (the fill-in form) of the font package PDF and practice a bit before getting serious. Don't worry about making a mistake because there is an unlimited supply of forms inside of your computer!

As you fill-in the boxes on the form, try to size every character consistently, both vertically and horizontally.

Write unnaturally slowly and clearly. Because of my bad penmanship, my first tactic was to try to write quickly and fluidly so the characters would look "natural." Big mistake when your natural hand looks like a ransom note!

When creating your four signatures consider using first name only for both you and your spouse, as well as first and last name for both (Frank, Lori, Frank Felker, Lori Felker). Since I'm dropping another $50 for another font and signature package I'm now adding Frank and Lori, Frank and Lori Felker, Lori and Frank, and Lori and Frank Felker.

Finally, if you have any issues with your font after it's loaded into the system, call Ryan in the design department and ask him to help you tweak it. He's very knowledgeable and helpful.

Update on My Wife's Fine Art Business

Back on December 2nd I posted an entry on this blog about my wife Lori's plan to start a fine art business in 2006.

Her new company, called Spring Lake Studios was officially launched January 2nd.

Yesterday we sent a beautiful announcement card to her 117 warmest prospects
via SendOutCards. On the cover is a picture of a beautiful oil-on-canvas
landscape from a world-renowned local artist. Inside is an announcement
graphic along with a personalized message from Lori which ends with "I'll be
calling you soon to schedule an appointment."

The whole schmeer including uploading the custom graphics, printing, mailing
services and postage (at the new 39-cent rate) was $128.17. Let me repeat
that please: ONE HUNDRED TWENTY EIGHT DOLLARS AND SEVENTEEN CENTS!

You simply cannot find that kind of marketing value anywhere else I am aware
of.

In February we'll begin mailing monthly postcards with a series of paintings
on the front - along with the URL to her web site - which we hope people
will feel compelled to post on their refrigerator doors. Our goal is to make
each one "refrigerator worthy!" I'll let you know how we make out.

BTW: Those PERSONALIZED postcards, sent via FIRST CLASS MAIL will only cost
SEVENTY CENTS EACH including printing, mailing service and postage.

Being a customer or distributor of SendOutCards is meaningless if you're not sending out cards.

Start sending cards, distributing positive energy and enjoying the results.

My Money Where My Mouth Is

How much do I believe in the power of SendOutCards as a touch marketing system to help build sales for small business?

So much that my wife and are using it ourselves for just that purpose!

Many of you are aware that my wife Lori recently opened a home-based business through which she sells original fine art and custom framing.

Check out Spring Lake Studios

Yesterday we sent an announcement card to her 117 warmest prospects via SendOutCards. On the cover is a picture of a beautiful oil-on-canvas landscape from a world-renowned local artist. Inside is an announcement graphic along with a personalized message from Lori which ends with "I'll be calling you soon to schedule an appointment."

The whole schmeer including uploading the custom graphics, printing, mailing services and postage (at the new 39-cent rate) was $128.17. Let me repeat that please: ONE HUNDRED TWENTY EIGHT DOLLARS AND SEVENTEEN CENTS!

You simply cannot find that kind of marketing value anywhere else I am aware of.

In February we'll begin mailing monthly postcards with a series of paintings on the front - along with the URL to her web site - which we hope people will feel compelled to post on their refrigerator doors. Our goal is to make each one "refrigerator worthy!" I'll let you know how we make out.

BTW: Those PERSONALIZED postcards, sent via FIRST CLASS MAIL will only cost SEVENTY CENTS EACH including printing, mailing service and postage.

I continue to be amazed by this system.

Building Success One Card At A Time

Many of our most successful salespeople, business owners and politicians have used personal, handwritten notes to establish and nurture relationships.

Joe Girard was a car salesperson who worked at a Chevrolet dealership in Detroit, Michigan. According to the Guinness Book of World Records, Joe sold more retail automobiles for 12 consecutive years on a one-on-one basis, than anyone else in the world. All of Joe’s business came from referrals. What was Joe’s secret?

Joe developed a system of staying in contact with his customers and potential clients. Every phone call or personal contact he made, Joe would write down on a file card any relevant information. He then sent everybody on his list a unique greeting card every single month! These weren't high pressure sales letters, just friendly reminders to let people know that he was thinking about them.

In fact, Joe sent out nearly 13,000 hand written greeting cards per month to his customers, with the help of two assistants, celebrating anything from Halloween to Groundhog Day.

Tom Hopkins is a real estate sales guru who set and achieved the remarkable goal of participating in 365 transactions in a single year. He credits his success in large part to developing the habit of sending short personal notes to everyone he met, reminding them that he was in the real estate business and explicitly asking for their personal and referral business.

George Herbert Walker Bush - the first President Bush - is also renowned for his personal touch in sending handwritten correspondence to political supporters of any contribution level. Those around often him remarked at his commitment in sending those notes and the amazing impact they had in bringing in money.

All three of these folks - and many thousands of other successful people - have proven the power of consistent personal correspondence in building a business or career. Imagine how well they could do if they had had access to SendOutCards!

BTW: Top Hopkins is now a SendOutCards distributor!